A massive public transit planning effort is underway in the Charlotte region.
Ely Portillo reports on the launch of CONNECT Beyond, an 18-month process to create the first comprehensive transit plan for the Charlotte region.
The Centralina Council of Governments is undertaking the CONNECT Beyond process, which will cover 12 counties, in two states, with 17 different transit systems. "Previous transit planning efforts have been focused mostly on one county at a time," according to Portillo. "The goal here is to come up with a plan to coordinate and prioritize projects, as well as funding requests, across the whole region."
Portillo provides a dispatch from the first gathering of regional officials to launch the plan, and answers a few of the big questions about the plan, like who will lead the implementation of the plan, who will pay for planned improvements, and more.
In a separate article, Bruce Henderson provides additional coverage of the plan, including context for the motivation behind the regional approach to transit planning:
A common thread: The fast pace of development is making it harder to get around, and fixing that will help the region compete nationally. Prospective employers want to know how their hires would get to work. New arrivals demand a quality of life that’s not stuck in traffic.
FULL STORY: ‘You can only make roads so big’: Charlotte region launches first transit plan
San Diego High-Speed Rail Plan Counts on Future Density
Despite slowing population growth statewide, officials believe the region will "grow into" the new rail system if cities promote dense development around transit stations.
One Rail System to Ring the Bay Area? Supporters See Reasons for Optimism
A plan to integrate the various regional transit providers in the San Francisco Bay Area could be the key to winning back transit riders in the post-pandemic world.
New Orleans Weighs Regional Transit Plan
A new proposal would improve wait times for area buses and bring more households within walking distance to transit stops.
The Top Urban Planning Books of 2021
Planetizen's annual list of the top urban planning books of the year is here—maintaining a tradition that dates back to 2002.
The Roadway Expansion Paradox
Motorists want expensive roadway expansions provided that somebody else foots the bill, but when required to pay directly through tolls, the need for more capacity often disappears. What should planners do?
Urban Exodus: Data Don't Support the Popular Pandemic Narrative
Americans fled cities in waves during the pandemic, right? Not to so fast.
Austin's Tallest Tower Rising Quickly
Sixth and Guadalupe, which will top out at 875 feet, will soon be crowned the tallest building in Austin, and the fifth-tallest building in Texas.
How Boosting Biking Could Improve London's Economy
A new study outlines the potential economic, environmental, and public health benefits of increasing cycling mode share in London, which has pledged to achieve net-zero emissions by 2030.
Peter De Fazio, Chair of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, to Retire
The end of an era for Oregon in Congress.
City of Manhattan - Community Development Department
Civic Solutions, Inc.
Town of Palm Beach
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
City of San Carlos
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
City of Royal Oak, Michigan
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.
Hand Drawing Master Plans
This course aims to provide an introduction into Urban Design Sketching focused on how to hand draw master plans using a mix of colored markers.
