Infrastructure

Coming this Spring: Bikeshare Pilot Program in Albuquerque

A coalition of public and private interests have come together in Albuquerque to launch New Mexico's first bikeshare program.

February 28, 2015 - Albuquerque Business First

Survey Finds Surprising Attitudes toward Increasing Gas Tax

If there's a solid take-away from the California Field Poll, it is not to ask residents how they feel about raising gas taxes, or any one option for that matter. Rather, offer a menu of funding alternatives and the results become more meaningful.

February 28, 2015 - Sacramento Bee

State Gas Tax Update: One Up, One Down

This has been an eventful week for gas taxes. To update two posts that appeared recently, Gov. Terry Branstad of Iowa signed legislation that increases the gas tax by 10-cents on March 1. In California, a board voted to decrease the tax by six cents.

February 27, 2015 - KCCI Des Moines

Durham, NC Moving ahead with High-Profile Projects

Durham City Council members may be ready to take on new debt to fund a list of big-ticket parks and transportation projects which would help keep pace with growth and enhance the community.

February 26, 2015 - The Durham News

Op-Ed: Put Ecosystems Before Agriculture in California's Water Crisis

It's been another dry season in California, and the concerns of the state's many water users are not going away. An editorial by one of the state's largest newspapers favors ecosystem protection over the agriculture industry for the year ahead.

February 26, 2015 - San Jose Mercury News

A Planner's look at Public Exercise and Fitness Infrastructure

Los Angeles offers many free or affordable alternatives to private gyms for exercise. Clement Lau, a Los Angeles County parks and recreation planner, goes on to review these resources in Los Angeles' public fitness infrastructure.

February 26, 2015 - UrbDeZine

Iowa on Verge of 10-Cent Hike in Gas Tax—An Increase of 44.44 Percent

If Republican Governor Terry Branstad signs the bi-partisan bill as signs indicate, the increase will be the most significant state transportation funding legislation since Republican Gov. Matt Mead of Wyoming signed a 10-cent increase two years ago.

February 25, 2015 - KCCI Des Moines

704,000 Residents in the Shadow of Philadelphia's Crude-by-Rail Infrastructure

Two major rail lines provide crude oil shipments to refineries and terminals in the Philadelphia metropolitan area. A surprising number of residents would face evacuation in the event of a fire on the route.

February 25, 2015 - Philadelphia Inquirer

DDOT's 2015 Goal: Filling Gaps in Bike Infrastructure

The District Department of Transportation's plans for 2015 include closing critical gaps in the District's bike infrastructure network.

February 23, 2015 - Greater Greater Washington

Drought

Worst Droughts in a Millennium Predicted for Western United States

Research uncovers more evidence for possibly decades-long droughts. Climate change is the likely culprit in effects that may challenge infrastructure and agricultural output throughout the century.

February 23, 2015 - Slate

Broadway Los Angeles

Re-Zoning For Walkability

It often seems that streetscapes' appearances and forms are immutable, but Los Angeles is trying something new. Through a herculean effort called Recode: LA, Los Angeles is rewriting its codes and, consequently, may change how its streets look.

February 23, 2015 - Public CEO

Complete Street Vancouver

Intentional Impermanence: Complete Streets 2.0

Douglas Hausladen, New Haven’s transportation director, envisions building complete streets quickly through a fail-fast approach.

February 23, 2015 - CityLab

Can the Growing Risk of Human-Made Earthquakes Be Managed?

A new study aims to broaden the understanding of an increasing number of human-caused earthquakes. Fracking might not be entirely to blame.

February 22, 2015 - Pacific Standard

Accepting a Deadly Daily Commute

Responding to the New York train crash that killed six this month, Sam Tanenhaus reflects on how commuting got so dangerous and why we don't demand better.

February 21, 2015 - The New Yorker

Bertha on the Move Again in Seattle

Finally, a breakthrough we've all been waiting for: Bertha is on the move again in Seattle and will soon be ready for repairs. The tunnel Bertha was built to drill will have to wait, however.

February 20, 2015 - The Seattle Times

90 Years of Transit Evolution in Melbourne

"Depending on where you live in Melbourne, it could take longer to get into the city than it did in the 1920s," according to an article The Age. But really not much has changed.

February 20, 2015 - The Age (Australia)

Annual Fee to Fund Critical Transportation Projects in California

Under the transportation funding plan proposed by Assembly Speaker Toni Atkins, motorists would pay an annual road user charge of about $50 to help pay for the $59 billion in deferred highway and bridge maintenance that Gov. Brown noted recently.

February 20, 2015 - U-T San Diego

Gas and Bikes

Deep Cut Proposed for California's Gas Tax

A proposal to cut the gas tax by 21 percent would dig a huge hole in the state's transportation budget. It comes from a requirement in 2010 fuel tax swap legislation that doubled the excise tax while reducing the sales tax on gas by 6 percent.

February 19, 2015 - U-T San Diego

Leaky Pipes will Cost Los Angeles at least $1.3 Billion to Fix

The Los Angeles Times offers a broadly ranging, interactive feature on the decrepit state of Los Angeles' water infrastructure.

February 19, 2015 - Los Angeles Times

I-94 to Expand Out (Not Up) in Milwaukee

Wisconsin state transportation officials have settled on a plan to expand the I-94 freeway in Milwaukee—instead of building a double deck freeway through a cemetery the plan is too widen the freeway without disturbing an human remains.

February 19, 2015 - Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

FREE Course: Walkable City 1: Why Walkability?

After describing his path towards focusing on walkability as the essence of good planning, Jeff Speck marches through his five principal reasons for making more walkable places.

Reinventing Malls: Planning Alchemy—Turning Gray Fields Into Gold

The course focuses on the opportunities and imperatives that shape reinvention of mall sites.

Senior Planner

City of Thousand Oaks

Community Development Director

City of Wisconsin Rapids

Professor of Urban Planning

Harvard University Graduate School of Design

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100 Most Influential Urbanists

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Urban Planning Creators You Should Know

A short list of voices on social, video, and podcasting platforms.