Infrastructure

Trump Administration Proposes Changes to National Environmental Policy Act
Sources report that proposed changes to the National Environmental Policy Act would limit the kinds of projects subject to federal environmental review, and remove climate change as a consideration for large infrastructure projects.

Los Angeles Needs New Funding Sources to Meet Public Transit Ambitions
With an aggressive plan to build out numerous public transit lines in time for the 2028 Olympics, local officials are scrambling to fill funding gaps as prices continue to rise and catch planners and officials by surprise.

American Dream—The Mall Isn’t Dead, It’s Just Transforming
An indoor ski hill, roller coasters, and a water park are all part of the New Jersey mall that reflects the shift from material consumerism to the consumption of experiences.
Highway Expansion Project Damages Flood Control Systems in Cincinnati
The Ohio Department of Transportation has prioritize the expansion of Interstate 71 in the neighborhood of Madisonville, in Cincinnati, over flood protection for property owners in the city, according to a recent city memo.

LEDs, Downward Lights Changing the Night in Chicago
The nighttime illumination of Chicago is almost finished with a complete overhaul of its streetlights, producing a dramatic effect in the nighttime environment of the city.

Global Cost of Transitioning to 100 Percent Renewable Energy: $73 Trillion
A report by researchers from Stanford University says the cost of transitioning the world to entirely renewable energy production would pay for itself in seven years and add a net positive amount of jobs measured in the millions.

More Toll Lanes Coming to California Freeways
Solo drivers in the Golden State will have more options to escape traffic congestion on busy freeways – for a price, as transportation agencies increasing decide to convert existing carpool lanes to high-occupancy toll lanes and add new ones.

$4 Billion Later, the New Tappan Bridge More Crowded Than Ever
Traffic data shows more and more cars and trucks using the new Tappan Zee Bridge in 2019, in what looks like an obvious case of induced demand.

Smart Phones and Urban Change in the 2010s
According to the architecture critic for the Philadelphia Inquirer, smart phone technology enabled the most profound changes in Philadelphia during the 2010s.

Watch: Urban Planning in the 2010s
A first draft of the urban planning history of the 2010s.

Mapping Housing Discrimination in Charlottesville
Like many American cities, the site of white supremacist unrest in 2017 has a long history of residential discrimination by race. This mapping project seeks to uncover the roots of today's disparities.

What Free Transit Means to Kansas City
Kansas City, Missouri will be the largest U.S. city to operate a fare-free system that officials say will make transit more accessible.

Washington State to Transition to Battery Electric Ferries
Washington's largest diesel emissions polluter will transition its fleet to diesel-hybrids and then to battery-electric propulsion to comply with Gov. Inslee's emissions-reduction executive order which will also please the orcas in Puget Sound.

A Look at Accessibility in Atlanta
A wheelchair user describes what it's like to travel on Atlanta streets and on the city's public transit system.

Opinion: When New Growth Is Really a 'Giant Ponzi Scheme'
Development that depends on subsidies is not fostering true growth and instead is a financial house of cards.

Stormwater Credits Provide Incentives for Green Infrastructure
Most harmful stormwater originates on private property, and public agencies are looking for ways to entice property owners to implement more effective infrastructure.

5 Transit Projects to Watch in the D.C. Region in 2020
Light rail, bus rapid transit, subway cell service, and more.

Plan for Expanded Road Inconsistent With Denver's Values
The idea of road improvement catering only to cars and congestion didn't pass muster on Quebec Street in Denver. A new plan for the heavily used, but narrow, corridor will prioritize pedestrians, safety, and transit.

The Atlanta Beltline—20 Years Later
The scope of the Atlanta Beltline's effect on the city has astounded most observers, including the person who came up with the idea first.

Watch the Miracle on 14th Street in Action
The changes to 14th Street in Manhattan have proven innovative ideas about bus priority and congestion relief.
Pagination
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.
Heyer Gruel & Associates PA
JM Goldson LLC
Custer County Colorado
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
Transportation Research & Education Center (TREC) at Portland State University
Jefferson Parish Government
Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Claremont