Infrastructure

A Survey of Worldwide Water Scarcity
The Guardian sets out on a global trek to find the most water-stresses cities in the world.

SEPTA Expects to Be Operating at Normal Fleet Size in *November
After 120 of Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority's new but faulty Silverliner V cars were grounded in early July, regional rail service was drastically reduced. Repaired cars will begin returning to service this month.

A Big, Expensive Legal Battle Over Coastal Dunes in New Jersey
A small group of residents in Ocean County, New Jersey have lawyered up to resist a state and federal project to build 22 miles of sand dunes to protect the New Jersey coast.

Texas Considering a $70.2 Billion Highway Spending Program
Texas transportation officials will spend the month considering the state's Unified Transportation Program, which could greenlight construction on some $70.2 billion in highway construction between 2017 and 2026.

Portland Introduces 'Crossbikes'
It's like a crosswalk, but for bikes.

Details of the Seattle's Big ST3 Light Rail Plan
The $54 billion ST3 plan would add 62 miles of light rail over 25 years.
Sharrows on Sidewalks?
Generally speaking, bikes on sidewalks are not a good idea, but a federally funded project in Duluth, Minnesota may cause planners to take a second look at the practice.
Median Parking: A South Philly Tradition Some Hope Will End
A group of local activists argue that the median parking that is so common on South Broad is dangerous. Some South Philly residents say median parking is part of the neighborhood's DNA.

Southeast Michigan Regional Transit Plan Back From the Dead
The board of the Southeast Michigan Regional Transit Authority found a compromise and managed to get a regional transit plan onto the ballot for voters to consider in November.

Court Ruling Will Delay Maryland's Planned Purple Line
A project dogged by controversy and opposition took another blow this week, this time from a federal judge. The ongoing safety and operations issue of the Metrorail system played a role in the ruling.

'Biological Assessment' Released for Big California Tunnels Project
The plans for one of California's most expensive, and controversial, projects are moving forward as the clock ticks on the Obama Administration's time in power.

2016 TIGER Grants Award $484 Million to 40 Winning Projects
The U.S. Department of Transportation announced the latest round of TIGER grants on July 28.

Safety Got Worse Before it Got Better on Cincinnati's Central Parkway Bike Lane
The controversy over a protected bike lane along Central Parkway in Cincinnati continues. The latest grist for the mill comes from a report finding that crashes increased in the first complete year of the lane's operation.

Calling for Approval of 'Plan 2014' to Restore Lake Ontario and the St. Lawrence River
Political leaders are still seeking support for the Lake Ontario-St. Lawrence River Plan 2014, which has been circulating since November 2014.
Trump Announces $500 Billion-Plus Infrastructure Plan
The Republican nominee for president announced the early sketches of a sweeping infrastructure investment program—touted as at least doubling the program proposed by the Clinton campaign.

Rio's New Metro Crosses the Finishing Line Just in Time
It was a photo finish for Line 4—one of the signature infrastructure projects of the 2016 Summer Olympics—designed to transport passengers between Ipanema beach and the Olympic Park and Village.
To Bring Water to the Village, Teach Villagers About Water
In Nicaragua, villagers' access to freshwater resources is sometimes impeded by a gap in coordination between the self-governing indigenous communities present there. WaterAid worked with locals in one village to change just that.

Congestion Pricing Requires a Careful Balance
Congestion pricing is an economic tool for a difficult, complicated problem, and must be calculated carefully to avoid unintended consequences.
Fatal Combination: Hot-Air Balloons and High-Tension Power Lines
Sixteen people enjoying a hot-air balloon ride in Central Texas early Saturday morning lost their lives in a fiery death after the balloon came into contact with high-tension power lines, according to the National Transportation Safety Board.

Tradeoffs Considered for Dallas-to-Plano Rail Line
Officials would like to speed up the arrival of the Cotton Belt—a planned rail line connecting Dallas to Plano—but that might require sacrificing service.
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.
New York City School Construction Authority
Village of Glen Ellyn
Central Transportation Planning Staff/Boston Region MPO
Institute for Housing and Urban Development Studies (IHS)
City of Grandview
Harvard GSD Executive Education
Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada
Toledo-Lucas County Plan Commissions