Infrastructure

Asian Cities are the World's Safest

The Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) released its Safe Cities Index 2015, finding that Asian cities lead the world in several measures of security.

February 9, 2015 - Global Post

The Return of the Ferry to the Big Apple—to All Five Boroughs

Ferries, New York City's first commuter mode, will return big-time if Mayor Bill de Blasio gets his way. Judging by how well the proposal in his February 3 State of the City address was received, he will.

February 6, 2015 - The New York Times - N.Y. / Region

Philadelphia Skyline

Pennsylvania Comes 'Round To Roundabouts

When two roads meet in William Penn's Forest, what do you do? New plans from the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation say, increasingly, you build a roundabout. No fewer than forty are on the drawing board throughout the state.

February 5, 2015 - Philadelphia Magazine

Gas Tax vs. Carbon Charge Debate Looms in Washington State

The Republican chair of the Senate Transportation Committee is considering an 11.5-cent gas tax increase, setting up a potential conflict with Gov. Jay Inslee's preference to apply a carbon charge to industrial emissions to fund transportation.

February 4, 2015 - KUOW

Vancouver Protected Bike Lane

An Inventory of Protected Bike Lanes

Cities around the United States have built nearly as many protected bike lanes in the past two years as they did in the previous 140.

February 4, 2015 - Green Lane Project

Brooklyn Bridge

A Map of Every Bridge in the United States

Mapping the nation's 600,000 bridges reveals a remarkably fine-grained map of…the nation.

February 3, 2015 - The Washington Post - Wonkblog

Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker Drops Gas Tax Hike in Favor of Bond Financing

Walker had supported increasing the gas tax and user fees last November, but now that he's being taken as a serious contender for the Republican nomination for president, he's changed his transportation funding preference to increased bonding.

February 3, 2015 - Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

Unlikely Duo Propose Alternative to Obama's Tax to Fund Infrastructure

A few days before President Obama announced his 14 percent offshore corporate profits tax, Sens. Rand Paul and Barbara Boxer teamed-up to announce they would be offering a repatriation tax, somewhat similar to Obama's tax. Both fund infrastructure.

February 3, 2015 - The Bond Buyer

A New Future Proposed for Georgetown

After announcing its Georgetown 2028 Plan last year, the Georgetown Business Improvement District is continuing its ambitious efforts to bring new facilities and amenities online in Georgetown.

February 3, 2015 - The Washington Post

Google Fiber Expands to Four Southeastern Cities

Google announced last week it plans to expand high speed internet service in four fiber-ready cities, including Nashville, Atlanta, Charlotte, and Raleigh-Durham.

February 3, 2015 - The Raleigh News & Observer

A New Interactive Mapping Tool Showcases Chicago Region's Mobility Infrastructure Needs

A new interactive mapping tool, created by the Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning, makes the case for a renewed, regional focus on the infrastructure that moves the region.

February 2, 2015 - Next City

Obama 2016 Budget: New Tax to Yield $238 Billion for Highway Trust Fund

President Barack Obama is expected to propose a one-time, 14-percent tax on overseas profits from companies, resulting in a contribution of $238 billion toward a total $478 billion, six-year Highway Trust Fund package. But will Republicans agree?

February 2, 2015 - The Hill

Emanuel Campaign Announces Neighborhood-Level Infrastructure Plans

Mayor Rahm Emanuel, busy on the campaign trail for re-election this week, made a big push for infrastructure investments at the neighborhood level.

February 1, 2015 - Rahm for Chicago

Senate Passes Keystone XL Authorization Bill: What's Next?

The new Republican-controlled Senate achieved its first major legislative victory on Thursday (Jan. 29) by passing S.1 to authorize construction of the Keystone XL pipeline. Five more votes are needed to override a potential presidential veto.

January 31, 2015 - The Hill

'Next Silicon Valley' Ambitions in Las Vegas

What will it take for Las Vegas to fulfill its ambitions to become a hub of the tech industry?

January 30, 2015 - Las Vegas Sun

Pedestrian and Bike Improvements Coming to Brooklyn's DUMBO Neighborhood

The New York City Department of Transportation is moving forward with a series of pedestrian and bike infrastructure improvements in a neighborhood built in the shadow of some of the city's most highest profile transportation infrastructure.

January 30, 2015 - StreetsBlog NYC

Will Plummeting Gas Prices Threaten Recent Transit Ridership Gains?

As gas prices have fallen, driving has increased. October driving mileage figures show an increase of 3 percent from a year earlier. A shift away from public transit may cause transit providers to rethink expansion plans.

January 30, 2015 - The Wall Street Journal

A Guide to Department of Transportation Success

As communities are rethinking the dominant paradigms of the last 60 years of transportation planning, traditional funding mechanisms are coming up well short of needs. A new guidebook will help state DOTs sort it all out.

January 29, 2015 - Smart Growth for America

Dam Removal Goes Mainstream

In 20 years, dam removal has gone from a "fringe notion" to "wide acceptance." National Geographic explains how and why this sea change occurred.

January 28, 2015 - National Geographic

Local Revenue Funding More Bay Area Road Maintenance

The greater Bay Area is enjoying a substantial increase in road maintenance funding from local measures, like bonds, city and county sales taxes, and development fees, part of a growing trend in compensating for a shortage of state gas tax funds.

January 27, 2015 - Inside Bay Area.com

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

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.