Infrastructure

Possible Competition for Bay Area Bike Share

With Bay Area Bike Share serving nearby Redwood City in San Mateo County, it might seem odd that the city of San Mateo would look elsewhere for starting a bike share program. However, the city of almost 103,000 did not want a "hub-based" model.

November 28, 2015 - Silicon Valley Business Journal

Crumbling road

Iowa DOT Chief Takes Novel Approach to Transportation Infrastructure

The strategy of Iowa's Department of Transportation chief, Paul Trombino III, for maintaining the state's "25,000 bridges, 114,000 miles of roadway, and more than 4,000 miles of rail" is not to do so. In a word, "shrinkage" is part of the solution.

November 27, 2015 - KCRG-TV9

Risk and Reward Debated in Big Tacoma Gas Plant Investments

Two new gas plants will join a host of other oil and gas infrastructure in the Tacoma Tideflats. The question is how much risk is the area taking on, and is it worth it?

November 27, 2015 - Tacoma Weekly

New Oil and Gas Drilling Rules Proving Thorny in Colorado

A goal for the Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission to have established new rules for oil and gas drilling is looking less likely with each fruitless hearing.

November 25, 2015 - The Denver Post

Alberta Announces Landmark Climate Protection Strategy

Alberta Premier Rachel Notley announced a transformative three-pronged climate protection plan on November 22 that will cap greenhouse gas emissions from oil sands development, add a carbon tax, and phase-out coal power plants.

November 25, 2015 - CTV

Los Angeles Streetlights

Los Angeles Changes Color

Adam Rogers chronicles Los Angeles' long and intimate relationship with the electric light. The city's recent choice to adopt LED streetlights has transformed a classic nighttime into something new.

November 24, 2015 - BOOM: A Journal of California

Critiquing the 2015 TIGER Grants: More Isn't Always Better

According to a scathing critique of the most recent round of TIGER funding, many of the awarded projects fall far below the quality that transit advocates expect.

November 24, 2015 - The Century Foundation

A Planner's Perspective on Brazil's Water Crisis

With water shortages in São Paulo making headlines around the world, Brazil is rethinking its approach to water infrastructure. Arup's Pablo Lazo gives his perspective on the various entities that are acting for change.

November 23, 2015 - Doggerel

Pedestrians

Walkability: Good Money After Bad

"We're investing in walkability," always sounds like an encouraging tagline from local governments...or does it?

November 23, 2015 - PlaceShakers

Some Transportation Funding Gimmicks Are Worse than Others

Carl Davis of the Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy wants a gas tax increase, not gimmicks, to fund the 6-year transportation bill. Not likely. As bad as they are, they are better than resorting to a repatriation tax, notes the press release.

November 23, 2015 - Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy

Delaware River Port Authority Approves Discount for Frequent Drivers

With some extra cash on hand (rare, isn't it?) the Delaware River Port Authority will offer a discount for drivers that cross authority bridges 18 times a month. But what about transit riders?

November 22, 2015 - philly.com

New Groundwater Regulations Taking Shape in California

Out of sheer necessity, the state of California has embarked on a new process for regulating the use of groundwater.

November 20, 2015 - Capital Press

Northern California City Protests Closure Of Popular Rail Crossing

State rail officials decided that the risk posed by Sonoma Marin Area Rail Transit trains is too grave to allow an existing grade crossing to remain open, forcing pedestrians and a cyclists out of their way to cross the tracks.

November 20, 2015 - The Press Democrat

Opponents to California High-Speed Rail Board: Show Us the Money!

Bereft of private investment, how can the $68 billion project proceed? That's the question about 20 members of the public repeated in their public comments at Tuesday's High-Speed Rail Authority meeting in Fresno. To their surprise, it was answered.

November 20, 2015 - Fresno Bee

Two-Way Streets Coming Soon to Dallas' Victory Park

The city of Dallas got the memo about the benefits of converting one-way streets to two-ways. Two streets in the Victory Park neighborhood will be reconfigured this weekend.

November 19, 2015 - The Dallas Morning News

Toll Road Truck

A Texas Toll Road Struggling to Induce Demand

Texas 130 has failed to live up to its revenue potential, leaving the private company that operates the road in junk bond status.

November 18, 2015 - San Antonio Express News

Northern Virginia Considering a New Light Rail or Bus Rapid Transit Line

One of the busiest corridors in Northern Virginia, both in traffic and development, is under consideration for a new transit line.

November 18, 2015 - WAMU

Electric Car

Report: Electric Vehicles Best Option in Most of U.S.

A new Union of Concerned Scientists report shows that due to considerable gains made in cleaning the electric grid and in producing electric vehicles more efficiently, EVs are the environmentally sensible choice.

November 18, 2015 - Union Of Concerned Scientists

Downtown Oakland

To Connect Oakland—Remove the I-980 Freeway

A grassroots, ambitious vision called Connect Oakland is gaining steam in the East Bay city. The key element of the plan's ambition: replacing the I-980 Freeway with an urban boulevard and new housing.

November 17, 2015 - San Francisco Chronicle

Door Zone

Reactions to Cleveland's Backwards Bike Lane

A photo of a "backwards" buffered bike lane in Cleveland prompts commentary from the planning community. What is gained by separating bike lane and curb?

November 16, 2015 - People for Bikes

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.