Infrastructure

Report Supports Road Tolls and VMT Fees over Gas Tax

The Congressional Budget Office takes aim at transportation funding and spending. It notes with alarm a $143 billion federal subsidy since 2008 and recommends charging motorists directly via vehicle-miles-traveled fees and road tolls.

February 19, 2016 - Congressional Budget Office

America's Coast-to-Coast Toxic Crisis

Flint, Michigan is not an anomaly.

February 19, 2016 - TomDispatch

What New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio Can Learn From New Jersey

Mayor de Blasio wants to build a $2.5 billion, 17-mile Brooklyn-Queens streetcar (BQX). Emma G. Fitzsimmons of The New York Times suggests he look for tips across the River—not the East but the Hudson, at NJ Transit's Hudson-Bergen Light Rail.

February 18, 2016 - The New York Times

Political Support Coalesces Around Protected Bike Lanes in Philadelphia

Bike advocates have high hopes for the leadership of newly elected Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kenney. Among Mayor Kenney's campaign promises: to add 30 miles of protected bike lanes.

February 17, 2016 - People for Bikes

The Bay Area's Coming 'Freeway Revolution'

This will not be a revolution against freeways, as some may have hoped, but a revolution marked by new express lanes totaling 550 miles, beginning with a new stretch of 14 miles on I-580 through Dublin, Pleasanton, and Livermore in the East Bay.

February 16, 2016 - San Jose Mercury News

Boris Bikes, London

Londoners Taking to Bicycles in Record Numbers

The number of commuters taking to bicycle in the city have tripled since 2000, while commuting by car has been cut in half.

February 15, 2016 - The Architect's Newspaper

Newport, Rhode Island

Rhode Island's Unique Funding Option to Repair Roads and Bridges Approved

After an eight-hour debate, the Rhode Island House of Representatives approved controversial truck-only toll legislation that will make Rhode Island the only state to apply tolls to large trucks but not other motor vehicles.

February 13, 2016 - NBC 10 News

Rainbow Crosswalk

Re-Examining the Safety of Colorful Crosswalks

There has been no shortage of responses to the story about St. Louis letting decorated sidewalks fade away after encountering federal policy that recommends more subdued colors.

February 13, 2016 - Streetsblog USA

Drive Through

Controversy Over Drive-Throughs in Minneapolis Gains National Attention

A proposal in Minneapolis would restrict the development of drive-throughs, in pedestrian-friendly parts of the city, as a safety measure for all non-car users of the street.

February 12, 2016 - Minneapolis Star Tribune

Compromise Struck: Virginia Will Widen I-66 Inside the Beltway

Some local advocates and officials had hoped that tolls and transit could salve the congestion on I-66. Now it will be tolls, transit, and an extra lane.

February 11, 2016 - Greater Greater Washington

Big Expansion Approved for Austin-Area Highway

The Transportation Policy Board of the Capital Area Metropolitan Planning Organization approved a big spending increase for a project to widen U.S. Highway 183.

February 10, 2016 - Austin Monitor

Strategic Land Use Planning Could Lower the Cost of Wildfires

New research says land use patterns have increased the costs of wildfire protection, so strategic land use planning would help lower the costs of wildfire protection.

February 9, 2016 - University of Wyoming

St. Louis Rainbow Crosswalk

Painted Crosswalks Don't Pass Feds' Eyeball Test in St. Louis

St. Louis will end a program that allows groups to decorate crosswalks for the purposes of beautifying and branding neighborhoods. Currently decorated crosswalks can stay, for now.

February 9, 2016 - St. Louis Post-Dispatch

Toll Road Cautionary Tale: Florida's Suncoast Parkway

The Suncoast Parkway has produced $22 million a year in revenue after a consultant said it would bring in $150 million a year. Yet the Florida Department of Transportation wants to expand the road.

February 9, 2016 - Tampa Bay Times

A New Generation of Subway Cars Coming to New York

The first "open gangway" subway cars are due to arrive in New York in 2020. These cars enable passengers to freely walk between cars without having to struggle to open doors to access an adjacent car.

February 9, 2016 - The New York Times

Madrid to Blanket Itself in Green for Climate Change Resilience

Madrid, already famous for deciding to impose stringent limitations on driving, has a plan to blanket the city in green to increase its resilience to the effects of climate change.

February 8, 2016 - Fast Co.Exist

Eminent Domain, Northern Pass Enter New Hampshire Republican Debate

One of the more lively parts of Saturday night's Republican debate were the interactions between candidates Donald Trump, Jeb Bush, and the audience who booed Trump. But it hid a more serious matter—the use of eminent domain for the Northern Pass.

February 8, 2016 - Raw Story

Formidable Barriers Threaten Penn Station Renovation

Last month N.Y. Gov. Andrew Cuomo proposed that Empire Station replace Penn Station, but many challenging parts, e.g., the Hudson River Tunnels, moving Madison Square Garden, could derail it. A related piece delves into the prior ARC tunnel project.

February 7, 2016 - Fox Business

Garbage Truck

Minnesotans Clash Over Organized Trash Collection

Instead of letting trash collection companies compete to serve customers, several Minnesota cities are negotiating contracts on behalf of their citizens. The measure, which reduces garbage truck traffic, has prompted backlash.

February 7, 2016 - StarTribune

Tunnel Projects Pitched to Ease London's Traffic

London's mayor has proposed a solution to tackle the city's congestion and an expected population increase of 20 percent by 2030: build a system of tunnels to alleviate automobile traffic.

February 6, 2016 - The Guardian

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.