Infrastructure

The New Politics of Local Funding for Flood Control Infrastructure
The city of Cedar Rapids has traditionally struggled to generate funding for flood control projects from local sources. As flooding increases and federal support decreases, the political calculus for flood control infrastructure has changed.

The Sad State of Traffic Safety
A feature article at the major local daily newspaper in Houston tackles traffic safety and puts the onus on engineers, police, and politicians to come to terms with the destruction they've wrought.

Connecting a Park Separated by a Highway
The 311-acre Phil Hardberger Park, opened in San Antonio in 2010, is bifurcated by the Wurzbach Parkway. A new landbridge will connect both sides of the park.

Tappan Zee Replacement's Grand Opening on Friday Spoiled by Closure on Saturday
A grand opening ceremony opened the new Mario M. Cuomo Bridge on Friday, but a collapse hazard on the old Tappan Zee Bridge prevented public traffic from using the bridge on Saturday.

New York to Update the OneNYC Resilience and Sustainability Plan
Introduced with fanfare in 2015, the OneNYC plan is ready for an update.

Induced Demand, Explained
CityLab University tackles a widely misunderstood concept: induced demand.

Light Rail Extensions in the Works in Seattle
Seattle transit planners are working on a light rail extensions to West Seattle and Ballard, and trying to figure out which development alternatives are worth the cost.

Next Train ETA: Never
The Onion feels the pain of everyone who takes the train.

Kentucky Rejects 'Smart Meters' Proposal
It's back to the drawing board for utilities hoping to implement new electricity grid infrastructure.

Transit-Area Tax Increment Financing Bill on Gov. Jerry Brown's Desk
Transit, affordable housing, TODs, active transportation and local governments should all come out ahead should Brown sign SB 961. The bill follows in the path of earlier legislation that created enhanced infrastructure finance districts.

Friday Eye Candy: All 1,000 Miles of Southern California's Historic Rail Network
An intrepid mapmaker has created a stunning map of the Pacific Electric Railway System, the old public transit system for L.A. and surrounding environs, once the largest trolley system in the world.

Walkable Suburbia
It's not impossible to reshape the suburbs to be more walkable, but it does require careful planning and design.

Evaluating Departing Mayor Rahm Emanuel's Planning Record
Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel made a surprise announcement this week that he would not seek a third term in office.

Seattle's Residents Pick Funding for Streets, Park Projects
The "Your Voice Your Choice" program of participatory funding is in its second year in Seattle.

Generating Thermal Energy Requires Water, Lots of It
Water is an important part of the thermal energy process – one that we may not think as much about.

Ontario Could Take Control of Toronto's TTC Subway
The Ford administration is moving forward with a scheme to "upload" control of Toronto's TTC subway to provincial control.

Opinion: Bike Lane Funding in Dallas on the Line
As the Dallas City Council prepares to vote this month on a general fund budget, the future of bike lanes is not looking good.

Legislative Attempt to Block Mojave Water Drilling Project Dies
A proposal to drill for water in the Mojave Desert will have an easier path to approval, after a bill requiring Additional environmental review of the project dies int he California State Senate.

Another Reason Motorists Should Support Road Tolling
Two things motorists detest: tolls and congestion. Tolls, if effectively applied, lessen congestion, but at a high cost to drivers. However, steep tolls also provide a political incentive to "fix the bottlenecks," as shown by the 66 Express Lanes.

Editorial: Why Elon Musk’s Tunnel to Dodger Stadium Is a Very Bad Idea
A closer look at a plan for Los Angeles linking Dodger Stadium to the subway points to the proposal’s many flaws.
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.
Gallatin County Department of Planning & Community Development
Heyer Gruel & Associates PA
JM Goldson LLC
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