Virginia

Three Big Planning Projects on the Way in Northern Virginia

Big things are expected from planners in Northern Virginia this year.

January 14, 2016 - Greater Greater Washington

Beer Company Paying for Transit on New Year's Eve in Washington, D.C.

Miller Lite is shifting from its normal lobbying expenditures in the nation's capital to pick up the tab on the ride home for those taking transit. Here's to getting home safely, tonight and every other night.

December 31, 2015 - The Hill

States React to Tax Impacts of Dropping Gas Prices

Certain states have had to scramble to restructure their gas taxes as gas prices have dropped—and kept dropping—lest transportation funds hit empty.

December 23, 2015 - Governing

Better Management, Not Lane Additions, Will Increase Capacity on Virginia's I-66

New express lanes on I-66 inside the Capital Beltway on I-66 will be significant for two reasons. First, no lanes will be added. HOV lanes will be converted to HOT lanes. Second, revenue will go to options to get drivers out of cars, such as transit

December 18, 2015 - The Wahington Post

HOT Lanes Do Not a Toll Road Make

A look back at a controversy from this month's Virginia State Senate election, which produced some seriously misleading rhetoric about "toll roads" (i.e., the proposal was for HOT lanes, not a toll road).

November 28, 2015 - Vox

Northern Virginia Considering a New Light Rail or Bus Rapid Transit Line

One of the busiest corridors in Northern Virginia, both in traffic and development, is under consideration for a new transit line.

November 18, 2015 - WAMU

Norfolk Midtown Tunnel

Virginia Shows How Not to Do Public-Private Partnerships

A public-private partnership to build a tunnel connecting Norfolk with the city of Portsmouth under the Elizabeth River in Virginia has gone awry, saddling the public with increasing costs and, likely, more expenses in the future.

November 6, 2015 - The Washington Post

CTA Buses

Want to Make a Better City? Build a Better Bus System

It's simple, according to this Washington Post column: better buses make a better city.

October 13, 2015 - The Washington Post

D.C. Turns Poop to Power

No, the title does not refer to Congress, it is meant to be taken literally: It is about the District of Columbia's sewage treatment plant that produces renewable energy by treating its biosolids with a new hydrolysis technology imported from Norway.

October 10, 2015 - The Washington Post

Controversial Atlantic Coast Pipeline Project Moves Forward

This week Duke Energy and Piedmont Natural Gas submitted permits to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to build a 550-mile natural gas pipeline across three mid-Atlantic states.

September 22, 2015 - WRAL

Bike Amtrak

Amtrak Becoming Bike Friendlier

It's still not bike-friendly, but it's getting better. The Capitol Limited from Chicago to Washington joins a small list of routes allowing for "roll-on, roll-off," though reservations and a $25 fee may apply.

August 29, 2015 - Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Complex Traffic Signals Make for Dangerous Intersections

When it comes to intersections, adding more complexity can do more harm than good, according to a recent, detailed post on Greater Greater Washington.

August 19, 2015 - Greater Greater Washington

The Case For and Against Red Light Cameras

Eric Jaffe of CityLab looks at what went wrong with what should have been a clear way to employ technology to reduce crashes and save lives, and what can be done to stem the tide of cities removing red light cameras.

August 18, 2015 - CityLab

San Diego Gaslamp District

Land Use Planning to Activate Downtown Nightlife

The Arlington County, Virginia downtown district of Rosslyn will provide the region's latest case study of a commercial district leveraging land use regulations to activate a dormant nightlife.

July 28, 2015 - The Washington Post

Suburban Office Building

The New American Ghost Town: Suburban Office Parks

Suburban office parks are achieving the status of ghost towns in the Washington, D.C. area.

July 22, 2015 - The Washington Post

Deaths Outnumber Births in Rural Virginia Counties

A decade ago many of Virginia's rural counties were among the fastest growing in the country, but in most of Virginia's counties deaths now outnumber births, and county populations are consequently growing more slowly or declining.

July 17, 2015 - University of Virginia Center for Public Service

Richmond, Virginia Planning to Link Land Use Planning and Transit Investment

Richmond, Virginia is launching a planning study aimed at maximizing the benefits of a proposed bus rapid transit system connecting the city and its surrounding metropolitan area.

July 13, 2015 - Richmond Times-Dispatch

How Much Does it Cost the Public to Build Housing in Loudoun County, Virginia?

A wealthy county in Virginia has a reputation for prohibiting the construction of new housing. Development interests, however, are fed up with anti-development arguments.

July 10, 2015 - The Washington Post

Use Positive Storytelling to Change the Message for Alternative Transportation

Until advocates and agencies find positive stories to tell about multi-modal decision-making the car will continue to dominate the messaging and branding of contemporary culture.

June 25, 2015 - Greater Greater Washington

Lack of Data Still Impedes Multi-Modal Trip Navigation

A call for all transportation agencies to open their data.

June 15, 2015 - Mobility Lab

News from HUD User

HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research

Call for Speakers

Mpact Transit + Community

New Updates on PD&R Edge

HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research

Top Books

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The definitive ranking of graduate planning programs.

Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools

This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.

Planning for Universal Design

Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.