Infrastructure
A Boring Lesson for Planners
Elon Musk's vision for transportation networks made of tunnels and powered by magnets may or may not come to pass. But planners can still take a cue from his vision for infrastructure development.
Traffic Concerns Sink Light-Rail-Adjacent Development in San Jose
The city of San Jose has a mixed record of moving forward with land use changes that complement its existing and expanding transit systems.
Gov. Jerry Brown's High-Speed Gamble
To secure needed votes to pass a vital cap-and-trade bill, Brown made a deal with California's Republican lawmakers that could cost him his legacy infrastructure project—the high-speed train from Los Angeles to San Francisco.
First Mile-Last Mile, Intermodalism, and Making Public Transit More Attractive
As planners seek to leverage public transit investments with enhanced first mile-last mile connections, it is critical that market analysis guide those initiatives and that impacts and cost effectiveness are part of the performance assessment.
State Transportation Officials Ask Congress to Hike Transportation User Fees
It's not funding Trump's much-talked-about infrastructure package, but the 2020 termination date of the FAST Act has state transportation officials urging Congress to hike fuel taxes to sustain the Highway Trust Fund.
Reality Checking Elon Musk's Hyperloop Nothing Burger—Again
Elon Musk's desire to tunnel a path to freedom from congestion refuses to die.
Caltrain Electrification Broke Ground on Friday
Gov. Jerry Brown, Peninsula congresswomen, including House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, and state legislative leaders gathered in Millbrae with shovels-in hands to mark the beginning of a four-year construction project to electrify Caltrain.
Like City, Like Stadium
Beloved as it is, Dodger Stadium did not come easily to Los Angeles. Its development was fraught with protests, political rivalries, and debates over public investment and urbanism. Those debates continue today.
2018 Congressional Transportation Budget Begins to Take Shape
While reduced from current levels, the House Appropriations Committee budgeted far more than what President Trump had proposed, but they agreed with him to eliminate the TIGER grant program and reduce transit investments, though by a lesser amount.
New York Could Launch an Urban Agriculture Plan, Zoning Overhaul
New York's ability to feed itself with locally grown urban agriculture is only being partially realized. Better planning, specific to urban agriculture, would help.
Who Recycles in Cincinnati?
A new CincyInsights dashboard shows recycling participation rates all over the city.
Every Parking Lot, Visualized
A car spends 95 percent of the time parked, and only 5 percent of its time in use. The huge amount of space that system requires is made "intuitively and accessibly" comparable by the What the Street project.
Miami Mayor Rescinds Rail Investment Promises
Mayor Gimenez is citing frugality as the reason behind a decision that favors bus rapid transit over an earlier proposal for new rail lines.
Chicago Settles Red Light Camera Lawsuit for $37.5 Million
Opponents of red light cameras have achieved a major victory against the Rahm Administration in Chicago.
Property Tax in Africa
The rapidly growing and urbanizing continent of Africa offers lessons in property tax.
Big Transit Plans Approved for Richmond, Virginia
The city of Richmond has decided to turn potential to reality by approving, among other big transit changes, five new bus rapid transit routes.
Friday Funny: Infrastructure Woes Cause National Case of Insomnia
Actually-fake-news site The Onion got a few burns on the world of planning this week. One article satirized the nation's inaction over the state of its infrastructure. The other hit the Brookings Institute where it hurts: the policy recommendations.
No Self-Driving Cars Without Hyper-Local Maps
While the fame and the glory might go to the first companies that bring self-driving cars to the market, the companies that provide the detailed, constantly changing maps will make a lot of money.
Planning for Water Scarcity in Colorado
The state of Colorado is growing quickly, and that means planners and developers will have to actively implement more efficient water infrastructure.
A New Video to Explain the High Cost of Free Parking
Mobility Lab, the Chilton Media Group, and Vox have produced a new video on the price of parking, and "how we have historically done it all wrong" in the United States.
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.
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Appalachian Highlands Housing Partners
Gallatin County Department of Planning & Community Development
Mpact (founded as Rail~Volution)
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
City of Portland
City of Laramie
