Infrastructure

The Best New Bike Infrastructure of 2017
PeopleForBikes surveys the best new additions to bike networks around the country, and finds a lot to celebrate.

Moody’s: Climate Change Will Affect Your Credit Rating
The agency has created an economic incentive for cities, states and counties to deal with environmental threats.

Making the 'Case for Healthy Places'
The Project for Public Spaces recently released a new report titled "The Case for Healthy Places: Improving Health through Placemaking."

A Guide to Complete Streets
The needs that drive complete streets policy are as unique as the communities they have taken root, but effective complete streets programs do share a few common traits.

Ambitious Plan Could Completely Remake the Streets of Downtown Des Moines
A $33 million plan would make downtown Des Moines home to a dense grid of bike lanes and a safer place for pedestrians, among other changes.
Downtown Bike Lanes Disappear from Plan for Oklahoma City Boulevard
Plans for an Oklahoma City Boulevard have used bike lanes in all their design and promotional materials, but now that the job has been awarded to a contractor, the lanes have disappeared.

News Roundup: The Power Outage That Shut Down the Atlanta Airport
Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport, the busiest airport in the world, was crippled by a total power outage over the weekend. The airport is now working to catch up before holiday travel peaks.

For Stability and Sustainability, the World Needs Microgrids
Solar and wind power are cheaper than ever, but they remain variable. To make the best use of renewable resources, the electrical grid needs to network more small free-standing power sources together.

Portland Bike Lanes and the Danger of Half-Measures
Willamette's new bike lanes make for an important link in Portland's bike infrastructure, but building unprotected bike lanes on a high-speed street carries risk.

Huge Toll Lane Setback in Texas
In a landmark, unanimous vote, the Texas Transportation Commission eliminated all 15 express lane projects from their 10-year capital plan despite pleas from Austin area officials to retain the $8 billion, I-35 project that includes four toll lanes.

What the Final Tax Reform Bill Has in Store for Housing and Development
The final version of the tax reform bill included some surprises with regard to housing and infrastructure funding mechanisms threatened in previous version of the bill.

Streetcar from St. Paul to Airport Takes an Initial Step Forward
Regional interests around the Twin Cities are considering a proposal that would connect St. Paul to the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport and the city of Bloomington by streetcar.

More Buses Will Travel on the Shoulder to Skip Traffic in Seattle
Soon, Sound Transit buses will start traveling on the shoulder to skip a perpetually congested stretch of I-5. Over a dozen Sound Transit and Community Transit express routes operate on the 2.5-mile stretch.
Nominate the 'Best Urban Street Transformation' of 2017
Streetsblog USA is seeking nominations.
Public is Receptive to Plans for Express Lanes on Hwy 101 in Bay Area
Caltrans hopes to build two 14-mile high-occupancy toll lanes on Hwy 101 in San Mateo County, one of the region's most congested corridors that lacks carpool lanes. The $534 million project would begin construction in 2019.

5G Broadband Coming in 2018, Says Verizon
The telecommunications company will debut the next-generation technology in three to five cities next year, including Sacramento.

California to Explore Next Steps in Converting From Gas Tax to Road Charge
A summary report of California's 9-month pilot program to test the use of a mileage charge to replace the gas tax to fund road infrastructure has been released. Next steps include exploring available technology to implement the road charge.

Santa Monica Wants to Stop Importing Water by 2020
This is a story about green building practices, conservation, and rainwater capture—not desalinization.

Modal Friction on the Brooklyn Bridge
The popularity of crossing New York City's second oldest bridge by foot and pedal is causing friction between the two modes on the promenade above six lanes of motor vehicle traffic. A report released for NYCDOT proposes recommendations.

3M Co. and Others Sued in Tennessee River Pollution Case
Another large corporation is accused of misleading the public about its impacts on the environment. This time, drinking water is at stake.
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.
Municipality of Princeton
Roanoke Valley-Alleghany Regional Commission
City of Mt Shasta
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
Transportation Research & Education Center (TREC) at Portland State University
US High Speed Rail Association
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
Municipality of Princeton (NJ)