Infrastructure

Two L.A. River Experts On Funding, Governance, and Gehry

Los Angeles made progress toward revitalizing the L.A. River when the preferred restoration plan won an important approval. But the project also saw a jump in price and a change in cost-share, leaving some wondering where the money will come from.

August 21, 2015 - The Planning Report

Southeast Seattle Sidewalks

Mapping Fun: Where Seattle Has No Sidewalks

Not all streets are created equal: Some have sidewalks and some don't.

August 21, 2015 - The Urbanist

De Blasio Could Open the Times Square Pedestrian Plaza to Cars

Exotic street performers in the plaza have caused Mayor Bill de Blasio to reconsider his initial opposition to street plazas. Unlike his police commissioner and the governor, de Blasio has yet to make a decision on the removal of Times Square plaza.

August 21, 2015 - The New York Times N.Y. / Region

San Francisco Breaking Down Silos to Plan for Resilience

As San Francisco's Chief Resilience Officer, Patrick Otellini’s job is to beef up city defenses against crises—a broad mandate that has him tackling seismic safety and water security through capital planning, utilities, and housing affordability.

August 20, 2015 - The Planning Report

Wichita State of the City Address

Mayors Are Taking an Interest in Infrastructure

Mayoral races and State of the City speeches highlight the growing political importance of local infrastructure initiatives.

August 20, 2015 - Next City

Kentucky Landfill No Longer Accepting New York's Trash

East Coast states will no longer be able to send their waste to a landfill in Kentucky—where regulators and residents clearly got more than they bargained for.

August 20, 2015 - The Courier-Journal

Sound Transit's East Link Rail Line Needs $20 Million More for Engineering

Sound Transit had to deliver bad news last week about cost overruns in the design and engineering phase of the East Link rail project that will cross Lake Washington along the path of Interstate 90.

August 19, 2015 - The Seattle Times

Los Angeles Freeway

Next Steps for the City of Freeways

It is difficult to imagine a time when Los Angeles' freeways symbolized access, efficiency, and modernity. Now that the city's love affair with freeways is nearly spent, what future do we envision for them?

August 19, 2015 - Los Angeles Times

Complex Traffic Signals Make for Dangerous Intersections

When it comes to intersections, adding more complexity can do more harm than good, according to a recent, detailed post on Greater Greater Washington.

August 19, 2015 - Greater Greater Washington

TIF Shifts to the Suburbs in Minnesota

A common and sometimes controversial funding mechanism is growing in popularity in suburban Minnesota, even as its use in the urban core decreases.

August 17, 2015 - Minneapolis Star Tribune

Debriefing the Former Chair of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey

Crain's New York Business calls on the experience of Chris Ward to the state of infrastructure in New York.

August 16, 2015 - Crain's Business New York

$1.2 Billion 'Energy Strong' Project Construction Making Life Difficult in New Jersey

A complex infrastructure investment project to build resilience into the energy grid is snarling traffic in North and Central New Jersey.

August 14, 2015 - The Record

Port of Houston Breaking Cargo Records

Local businesses and a global economy are driving growth at the Port of Houston. More opportunity growth could be on its way soon, too.

August 14, 2015 - Houston Chronicle

Condition on San Diego's New Airport Parking Lot: Make Sure People Don't Use It

A deal between the San Diego International Airport and the California Coastal Commission will pave the way for a 3,000-space parking garage—in the hopes that people don’t use it.

August 14, 2015 - Voice of San Diego

Small Starts Funding Cut Jeopardizes Critical SMART Train Extension

After a Senate committee slashed the Small Starts grant program, the new Marin-Sonoma "SMART" train may not be extended from San Rafael to the Larkspur ferry landing, a critical link enabling rail commuters to take the ferry to San Francisco.

August 14, 2015 - Marin Independent Journal

Florida County Commissioners to Vote on Increased Gas Tax

Florida counties have their own gas taxes and can raise them without going to a vote by the people. Due to a road budget shortfall, the Santa Rosa County Commission will vote on August 13 whether to raise the gas tax as much as six cents per gallon.

August 14, 2015 - Pensacola NewsJournal

Davis Sign

The Protected Intersection for Bicycles Has Arrived

The city of Davis, California, a college town with extremely high commute mode share for bikes, made history last week as the first U.S. city to build a protected intersection for bikes.

August 13, 2015 - The Davis Enterprise

The 1989 Roots of Louisiana's Transportation Funding Mess

Incomplete projects proposed in the Transportation Infrastructure Model for Economic Development plan have saddled Louisiana with increasing debt and less money for maintenance.

August 13, 2015 - The Advocate

A Call for Long-Term Federal Transportation Funding

When Congress recently failed yet again to pass a long-term surface transportation bill, Representative Earl Blumenauer decided it was time for a reality check.

August 12, 2015 - The Planning Report

San Jose Arterial Street

Another Study Shows That Narrow Is Safer Than Wide for Traffic Lanes

Better Cities & Towns gives its imprimatur to the "narrower is better" approach to lane width for traffic safety thanks to a study by Toronto transportation planner, Dewan Masud Karim, presented at the Canadian ITE annual conference.

August 12, 2015 - Better Cities & Towns

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.