Infrastructure

Gas and Bikes

California's 'Hidden Gas Tax' Arrives, Goes Unnoticed

The oil industry was predicting motorist outrage and an increase in gas prices of around 70-cents due to the carbon charge effective in the state on January 1. Some prices increased 10-cents, but went largely unnoticed.

January 6, 2015 - San Diego Union-Tribune

California High Speed Rail Breaks Ground Today in Fresno

The long-beleaguered California High Speed Rail project will have a historic moment today, January 6. The media's coverage of the event indicates the yet-to-be-determined future of the project.

January 6, 2015 - Los Angeles Times

Seattle Light Rail Construction

Transit Projects to Watch in 2015

The Transport Politic provides its seventh annual list of major transit investments, finding an enormous amount of effort and funds going into improving transportation systems around North America.

January 6, 2015 - the transport politic

Upheaval at New York State Thruway Authority

The New York State authority with responsibility for the Thruway system, including the Tappan Zee Bridge as the most famous of its 809 bridges, is weathering leadership changes and a dismal budget shortfall.

January 5, 2015 - WNYC

Key Senate Republican Opens Door to Gas Tax Increase

Senator John Thune (R-S.D.), current ranking member and incoming chairman of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation surprised the media when he announced on a Sunday morning talk show that a gas tax increase is possible.

January 5, 2015 - National Monitor

Streetsblog Presents 'Streetsie Awards' for the Best and Worst of Transportation

Tanya Snyder writes of the results of the 2014 "Streetsies Awards," based on the votes of Streetsblog readers.

January 5, 2015 - Streetsblog USA

Clearing Up Myths on the Federal Gas Tax

In this Washington Post opinion, Paul Bledsoe, former staff member of the Senate Finance Committee, clears up five common misunderstandings about the federal gas tax to inform discussions on America's infrastructure funding crisis

January 4, 2015 - The Washington Post

Atlanta Streetcar

Atlanta Streetcar Finally Opens

It's 'back to the future' for Atlanta's $98 million investment that opened Dec. 30, although these will be modern, not vintage, streetcars that operate on a small loop. Streetcars last operated here in 1949. Mayor Reed intends to lengthen the route.

January 3, 2015 - The New York Times

Low Oil Prices Adds to Texas Transportation Budget Shortfall

Plummeting oil prices means Texans are seeing savings at the gas pump, but they also mean reduced revenue due to Proposition 1, the November 4 ballot measure that diverted energy taxes from the state's rainy day fund to the transportation budget.

January 3, 2015 - The Dallas Morning News

Minnesota Governor Mark Dayton Proposes Gas Tax

The tax would be a wholesale tax paid by fuel suppliers as has become more common in the last two years, not a retail tax at the gas pump. The Democratic governor's main problem may be his timing—the house flipped to Republican control.

January 2, 2015 - Pioneer Press

New Orleans Streetcar

Has the Streetcar Boom Reached the End of the Line?

Politico takes a critical look at the streetcar trend in American cities—which had some high profile setbacks during 2014—with an eye toward the legacy of the Obama Administration.

January 1, 2015 - Politico

Surveying California's Recent Environmental Accomplishments

Jon Christensen and Mark Gold survey the environmental accomplishments of the Los Angeles region as well as the state of California over the course of the past year.

December 31, 2014 - LA Observed

Rising Seas Create a Catch-22 for Miami Development

Miami is in a race against time to build defenses against climate change and rising sea levels—resilience projects that require property tax revenue generated from luxury developments built in the areas most at risk.

December 31, 2014 - The Washington Post

Street in La Laguna, Canary Island Tenerife, Spain

Top Planning Trends – 2014

A deeper look at the traffic data on Planetizen reveals trends from the planning and urban design conversation of 2014.

December 31, 2014 - James Brasuell

Atlanta International Airport

RFQ Released for Atlanta's Planned 'Airport City'

The city of Atlanta is moving forward with a plan to upgrade the world's busiest airport to "Airport City" status.

December 29, 2014 - Atlanta Business Chronicle

nearmap

An Aerial Photography Tool for Planners

File under tools for the tool kit: Jarrett Walker of Human Transit shares details about Nearmap, an aerial photography tool that serves as a helpful alternative to Google Earth.

December 29, 2014 - Human Transit

Can a 32-Acre Mixed-Use Development Block an Oil-By-Rail Facility in Time?

Environmentalists and developers are in a race against time to prevent a proposed oil-by-rail facility in Vancouver, Washington.

December 29, 2014 - New York Times

Explaining the Ups and Downs of U.S. Wind Power

A Vox post explains the fickle trends of wind power production in the United States.

December 27, 2014 - Vox

Polk Street Bikes

Is America's Best Bike Lane Overrated?

The SF Examiner reports on America's top-rated bike lane, as rated by People for Bikes. The protected contraflow lane runs from Market Street to Grove Street, all of two blocks; only one block in opposite direction is separated

December 27, 2014 - San Francisco Examiner

Northern Avenue Bridge Shut Down in Boston

The Northern Avenue Bridge in Boston—a 100-year-old swing bridge used by pedestrians and cyclists—was closed abruptly due to structural defects.

December 26, 2014 - The Boston Globe

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.