Infrastructure

Ohio DOT Looking to the Public for Answers

The Ohio Department of Transportation is looking for feedback from the public on how best to expand services to meet growing demand despite an ongoing shortage of funding.

October 22, 2014 - The Cleveland Plain Dealer

Progress for Cook County's Long Range Transportation Plan; Funding Questions Remain

Chicago's home county this year launched its first transportation since 1940. Initial outreach efforts have produced a draft vision statement and four planning scenarios.

October 21, 2014 - Chi.Streetsblog

Houston's downtown skyline

The New Traffic Forecast: Modest Growth, then Decline

Clark Williams-Derry shares news of what he calls "far and away the most responsible official traffic forecast I’ve seen from any government agency, ever."

October 21, 2014 - Sightline Daily

Calling on Urban Designers to Lead the Fight Against Climate Change

Alan G. Brake writes an editorial calling on the architecture and urbanism fields to push even further to reduce carbon emissions by designing (and upgrading) efficient buildings.

October 21, 2014 - The Architect's Newspaper

Obituary: William J. Ronan, Founder of New York's MTA

One of the most important officials in New York State transportation history died Oct. 15: William J. Ronan, who took on Robert Moses to form the country's largest, most diversified transportation agency, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority.

October 21, 2014 - The New York Times

Pedestrian Intersection

Intersection Designs that Prioritize Pedestrian Safety

Following the idea that pedestrian safety takes its cues from planners, Rachel Dovey's article on pedestrian safety lists six intersection designs that "actually prioritize pedestrians."

October 20, 2014 - Next City

Transform's New GreenTrip Parking Database

A new database from the Oakland-based Transform group maps and tracks unused parking spaces in multifamily housing developments.

October 18, 2014 - Streetsblog LA

No Shortage of Investors Lining Up to Operate Bankrupt Toll Road

Many were surprised when the Indiana Toll Road's operator declared bankruptcy on September 22. Just as surprising may be all the interest by global investors in bidding to replace the bankrupt Australian-Spanish consortium as the new operator.

October 17, 2014 - Reuters

Report: Expect Regular Coastal Floods Within 15 Years

Climate change and rising seas will mean higher flood risks for cities. But when exactly will impactful flooding become a regular occurrence? New analysis by the Union of Concerned Scientists says that time is fast approaching.

October 17, 2014 - Climate Central

How D.C.'s 11th Street Bridge Will Transform Infrastructure into Civic Space

Across the US, cities increasingly view waterfronts as opportunities for green space. Once tied to industrial uses, river fronts now offer a chance to repurpose existing infrastructure for public use.

October 17, 2014 - The Planning Report

Underfunded, Deadly Road Infrastructure in Texas

Bloomberg News investigates a rash of road deaths in the Midland-Odessa region, attributing the fatalities to underfunded road infrastructure, increased population, and truck traffic. A November ballot measure may provide some relief.

October 16, 2014 - Bloomberg News

Tysons Corner

D.C.'s New Metro Line Already Influencing the Suburbs

The Silver Line opened two and a half months ago. Already, with strong ridership in both directions, some businesses are seeing new opportunities.

October 15, 2014 - Elevation DC

Cincinnati's First Cycle Track Overcame Controversy, Now Open for Bikers

The Central Parkway Cycle Track is open in Cincinnati, having overcome the controversies that almost led to the project's demise.

October 15, 2014 - Urban Cincy

An Ancient, Neighborhood-Based Technology could Heat Vancouver

A system similar to that which heated Roman baths could become a key cog in the future of heating in Vancouver, British Columbia.

October 15, 2014 - Citiscope

What Next for 'Rebuild By Design'?

The Rebuild By Design competition attracted plenty of hoopla thanks to its $920 million and the critical need for projects that protect coastal cities as sea levels rise. Now that the winners have been picked, how will they deliver on their promise?

October 15, 2014 - The Architect's Newspaper

Philadelphia Studying Reuse of Defunct Underground Rail Line

Ryan Briggs reports on the planning study bringing new hope to efforts to activate or repurpose the "City Branch," a dormant subterranean rail line in Philadelphia.

October 14, 2014 - Next City

Progress for San Francisco's Ambitious Bike Plans

Ariel Rosenstock updates San Francisco's progress in implementing the vision set forth by the 2009 San Francisco Bicycle Plan.

October 13, 2014 - The Architect's Newspaper

New York Department of City Planning Releases Flood Retrofitting Manual

As federal law shifts to address resilience in post-Hurricane Sandy New York, the Department of City Planning has released a new manual to help residents and landowners understand options for retrofitting their buildings to prepare for floods.

October 13, 2014 - New York Department of City Planning

More Evidence that a Fully Funded MAP-21 Reauthorization is Possible

Rep. Bill Shuster, chairman of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, is the second powerful congressman to state that a fully funded, five to six year reauthorization bill can be done, acknowledging that funding challenges lie ahead.

October 13, 2014 - AASHTO Journal

How to Solve the Looming Water Crisis

David Sedlak, author of "Water 4.0: The Past, Present, and Future of the World's Most Vital Resource," explains how the deepening obsolescence of our water infrastructure is reaching crisis status.

October 12, 2014 - Vox

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.