Infrastructure

Alaska's Attempt at Clean Coal Technology Proves Costly, Problematic

An explosion on Nov. 2 forced GVEA to shut down the power plant earlier this month after struggling with a number of mishaps that have kept Golden Valley from bringing the Healy 2 plant online.

December 1, 2016 - Alaska Public Media

Trump Selects Elaine J. Chao, former Labor Secretary, as Transportation Secretary

Elaine Chao served all eight years as President George W. Bush's former Secretary of Labor and also under his father's administration as Deputy Secretary of Transportation. She is married to Senate majority leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.).

December 1, 2016 - The New York Times

MIT campus

Free Wi-Fi Network Launches Around Kendall Square in Cambridge

It wasn't easy, but a broad swath of Cambridge, Massachusetts will now have free Wi-Fi Internet. The effort required a partnership between several institutions and organizations to come to fruition.

November 30, 2016 - MIT News

Chicago Tow Truck

Chicago to Install New Parking Meters to Lessen Impact of Bad Contract

The city of Chicago will install 752 new parking meters in 2017—but still fall far from the Shoupian ideal.

November 29, 2016 - DNAinfo Chicago

Toronto

Toronto Could Take a Radical Step by Tolling Local Roads

In some of the biggest transportation planning news of 2016, the City of Toronto is considering a proposal to toll the Gardiner Expressway and Don Valley Parkway in an effort to raise funds for infrastructure improvements.

November 29, 2016 - The Globe and Mail

Broward County Voters Approve One Sales Tax Measure but Reject Another; Neither Passes

Had it not been for the political compromise that enabled it to be placed on the ballot, voters would have narrowly passed a county transportation sales tax measure. In neighboring Palm Beach County, a straight-forward sales tax measure passed.

November 28, 2016 - South Florida Business Journal

Is it Fair to Blame Commuter Rail Woes on Private Operators?

Recent problems on the commuter rail operations contracted out by the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority and Denver's Regional Transportation District caught the eye of Governing's transportation and infrastructure reporter.

November 28, 2016 - Governing

Atlanta streetcar

Election Outcomes Put Atlanta Metro Region on Two Different Transportation Paths

Three sales tax measures in Fulton County all won on Nov. 8. Two city ballot measures sets a course for investment in public transit and active transportation for Atlanta, while Fulton County will invest in road projects to reduce traffic congestion.

November 28, 2016 - The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Kansas City

Advocates See Opportunity in Kansas City's $800 Million Transportation Bond

Kansas City, Missouri is in the process of considering an $800 million general obligation bond to fund transportation projects. The advocacy group BikeWalkKC, seeing the opportunity, is already advocating for how to put that money to use.

November 25, 2016 - BikeWalkKC

South Mall Parking Lot

Black Friday Is A Case Study On Why Parking Minimums Are Ridiculous

At most big box stores, the parking lots occupy far more land than the stores themselves, sucking up unnecessary resources from our communities.

November 25, 2016 - Modern Cities

The Hydrogen-Powered Train: Coming Soon to Germany

The Coradia iLint debuted at a trade show in August, but already buyers are ready to add the hydrogen-powered train to their rolling stock.

November 23, 2016 - Independent (UK)

Neighbors Confused By Green Bollards for Bike Lanes in Long Beach

A new look for buffered bike lanes in Long Beach is confusing some of the residents.

November 23, 2016 - Long Beach Press-Telegram

Charles County, Maryland

Limitations on Rural Sprawl in Maryland Nixed

Changes in state law that rolls back regulations on septic systems could spark more residential sprawl in Maryland's rural areas.

November 23, 2016 - MyEasternShoreMD

Portland

Portland Beefing Up its Buffered Bike Lane Network

The Portland Bureau of Transportation recently put the finishing touches on 5.6 miles of improvements to the city's bike infrastructure.

November 22, 2016 - Bike Portland

Transit Fail

WMATA's SafeTrack: Behind Schedule and Over Budget

The SafeTrack repair program has shut down Metrorail lines for much of 2016—and the price for the repairs to the system keep going up.

November 21, 2016 - The Washington Post

Seattle Streetcar

Seattle's HUGE Transit Victory on Election Day

In dollars, Seattle region's Proposition 1 was second only to Measure M, a $120 billion sales tax measure in Los Angeles County, although the comparison is lacking in at least three respects. Prop 1 did not pass in all three Puget Sound counties.

November 21, 2016 - The Seattle Times

Coal Railroad

Coal Train Lawsuit Settlement Leaves Unanswered Questions

A lawsuit in the state of Washington between environmentalists and BNSF Railway over the environmental impacts of coal trains has been settled out of court.

November 20, 2016 - Crosscut

AC Transit BRT

Who Benefits from the East Bay's Big Bus Rapid Transit Project?

A key commercial corridor connecting Oakland and Fremont in the East Bay Area is due for a dramatic transformation in the form of a new Bus Rapid Transit line.

November 20, 2016 - East Bay Times

What Now for Philly Neighborhoods Reconnected by the Rebuilt 41st Street Bridge?

The city of Philadelphia's "most notorious unfinished infrastructure project" is now complete. What will the rebuilt 41st Street Bridge mean for the neighborhoods on either side?

November 19, 2016 - The Philadelphia Inquirer

Natural Gas

Researchers Discover Thousands of Abandoned Methane Wells in Pennsylvania

Methane wells are the dirty little secret of greenhouse gas emissions. A new study says they're a bigger problem than previously recognized in the state of Pennsylvania.

November 18, 2016 - State Impact

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.

Senior Manager Operations, Urban Planning

New York City School Construction Authority

Building Inspector

Village of Glen Ellyn

Manager of Model Development

Central Transportation Planning Staff/Boston Region MPO

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100 Most Influential Urbanists

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