Infrastructure
Transit Use Thrives on Destination Density
If jobs, services, and other urban amenities are concentrated downtown, suburbanites can use transit to get there quickly without a car. Job sprawl makes transit useless outside central districts.
25 Coal Power Plants to Shutter in Michigan in Five Years
Credit EPA emission regulations for the decisions by utilities to close the aging plants. Michigan receives half its power from coal—the most polluting fossil fuel. The new Clean Power Plan rule will cause more remaining plants to close in time.
New York's Visionary Model of Utilities Reform
Utilities profit from building more power plants—a flawed model for a diminishing natural monopoly.
How Planners Are Helping Build Healthy Food Infrastructure in Boise
The Idaho Plan4Health Coalition is exemplifying the role of planning in improving public health outcomes connected to healthy food and nutrition.
Financing Finally Complete for the NBA Arena of Sacramento's Dreams
Sacramento's parking revenues will pay for the city's share of the arena construction loan.
California Adopts One of Nation's Highest Renewable Energy Mandates
Gov. Jerry Brown signed stripped-down legislation that sets a target for the state of generating 50 percent of electricity from renewable sources by 2030 and doubling energy efficiency standards in buildings by the same year.
Dallas' CityMAP Project Looks to Reimagine Downtown Connectivity
Local officials, planners, and other civic leaders have joined together to look at how the city can bring neighborhoods split by freeways back together again.
Charger Rage Hits Electric Vehicle Country in California
All is not copacetic in the Bay Area's EV community. An apparent shortage of electric vehicle chargers is causing incidents where EV owners disregard proper 'charging etiquette' and unplug the charger from other EVs to charge their own vehicle.
SunRail Phase II Receives $93.4 Million FTA Grant
Florida's SunRail commuter rail received a $93.4 grant from the Federal Transit Administration to extend the 61-mile line. The grant will cover half the capital costs for the 17.2-mile extension from Orlando to Osceola County.
Connecticut Gov. Malloy Picks Sides in the Highway Widening Debate
Connecticut Governor Dan Malloy sees potential benefits in economic development and congestion reduction in a pair of highway widening proposals in his state.
From the Bridge to Nowhere Files: Florida's West Bay Parkway
An examination of the proposed plan for the West Bay Parkway in Florida reveals many holes, a wasteful project, and the need for more accountability in transportation planning.
D.C. Turns Poop to Power
No, the title does not refer to Congress, it is meant to be taken literally: It is about the District of Columbia's sewage treatment plant that produces renewable energy by treating its biosolids with a new hydrolysis technology imported from Norway.
Transportation Formula: Increase Gas Tax, Then Fix Roads and Bridges
The Idaho Department of Transportation wasted no time in doing what they promised after the legislature passed a seven-cents gas tax and registration fee increase in April: repairing roads and bridges with the new funds the state split with cities.
Ambitious Subway Agenda Endorsed by Transportation Secretary Foxx
When San Francisco Supervisor Scott Wiener proclaimed last month that his city "should always have a subway under construction," there were many doubters due to the funds required and unlikelihood of federal support. "Aggressive" is good, says Foxx.
The 'Energy Atlas' of Los Angeles County Lets Planners and Citizens Track Energy Use
"Not knowing which kinds of buildings consume what is like not being able to gauge differences between a diesel truck and a hybrid car."
The Salt Lake City Recipe: Remove Parking, Add Bike Lanes, Watch Sales Increase
A new study of the benefits of a bike lane project in Salt Lake City adds to the body of work suggesting that complete streets overhauls are a good investment for both the public and the private sectors.
Report Grades California's Rail Stations on Neighborhood Service
A report by Next 10 takes the form of a scorecard for six light and heavy rail networks. Rail that serves existing urbanized areas scored the highest.
Major Transit Service Improvements in Seattle
Late last month, the final phase of Seattle's Prop. 1 went into effect, bringing across-the-board improvements to bus and train frequency.
Portland Seeking the Right Price for New Permit Parking
With several Portland neighborhoods adding overnight permit parking, the city will be tackling the issue of how to price the new permits.
9 Dams Breached in South Carolina Flooding
The state of South Carolina is struggling to deal with a catastrophic sign that all of the warnings about the state of the nation's dams and bridges have gone unheeded for too long.
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.
planning NEXT
Appalachian Highlands Housing Partners
Gallatin County Department of Planning & Community Development
Mpact (founded as Rail~Volution)
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
City of Portland
City of Laramie
