Infrastructure

Dearborn Street Bike Lane

The Top Protected Bike Lanes of 2013

I know, it's a bit early in the "Best of" season to get this specialized, but gosh darnit if these protected bike lanes aren't the cutest things. Chicago, Indianapolis, Austin, and the other winners: You've got a lot to celebrate.

December 8, 2013 - People for Bikes

Metro Expansion Map

Map of D.C. Metro Expansion Plans Unveiled

A preliminary map of D.C. Metro's long-term expansion plans that was unveiled this week has riders salivating at the prospect of a station finally being built in Georgetown. A third line could serve Virginia.

December 7, 2013 - WAMU

Want to Buy a Bike Share System?

After three years of operation, Melbourne's publicly subsidized bike share system is for sale. Though ridership has increased each year since opening, private investment is seen as crucial for expansion.

December 7, 2013 - The Age

Citi Bike Rack

5 Secrets to Bike Share Success

Thriving bike share systems in DC and NYC are models for success. But other cities have struggled to create sustainable systems (DC's first effort failed, in fact). A new report offers a comprehensive guide to establishing bike share in your town.

December 6, 2013 - Treehugger

Cincinnati Council's "Pause" Vote Imperils Streetcar Project

By a 5-4 margin, the Cincinnati City Council voted to pause the city's streetcar project in order to further study the costs of canceling it. If warnings from the federal government are to be taken seriously, the vote itself may kill the project.

December 5, 2013 - Cincinnati.com

Could Amazon Drones Increase Urban Property Values?

Developers at Google and Amazon are among those working diligently to produce a near future full of autonomous cars and delivery devices. Economics professor Casey B. Mulligan suggests such advances will increase the value of urban land.

December 5, 2013 - The New York Times

Anti homeless bench

The Sneaky Ways Cities Alter Our Behavior

If you think your city is doing all it can to make its public spaces pleasant for all residents, think again. From “pig’s ears” to the "Camden Bench", Frank Swain explores the "secret tricks" cities use to make spaces uncomfortable and unattractive.

December 4, 2013 - BBC

Blumenauer to Propose Deficit Commission's Gas Tax Increase

If it was good enough for Alan Simpson and Erskine Bowles, the Republican and Democrat authors of President Obama's deficit commission bearing their names, the phased, 15-cent fuel tax increase should be adopted, says Rep. Earl Blumenauer (D-Ore.).

December 4, 2013 - The Hill's Transportation Blog

Engineer is Focus of Metro-North Derailment Investigation

With the train's black box showing that the speeding commuter train entered a 30 M.P.H curve at 82 M.P.H, causing the derailment, attention has turned toward the engineer. CNN reports that the engineer admits to "nodding off" before the crash.

December 4, 2013 - The New York Times - N.Y. / Region

London "Die-In" Draws 1,000 Cyclists

Last Friday night, more than 1,000 Londoners staged an unusual protest against the official response to a spate of fatal accidents involving cyclists.

December 2, 2013 - The Guardian Bike Blog

VMT Fee "Inevitable", Claims Minnesota DOT Chief

MnDOT Transportation Commissioner Charles Zelle needs to fill a $12 billion gap over the next 20 years. The most common question he's asked: "Can it be done without raising fees or taxes?" He stopped by The Mankato Free Press for an interview.

November 30, 2013 - The Mankato Free Press

Can Parking Apps Help Save the Mall?

Across the United States, brick-and-mortar stores are engaged in an existential war with online retailers. The newest weapons in the battle for customers are technologies that make the search for a parking spot a cinch.

November 30, 2013 - The New York Times

Cincinnati Streetcar Showdown Set for Monday

A critical City Council vote over the future of Cincinnati's streetcar is scheduled to take place on Monday, the day after Mayor-elect John Cranley's swearing-in.

November 29, 2013 - Cincinnati.com

Transit, Biking and Walking are Big Winners in Pennsylvania Gas Tax Increase

Gas tax increases can mean more road funding, period, particularly where constitutional restrictions prohibit spending gas tax revenues on other modes, as exists in Pa.; yet all modes will benefit from the 28-cent gas tax increase legislation.

November 29, 2013 - Streetsblog

Black Friday Ops

When millions of Americans venture forth from their food comas tomorrow to their nearest mall, the shopping environment may have changed from last year. By design, most shoppers are unlikely to notice the increased security measures.

November 28, 2013 - The New York Times

Healthy School Food Initiative Nourishes L.A.'s Economy

A push by the Los Angeles Unified School District to increase its supply of healthy and locally-produced foods is paying dividends for area farmers and businesses.

November 26, 2013 - Los Angeles Times

Ten Billion Dollar Tally for Fixing S.F.'s Transportation Infrastructure

What would $10.1 billion in transportation-directed funding buy San Francisco? Not as much as you might think. That's what a Task Force has determined it will take to modernize the city's existing infrastructure.

November 26, 2013 - sfgate.com

Will Washington State Be Next to Increase its Gas Tax?

With Pa.'s Republican governor signing a dramatic gas tax increase bill on Monday, will Washington state follow in their footsteps in forging a bipartisan deal between the Republicans who control the Senate and the Democrat majority in the House?

November 26, 2013 - The Seattle Times

Cities Pursue Different Paths to One Goal: Safer Streets

In the face of rising pedestrian and bicyclist fatalities, the District of Columbia's police department began deploying automated photo enforcement technologies while San Francisco took a multi-agency, collaborative planning approach.

November 26, 2013 - Transportation Nation

Has CA's High-Speed Rail Been Dealt a Mortal Blow?

In issuing two stinging decisions on Monday, a superior court judge has erected significant obstacles to the construction of California's high-speed rail project. His invalidation of the project's financing plan has put its future in doubt.

November 26, 2013 - Los Angeles Times

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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