Infrastructure

Should Birmingham Double Down on Downtown-Dividing Interstate?

A innovative approach to I-20/59 could thrust downtown Birmingham past other revitalizing cities, but the state has been reluctant to think outside the box.

June 25, 2013 - The Birmingham News

Bicyclists White House

A Dutch Evaluation of American Cycling

Warning: This five-minute video may be the most critical evaluation of American cycling conditions you will ever watch. After viewing, you may understand what separates cycling in the U.S. from that in The Netherlands - it's not just infrastructure.

June 24, 2013 - Bicycle Dutch

New Report Calls Attention to Need for Critical Bridge Funding

It may have been serendipity, but Transportation for America's new report on the sorry state of America's bridges, 11% are structurally deficient, was released the same day that a temporary replacement span opened on the Skagit River bridge in Wash.

June 23, 2013 - USA Today

Nice Tramway

Three Everyday Ways to Inspire Urban Change

Chuck Wolfe suggests three, perhaps non-traditional ideas for how to inspire acceptance of change in our cities through accessible experiences.

June 23, 2013 - The Huffington Post

It's Time to Turn Back the Clock on Slum Upgrading

In the 1970s and 80s, bottom-up slum upgrading schemes inspired by the ideas of British-born architect James F.C. Turner benefited tens of thousands of residents of Mumbai. Current policies incentivize top-down redevelopment, harming slum dwellers.

June 21, 2013 - Next City

How Many Bikes is Too Many?

Is it possible for a city to have too many bikes? In Amsterdam, a city known as much for its cycling culture as for its canals, the battle for street space and parking spaces has some residents pondering whether there are too many bikes.

June 21, 2013 - The New York Times

The Ideal City is....an Equation?

What is the apt metaphor for a city? Machines? Insect colonies? In a new paper, physicist Luis Bettencourt says that if we look to the function of cities we find that they're essentially social reactors that obey universal mathematical parameters.

June 21, 2013 - The Atlantic Cities

1111 Lincoln Road Garage Miami

Miami Beach Makes Transportation Infrastructure Sexy

From parking garages to its bike-share program, and streetscape improvements to trails that integrate nature and city life, Miami has taken a stylish but pedestrian-friendly approach to transportation decisions, says Claudia Kousoulas.

June 21, 2013 - Better! Cities & Towns

Brazil Bus Fare Increases Rescinded; Will Mass Protests End?

The mass protests that have swept through Brazilian cities over the past week where sparked by planned bus fare increases, but quickly expanded to encompass a variety of complaints. Will the protests end now that fares have been lowered?

June 20, 2013 - WNYC: Transportation Nation

Highway Robbery: America's Trillion Dollar Dirty Little Secret

It’s time to recognize that we can’t maintain the roads we have now, and that continuing down the path of highway expansion is both unaffordable and unnecessary, writes Stu Sirota.

June 20, 2013 - Better! Cities & Towns

With Improvements, Baltimore Seeks to Steal D.C.'s Thunder...and Residents

The last decade has brought tremendous growth and prosperity to Washington D.C., but it's neighbor to the north hasn't been so blessed. Planned infrastructure improvements are intended to lure new residents to Baltimore's cheaper cost of living.

June 19, 2013 - Washington Business Journal

Hybrid and Electric Vehicle Fees are Here to Stay, and Spreading

It may seem counter-intuitive to charge extra fees for the cleanest, most fuel-efficient vehicles on the road today - including those that qualify for a federal $7,500 credit. But ten states are doing just that to keep roads well-funded.

June 19, 2013 - The New American

America's Most Urban President Should Embrace Its Cities

While he cannot do much to rewrite the Constitution, which favors rural America, or reverse a century of history, which gave rise to the suburbs, Obama, the most urban president, can do more to embrace the city as an innovation incubator.

June 18, 2013 - Financial Times

Iowa Gov. Rules Out Taxes, Fees, and Tolls to Fund Transportation Projects

To the chagrin of many state legislators, Gov. Terry Branstad opposes new revenue measures to fund transportation projects, as he believes he is following the wishes of his constituents. Tax cuts, not increases, are on his agenda.

June 17, 2013 - Waterloo Cedar Falls Courier

Chicago's $218 Million Unfinished Basement

Greg Hinz tours the unfinished 'superstation' under Block 37 in the central Loop, built by the Chicago Transit Authority at a cost of $218 million. It would cost an estimated $150 million to complete, a sum that's unlikely to be raised anytime soon.

June 17, 2013 - Crain's Chicago Business

How Will the Government Manage China's Great Urban Leap?

Ian Johnson explores a pivotal moment in China's development, as the country seeks to migrate 250 million rural residents to cities in the next 12 years. Observers speculate on how a comprehensive urbanization plan will achieve this transition.

June 17, 2013 - The New York Times

Celebrating the Federal Gas Tax

Tax attorney Kelly Phillips Erb pens a colorful narrative upon the 81st birthday of the federal gas tax, showing the interesting history of this now controversial tax. It began on June 6, 1932 to close general budget gaps, not build roads.

June 16, 2013 - Forbes

New Signs for New York City Beaches in Sandy's Wake

New York City is marking its continued recovery from Superstorm Sandy with redesigned beach signs.

June 14, 2013 - Atlantic Cities

San Francisco Shares Responsibility for Building a Resilient City

The City of San Francisco announced this week that the numerous sharing economy companies headquartered in the the Bay Area will work with public officials to utilize their technologies in enhancing the city's disaster preparedness and response.

June 13, 2013 - City of San Francisco

Suburban Poor? Are You Sure?

Brookings Institute's “Confronting Suburban Poverty” is generating a lot of buzz. Community development leaders and planners took to Rooflines to voice opinions and critiques of the book, moving its authors to submit a response that you must read.

June 12, 2013 - Rooflines

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.

Associate/Senior Planner

Gallatin County Department of Planning & Community Development

Senior Planner

Heyer Gruel & Associates PA

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