Infrastructure

High Speed Rail California

New Environmental Analysis for High-Speed Rail from San Francisco to San Jose

Issues of track blending and electrification factor heavily in the latest environmental impact report and environmental impact statement released last week for the California High-Speed Rail project.

July 13, 2020 - California High-Speed Rail Authority

I-94 North-South Project

New Governor, Same Billion Dollar Freeway Expansion Plan

Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers is picking up a plan previously championed and abandoned by former Gov. Scott Walker: The North-South expansion of I-94 west of Milwaukee.

July 13, 2020 - Wisconsin Public Radio

Ocean Drive Open Streets

Cars Retake Their Place on Ocean Drive in Miami Beach

Ocean Drive in South Beach is the site of an ongoing pilot project in making space for pedestrians and businesses in space previously devoted to cars. Advocates and some local politicians don't like the direction that the experiment is headed.

July 13, 2020 - Miami Herald

Aerial photo of the US 131/M-6/68th St. interchange in Wyoming, MIchigan

Michigan to Study Feasibility of Toll Roads

The search for new road funding continues in Michigan.

July 12, 2020 - Detroit Free Press

Bike Infrastructure

New York Poised to Become a Biking City

Could the pandemic be a tipping point for a century of car-centric planning in New York City's to give way to a more bike-friendly city?

July 12, 2020 - The New York Times

Manhattan, New York City, New York

Pandemic-Proof Real Estate: Whither NYC?

The president of Hudson Companies and The Planning Report’s first editor, David Kramer, discusses New York City’s COVID response and recovery and its likely impact on multifamily housing development going forward.

July 10, 2020 - The Planning Report

Emergency Sign

COVID Crisis Triggers Unprecedented Medical Measure in Arizona

At the request of the state's largest health network, Arizona has activated the "Crisis Standards of Care," meaning that if a hospital lacks capacity, it can turn away new patients, likely to be seniors, sending them home. Other states may follow.

July 9, 2020 - Arizona Mirror

TTC Subway

Expedited Transit Planning Process Passed Into Law in Ontario

The controversial subway plan announced by Ontario Premier Doug Ford in April 2020 now has legislative support in the form of a new law that expedites the planning, design, and construction process for transit projects in the province.

July 9, 2020 - Mass Transit

Electric Car Charging

A New 'Playbook' for Infrastructure Development

The New Partnership on Infrastructure coalition's "America's New Playbook for Infrastructure" calls for just and resilient development moving forward from the coronavirus pandemic.

July 9, 2020 - Smart Cities Dive

Hospital Signs

From Ventilators to Ventilation: The Shifting Focus of the Pandemic

Ventilator availability is a major indicator for states in the South and West that are seeing record hospitalizations, but in New York, where Gov. Cuomo announced that New York City had moved to Phase III of reopening, the topic was ventilation.

July 9, 2020 - Office of Governor Andrew M. Cuomo

Mountlake Terrace, Washington

House Committee Calls for Stronger Federal Role in Planning to Deal With Climate Change

The new "Solving the Climate Crisis" report could provide guidance and direction if federal leadership in Washington, D.C. finally decides to take aggressive steps to reduce carbon emissions and adapt to a changed climate.

July 9, 2020 - American Planning Association

Seattle-to-Spokane Intercity Rail

Seattle-to-Spokane Intercity Rail Proposal Studied

Washington State planners have completed a feasibility study into the proposed East-West Passenger Rail System for Washington State.

July 8, 2020 - The Urbanist

Richmond 300 Cap Park Plan

Richmond 300 Plan Update Includes New Cap Park, Form-Based Code

Richmond, Virginia is hoping to make some big changes in time for its tricentennial in 2037, including a new cap park and a new form-based code.

July 7, 2020 - Richmond BizSense

Brooklyn, New York City

Tactical Urbanism Gurus Rethink Equity

Mike Lydon and Tony Garcia wrote the book on Tactical Urbanism, and as leading consultants of the practice in cities around the country, they have faced criticism in recent weeks and months for a lack of attention to matters of equity.

July 7, 2020 - Streetsblog USA

Coronavirus and Transportation

More Riders on Buses Than the Subway in New York City, in a Historic First

Buses in New York City are proving to be a crucial tool as New York recovers from a brutal experience at the beginning of the pandemic.

July 7, 2020 - The New York Times

Dakota Access Protest

A Bad Day to Be a Pipeline: Judge Shuts Down Dakota Access; Atlantic Coast Pipeline Canceled

Two of the most controversial pipeline projects in the United States were dealt massive blows within the span of 24 hours.

July 6, 2020 - Bismark Tribune

Chelsea Square Restaurant in Chelsea in in New York

'Open Restaurants on Open Streets' Program Announced in NYC

The al fresco streets concept is coming to New York City.

July 6, 2020 - StreetsBlog NYC

Willamette River

Plan to Widen I-5 in Portland Loses Critical Local Support

The I-5 Rose Quarter project has proven controversial throughout the study and planning process, and now it's losing key local political support.

July 5, 2020 - The Oregonian

Delivery Services

Pilot Projects Launched to Test Coordinated Curb Use

Coord, a Sidewalk Labs spinoff, has selected the winners of the inaugural Digital Curb Challenge.

July 5, 2020 - Smart Cities Dive

Freeway Construction

House Democrats Approve $1.5 Trillion 'Moving Forward Act'

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell called the Moving Forward Act vote "pointless political theater."

July 2, 2020 - The Washington Post

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.

Top Books

An annual review of books related to planning.

Top Schools

The definitive ranking of graduate planning programs.

100 Most Influential Urbanists

The who's who of urbanism, according to Planetizen readers.

Urban Planning Creators You Should Know

A short list of voices on social, video, and podcasting platforms.