Infrastructure

A Scathing Critique of Elon Musk's Big Tunneling Idea
Not all ideas are worth attention. What does the fact that ideas like Elon Musk's The Boring Company get so much attention say about the quality of civic discourse, or the potential for planning to improve the built environment?

Court Decision Makes it Final: Washington State Owes $2 Billion for Culvert Repairs
When it refused to reconsider a 2016 ruling that mandated the state of Washington to broken culverts around the state, the 9th U.S. Circuit of Appeals put to rest a legal controversy ongoing since 2001.

Back to the Suburbs: Most Metropolitan Are Getting Less Dense
A closer look at the data reveals a country that continues to sprawl.

A Change of Heart by Secretary Chao on California's Oldest Commuter Rail Line
A week ago, Secretary of Transportation Elaine Chao indicated she would not sign-off on the $647 million federal grant for the $2 billion Caltrain electrification project. On Monday, she changed her mind.

As a Driverless Future Dawns, Should We Still Build Parking?
No one is really sure how many parking spots the United States contains, but estimates stretch up to 2 billion.

Colorado Still Short Cash and Ideas to Fix its Roads
Colorado's roads and highways are in poor repair—the state of transportation was even called a 'quiet crisis' ten years ago. The problems persist, as does the state's lack of funding to fix the problem.

Federal Infrastructure Grants: The Historical Trends
On the cusp of a new infrastructure proposal from the White House, how has federal spending changed over the last 70 years? What will it take to reach historical averages?

Sunday Fun: Visualizing the Vibrations of Five Miles of Fiber Optic Cable
This new visualization helps us see the unseen: the underground fiber optic cables that lie beneath campus at Stanford University in California.

Seattle's New Seawall: An Experiment in Climate Adaptation and Habitat Restoration
Engineers and scientists in Seattle are testing a new generation of shoreline infrastructure that hopefully can do a better job of letting people and wild animals—in this case salmon—coexist.
Four Miles of Protected Bike Lane Proposed After Queens Bike Fatality
A two-way bike lane protected by a concrete barrier could be on the way for Northern Boulevard in Queens as a way to increase bike safety around the Joe Michaels Mile bike path.

Vancouver, Washington Ready to Adopt a Complete Streets Policy
According to Smart Growth America, more than 1,000 local, regional, and state agencies have adopted Complete Streets policies, which means many suburban communities, like Vancouver, Washington, are focusing on safety for all users.

Budget Surpluses and Capital Investments in Pittsburgh
A transportation agency with a budget surplus and money to spare on capital investments isn't something that happens every day, especially not in cities considered part of the "Rust Belt."

Detroit to Step Up Street Repaving Work
Perhaps it's a sign of recovery: the city of Detroit will greatly expand the amount of roads it improves over the course of the next year.

New York MTA Proposes 6-Point Plan to Reduce Subway Headaches
The new plan to reduce delays on New York's subway system will rely on short-term fixes, rather than long-term modernization projects.

Seoul to Debut Its Own High Line
Instead of a disused rail line, Seoul will repurpose one of its many old overpasses. The goal is to introduce green space and build up connective pedestrian infrastructure.

I-70 Expansion in Denver Still Facing Scrutiny
A planned expansion of Interstate 70 through Denver might have federal approval, but a growing coalition of local groups and state political leaders are pushing back on the idea.

Ramps to Help Ducks in and out of the Capitol Reflecting Pool Make a Big Splash
There was a tiny bit of cuteness to emerge from the news in Washington, D.C. this week. Partisan bickering soon followed.

China Exporting its Infrastructure Expertise
China is building roads, tunnels, planning trains and power plants outside its borders to bolster its influence.

Baltimore's New Bus System Comes With a Snazzy New Map
Fans of transit maps will have to watch out for the new map of BaltimoreLink.

The Sorry State of U.S. Water Infrastructure
Water bills are going up because pipes put in shortly after World War II are in need of repair and replacement all over the country, and federal funding for water is shrinking.
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