Infrastructure

Speed Limit

Changing This Law Could Reduce Traffic Deaths

In California and much of the rest of the country, says Andrew Said, the laws governing speed limits and enforcement are dangerously outdated, especially where pedestrians and cyclists are concerned. What could we change?

July 14, 2016 - Streetsblog LA

Concrete Stormwater

Study Considers the End of Concrete in Houston's White Oak Bayou

The White Oak Bayou in Houston joins a growing list of urban watersheds that could be freed from its concrete shackles.

July 13, 2016 - Houston Chronicle

Horse and Buggy

The Latest Trend in Transportation Infrastructure: Un-Paving Roads

A recent study discovered that towns and cities around the country had removed the pavement on thousands of roads in the last five years.

July 13, 2016 - Wired

Designing for Physical Inactivity

In this New York Times opinion, health issues correspondent Meera Senthilingam writes that too much of New York City is not designed for physical activity, including walking. Imagine what the suburbs and less vibrant cities are like!

July 13, 2016 - The New York Times - Opinion

Twins Logo Sign

More Transportation Options Needed to Connect Workers and Jobs in the Twin Cities

A new study identifies the disconnect between employees and employers in the Twin Cities region. The report also predicts dramatic improvements if the region's long-term transportation plans are realized.

July 12, 2016 - Star Tribune

Railroad

Virginia Railway Express Wants to Upgrade its Transit Status

How do you take regional commuter rail and turn it into rail transit? Just add frequencies.

July 12, 2016 - Greater Greater Washington

RTD Train

Denver's Commuter Rail Cars: Same as SEPTA's But Without the Defects

Denver's transit agency is running very similar Hyundai Rotem EMUs on their new A Line to the airport. The car shells are imported from South Korea and assembled in the same Philadelphia plant as SEPTA's problem-plagued Silverliner V cars.

July 11, 2016 - Billy Penn

Montreal Freeway

Montreal Begins Demolition of Downtown Elevated Expressway

Montreal will include one less elevated highway—so long Bonaventure Expressway.

July 10, 2016 - Montreal Gazette

Hayward Fault

When ADA Compliance Runs Afoul of Seismology

Seismologists were recently upset by the loss of a curb at the corner of two streets in Hayward, California that displayed the power of the Hayward Fault. The city had repaired the curb to provide ADA access to the sidewalk and street.

July 10, 2016 - Los Angeles Times

East Palo Alto

Water Draws the Line Between the Haves and Have-Nots in the South Bay Area

Development proposals in one of the least affluent communities in the Silicon Valley have repeatedly been scuttled due to a lack of water. Wealthier communities have more than enough.

July 9, 2016 - Palo Alto Weekly

A Summary of CNU24 Detroit

Miss the Congress for the New Urbanism in Detroit? Hazel Borys shares some highlights, with help from Twitter urbanists.

July 8, 2016 - PlaceShakers

Dallas-Fort Worth Airport

Coming in 2018: Direct Rail Connection Between Forth Worth and the Dallas-Fort Worth Airport

Fort Worth residents will soon have a direct rail connection to the airport, similar to the one currently enjoyed by Dallas residents.

July 8, 2016 - Railway Gazette

Fort McMurray Fire

Thank Climate Change and Sprawl for Worsening Wildfires

Along with climate conditions, urban sprawl is intensifying wildfires and increasing the damage they do.

July 8, 2016 - Undark

Wood Street

Philadelphia Discovers the Difficulties of Restoring a Wood-Paved Street

A failed 2012 restoration of South Camac, meant to last five years, only made it until 2015. Now it will have to wait until 2017 to see the historic street paved in wood again.

July 7, 2016 - CityLab

Tukwila Intl Blvd Station Park and Ride

The Park-and-Ride Boondoggle

Streetsblog USA shares insights into a new study published by the Transportation Research Board finding that most park-and-ride facilities built by transit agencies waste money and land.

July 7, 2016 - Streetsblog USA

NYC-crosswalk

Crowded NYC Sidewalks Force Commuters Into the Street

In the 1970s, the fear of getting mugged had some NYC pedestrians walking in the street. Nowadays, commuters are sharing space with cars for a very different reason: the sidewalks are too crowded.

July 7, 2016 - The New York Times

California Initiative to Limit the Size of Revenue Bonds Qualifies for Ballot

A California initiative has been likened to the landmark Proposition 13 for how it would affect the budget and major projects proposed in California, including the $64 billion high-speed rail project and $17 billion Delta water tunnels.

July 6, 2016 - San Jose Mercury News

SEPTA Train Tracks

SEPTA Forced to Take 120 Regional Trains Out of Service for Repairs

SEPTA commuters traveling to and from Delaware will spend the summer in transit gridlock, as 120 trains undergo necessary repairs to a serious structural flaw.

July 6, 2016 - NewsWorks

Metro Subway Los Angeles

The Vision for a $120 Billion Public Transportation Revolution in Los Angeles

Los Angeles Metro's new Chief of Planning Therese McMillan joins the agency at a pivotal moment, as county voters will decide in November whether to approve a new, evergreen sales tax to fund future Metro public transportation expansion.

July 6, 2016 - The Planning Report

Rio Subway

Rio Scrambles to Ready Subway Before Olympics

Beset by delays and financial problems, the state of Rio is having trouble completing a new subway line before the Olympics start a month from now. The time crunch may cut into time for testing, presaging problems in August.

July 6, 2016 - Associated Press via Chicago Tribune

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.

Building Inspector

Village of Glen Ellyn

Manager of Model Development

Central Transportation Planning Staff/Boston Region MPO

Senior Planner

Heyer Gruel & Associates PA

Top Books

An annual review of books related to planning.

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The definitive ranking of graduate planning programs.

100 Most Influential Urbanists

The who's who of urbanism, according to Planetizen readers.

Urban Planning Creators You Should Know

A short list of voices on social, video, and podcasting platforms.