Infrastructure

Mapping Chicago's 375 Tax Increment Financing Projects

A new mapping project allows new access to information about Chicago's controversial tax increment financing mechanism. Now at least the debate will include visuals.

May 6, 2015 - Curbed Chicago

Highlights from CNU 23 Dallas

Having just wrapped up a great CNU in Dallas, April 29 through May 2, a collection of urbanists share some of the ideas that resonated the most.

May 6, 2015 - PlaceShakers

Politicos Hope to Speed Up Central Florida's $2.3 Billion Highway Project

Inside the push to speed up the project known as I-4 Ultimate in Central Florida—the $2.3 billion would tear down and rebuild 40 miles of the interstate.

May 5, 2015 - Orlando Business Journal

20 Years of Planning for Streetcars in Washington, D.C.

In anticipation of the expected opening of the H Street/Benning Road streetcar line in Washington, D.C., Peter Dovak examines the evolution of streetcar planning over the past 20 years.

May 5, 2015 - Greater Greater Washington

Northbound Amtrak

Why Is American Passenger Rail So Far Behind?

In a segment for WNYC, journalist Simon van Zuylen-Wood discusses Amtrak's current status as a "national embarrassment." Decades of lackluster investment, he argues, make it difficult to prove demand in the first place.

May 5, 2015 - WNYC

Older Oil Tank Rail Cars Face Three-Year Deadline to be Replaced

Following up on last month's emergency rule addressing trains speeds, the Transportation Department issued new rules addressing tanker car standards, long thought to be one of the most important factors contributing to fiery oil tank car explosions.

May 4, 2015 - The New York Time - Energy & Environment

Cancellation an Option as Costs Jump for Minneapolis' Light Rail Extension

An already controversial project got bad news earlier this week, as substantial increases in the expected cost of the Southwest LRT extension added more fuel to the fire for opponents of the project.

May 3, 2015 - MinnPost

Toll Lanes Continue to Spread on Southern California Freeways

To the chagrin of many Orange County transportation leaders, two express lanes will be added to each direction on a 14-mile stretch of the 405 (San Diego) Freeway, one through conversion, and a general purpose lane funded in part by Measure M added.

May 3, 2015 - KPCC

Bicycle traffic light in Berlin

Has Alternative Transportation Received Too Much Attention?

Joseph Stomberg of Vox has initiated a series of articles on commuting in America, the first based on the issues explaining the domination of the auto, the second on the debate about the driving decline associated with millennials.

May 3, 2015 - Vox

Survey Says: Invest in Walking in East Portland

The results of a multi-lingual survey of residents in East Portland produced surprising results about which transportation investments are most desired.

May 2, 2015 - Bike Portland

On the Texas-Sized Failure of Regional Transportation Planning

The Dallas Morning News investigated over promising and under delivering by regional mobility authorities in Texas.

May 2, 2015 - The Dallas Morning News

Bill to End Colorado's Rain Barrel Ban Floundering in the State Senate

The state that bears the same name as the river that provides water for much of the western United States is also the last state in the country to ban the use of residential water barrels.

May 1, 2015 - American Rivers

Silicon Valley's Latest Innovation: Recycled Water

A proposed $800 million facility in Santa Clara County will put recycled water on the tech boom's doorstep.

May 1, 2015 - San Jose Mercury News

Study Compares Natural and Hybrid Infrastructure Options for Coastal Protection

As coastal communities look for new ways to build resilience, they'll need to consider options such as the natural and hybrid systems compared in a new study by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

April 30, 2015 - NOAA

The Bike Highway That Almost Was

In this excerpt from the new book "LAtitudes: An Angeleno's Atlas," author Dan Koeppel tracks the 1899 Bicycle Highway from Los Angeles to Pasadena to discover why it was never finished.

April 30, 2015 - Gizmodo

Appropriations Committee Would Cut Half of D.C. Metro's Funding

A Republican spending bill would slash funding for the D.C. Metro by half. Local Democrats have called the proposal shortsighted and ill timed.

April 30, 2015 - The Hill

Federal Gas Tax Index 'Dead on Arrival' Warns House Majority Leader

The "Bridge to Sustainable Infrastructure Act" does not appear sustainable to Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.), citing gas prices of $3.20 per gallon in his district in Bakersfield. A year ago, the average price in California was $4.26.

April 30, 2015 - The Hill

Protected Bike Lane Added to Cleveland's 'Opportunity Corridor' Mix

Few planning efforts in the country have provoked as much commentary and criticism as Cleveland's $330 million Opportunity Corridor. The city recently pushed for more improvements, and the state seems receptive.

April 29, 2015 - The Plain Dealer

Mt. Hood and Traffic

A Serious Shortcoming in Oregon's Road Usage Charge?

Business providers have been chosen; the website is operating with a calculator and awaiting 5,000 participants to register. But is the 1.5 cent per mile flat rate an inherent flaw of the OReGO road usage charge program?

April 29, 2015 - Planetizen

Army Corps Finally Clears Way for Dallas' Trinity River Project

A long time coming—the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers now supports a comprehensive plan to transform the Trinity River in Dallas.

April 29, 2015 - The Dallas Morning News

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.

Senior Manager Operations, Urban Planning

New York City School Construction Authority

Building Inspector

Village of Glen Ellyn

Manager of Model Development

Central Transportation Planning Staff/Boston Region MPO

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.