Infrastructure

California's Largest Dam Removal Underway in Monterey County

Even in an epic drought, the long-awaited commencement of the $83 million San Clemente Dam removal project is welcomed as the obsolete dam posed a safety threat to downstream communities and provided very little water due to tremendous silt build-up.

August 11, 2015 - Monterey Herald

Wheelchair Curb Cut

25 Years of the Americans With Disabilities Act

Twenty-five years have passed since the United States approved a civil rights law with broad and positive affect on the build environment as we've come to know it.

August 10, 2015 - Curbed

First Senate Bill Introduced to Raise Gas Tax

Carper, a Democrat, hopes to take advantage of historically low gas prices to hike the federal fuel taxes four cents a year for four years to end reliance on General Funds to fund transportation spending. Increased credits would offset the tax hike.

August 9, 2015 - The Hill

Gov. Andrew Cuomo: Contemporary New York's Version of Robert Moses?

In a comprehensive look at the New York governor's attraction to big infrastructure projects, the analogy to Robert Moses is made by the Regional Plan Association, while the right-leaning Manhattan Institute faults Cuomo for ignoring MTA.

August 8, 2015 - The New York Times - N.Y. / Region

Bay Area's First Express Lanes Break Ground

The new 23 miles of I-680 express lanes between San Ramon and Walnut Creek in Contra Costa County will begin construction this month, the first of over 500 miles to be built and operated by the Metropolitan Transportation Commission.

August 8, 2015 - Pleasanton Weekly

Minneapolis Green Line University of Minnesota

A Visionary Plan for an Urban Village in Minneapolis-Saint Paul

The Prospect North Partnership intends to build a fully integrated, resource-efficient neighborhood in a prime yet underdeveloped location.

August 8, 2015 - MinnPost

All Aboard Florida Receives Crucial State Backing for $1.75 Billion Loan

The Florida Development Finance Commission voted 3-0 at a contentious meeting to approve the 125 mph, Orlando-Miami privately funded train's request for tax-exempt status. It does not put the state at risk in terms of repaying the loan though.

August 7, 2015 - Orlando Sentinel

Katrina 'Ten Years After': and the Band Plays On

The 10th anniversary of Hurricane Katrina is upon us. Many of us city planners invested whatever skills we thought we had, plus a heavy dose of passionate naivete, to recovery planning in the wake of the 2005 storm.

August 7, 2015 - PlaceShakers

What Does it Take to Keep the Paint Fresh on Bike Lanes?

The bike lane on a well-traveled street through Philadelphia has faded beyond recognition. Appeals to restripe the lane have focused on a forthcoming visit from the pope.

August 7, 2015 - Philadelphia

Uber Sidecar Lyft

Op-Ed: Rideshare Beats Streetcars for Short Trips

Especially for parties with more than one passenger, summoning a car can make more sense, according to a recent op-ed. Transit still wins out for longer trips, but streetcars might just not be worth it downtown.

August 7, 2015 - The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Turnstiles

Strategies for Maximizing Transit Ridership

Jarrett Walker outlines the conditions under which transit serves the greatest number of travelers. Maximizing ridership, he argues, requires thinking like a business and catering to demand.

August 7, 2015 - Human Transit

Bridgeport Rail

Connecticut Shoreline Rail Vulnerable to Floods

Long stretches of Connecticut's "lifeblood" shoreline rail line lie in the path of rising seas and future floods. While moving the tracks further inland is prohibitively expensive, a resilience plan is still needed.

August 7, 2015 - The Connecticut Mirror

Google Celebrates the Birth of the Traffic Light

If you opened Google to do a search on Wednesday, you'd see an image (the "doodle") of a traffic light and six Model-T era cars spelling out the company's name. It was honoring the 101-year anniversary of the birth of the electric traffic light.

August 7, 2015 - Time

How Technology Will Improve Inspection and Maintenance of Streets

A researcher in Pittsburgh could render obsolete the arduous task of manually inspecting streets for cracks and potholes.

August 6, 2015 - Keystone Crossroads

Common Issues Facing Cities—Aggregated from 100 'State of the City' Speeches

Around the country, issues related to the field of planning dominate the public discussion of the "state of the city."

August 6, 2015 - Fast Co.Exist

Swords Into Ploughshares: Guns Transformed Into Rebar for Bridges and Freeways

Guns taken off the streets by California police agencies have become a new source of materials for steel reinforcement on bridges and freeways around the Southwest.

August 4, 2015 - Global Construction Review

Seattle to Rely on Green Stormwater Infrastructure

Seattle Mayor Ed Murray has released a draft plan to overhaul the city's stormwater infrastructure to reduce the pollution levels in Puget Sound.

August 4, 2015 - WaterWorld

A Really, Really Big Fuel Cell Vehicle Possibly Coming to the Bay Area

This vehicle would be larger than a Hummer, a bus, and even an 18-wheeler. Then again, it would not travel on land. The proposal goes by an appropriate acronym: SF-BREEZE. Think fresh air over the bay.

August 3, 2015 - AASHTO Journal

Arpingstone

First Roundabout Comes to New York City

Roundabouts, not to be confused with traffic circles, are becoming popular throughout the United States. The Bronx will get the first one in NYC. The insurance industry and FHWA consider them far safer than traffic lights and stop signs.

August 3, 2015 - The New York Times - Wheels

Miami Temperature

Urban Heat Waves Likely to Hit Harder

Yet another climate change side effect: more frequent urban heat waves. And because urban temperatures tend higher than rural ones, cities should be ready to protect the most vulnerable.

August 2, 2015 - The Nature Conservancy - Cool Green Science

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.

Home and Land Services Coordinator

Appalachian Highlands Housing Partners

Associate/Senior Planner

Gallatin County Department of Planning & Community Development

Senior Planner

Heyer Gruel & Associates PA

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.