Infrastructure

Times Square Historic

Conceptual Shift: New York's Growing Again

For decades, New York City's boom times lay deep in the past. Now that the city's growing again, Aaron Renn says New York may need to take cues from the Sun Belt, of all places.

May 16, 2016 - Urbanophile

Millennium Park Chicago

Will Chicago Be the Next to Jump on the Sky Gondola?

Chicago's looking for a new tourist attraction, and the sky gondola has made the short list. Private investors have proposed to construct a sky gondola as a tourist attraction crossing over the Chicago River, but will the plan fly?

May 16, 2016 - CityLab

New York City Mayor Overrides Community Board on 'Boulevard of Death' Bike Lane

After the local community board removed a protected bike lane from its plans for the redesign of Queens Boulevard, Mayor Bill de Blasio restored it, under the premise of saving lives.

May 15, 2016 - New York Daily News

Nu River China

China's Last Wild River Could Remain Free of Dams

Plans to dam China's last wild river have been circulating since 2003, but now it seems that conservationists could emerge victorious

May 14, 2016 - National Geographic

Walmart

Investigation: Walmarts Abuse Local Police Force Resources

An investigation by the Tampa Bay Times finds Walmart stores treating local police forces like their own personal security forces.

May 13, 2016 - Tampa Bay Times

drinking water fountain

Lead Exceeds Federal Standards in 200 Illinois Public Water Systems

A distressing report on the state of the water supply infrastructure in Illinois reveals the need for better analysis and reporting of water quality.

May 13, 2016 - Chicago Tribune

An Update on President Obama's 'Better Building Initiative'

A press release and fact sheet about the accomplishments of the Obama Administration's "Better Building Initiative" includes three new national programs designed to improve the efficiency and resilience of the built environment.

May 12, 2016 - The White House

RTD Lincoln Station

Construction Begins on Denver Area's Southeast Light Rail Line

A light rail line into the southeastern suburbs of Denver is getting 2.3 miles of new track.

May 11, 2016 - The Denver Post

East River

Meet New York City's First Regional Planning Director

A city planning office with a regional focus? Such a rare beast is real in New York City. There's even a new leader at the helm of the operation.

May 11, 2016 - Politico New York

Historical I-5 Freeway

The Backbone of Orange County

In the 1950s, southern Orange County, California was a place of open hills, citrus groves, and scattered towns. The I-5 Freeway changed that, paving the way for today's subdivisions.

May 10, 2016 - KCET

Highway Construction

'Highway Propaganda' Promotes Widening Projects

Apparently to galvanize public support, the Colorado Department of Transportation and an Ohio chamber of commerce have produced videos touting the benefits of widening projects for low-income communities.

May 10, 2016 - Streetsblog USA

Washington D.C. Metro

Federal Transit Administration Threatens Metro Shutdown after Thursday's Fire

Unless D.C. Metro abides by the Federal Transit Administration safety directives issued Saturday and takes "urgent action," they threatened to shut down all or parts of the system, the nation's second busiest subway after New York's.

May 9, 2016 - The Washington Post

The Next Economic Frontier: Cities

Urbanists, test your knowledge of urban economics. Familiar with the concept of agglomeration externality? Finance professor and Bloomberg View writer Noah Smith opines it's a major reason why American cities are not as productive as they should be.

May 9, 2016 - Bloomberg View

Green Line

Somerville and Cambridge Offer Cash to Save Expensive Green Line Extension

The cities of Somerville and Cambridge are digging into their pockets to save the beleaguered Green Line extension project. State transportation officials could decide next week if the additional $75 million matters or not.

May 7, 2016 - The Boston Globe

Highway 401

Ontario to Double Highway 401 Capacity in the Peel Region

A massive highway widening project will soon begin construction in the city of Mississauga, Ontario.

May 7, 2016 - Toronto Sun

Bus Stop

Failed Public-Private Partnership Leaves Bus Stops With No Shade in Los Angeles

A 2001 contract between the city of Los Angeles and CBS Decaux failed to deliver 662 shelters for bus stops. A case study in what not to do on either side of a public-private partnership follows.

May 6, 2016 - KPCC

great lakes

Water Diversion Controversy Stifles Milwaukee Suburb's Growth Plans

The city of Waukesha asked for more water than the Great Lakes Compact would allow. Commenters remind the city of Waukesha that water for growth was never the goal of the Great Lakes Compact.

May 6, 2016 - Milwaukee-Wisconsin Journal Sentinel

Kansas City Streetcar Prototype

Open Today: the Kansas City Streetcar

Today, Kansas City becomes the first Midwestern city to run modern streetcar service.

May 6, 2016 - Kansas City Star

Bicycle Infrastructure Fail(s)

An op-ed by Mikael Colville-Andersen of Copenhagenize Design Company.

May 6, 2016 - Cities of the Future

Beer

Friday Happy Hour: A Beer Pipeline in Belgium

What was once a "pipe dream" will soon be reality.

May 6, 2016 - The Wall Street Journal

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.

Top Books

An annual review of books related to planning.

Top Schools

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.