Frederick Law Olmsted called Buffalo the best planned city in the United States, but in the second half of the 20th century it transitioned into a prototypical "Rust Belt" city.

Aaron Gordon visited Buffalo in the time before the pandemic to evaluate the city's history as a paragon of 19th century planning, and to explore its potential future at the forefront of what it hopes will be a "mobility revolution."
Aaron Gordon visited Buffalo in the time before the pandemic to evaluate the city's history as a paragon of 19th century planning, and to explore its potential future at the forefront of what it hopes will be a "mobility revolution." The article centers around the work of Stantec and the Congress for New Urbanism (CNU) to help Buffalo achieve its planning goals, in the process overcoming a history of ambitions "big on aspirations and light on specifics."
"Buffalo is not trying to get with the Hyperloop craze or build the next Maglev train," writes Gordon. "It’s trying to find out if these technologies—stuff which operates on American roads right now like autonomous vehicles and electric scooters—can actually provide real solutions to real people while supporting pleasant neighborhoods where people actually want to live."
While the Stantec and CNU team only worked in Buffalo for a few days, Gordon documented an intense planning process for a city that was once the center of an American renaissance in urbanism, and is now challenged by population and economic decline. Because of the city's "good bones," it can appear like urban planning catnip, according to Gordon, for those looking for ways to transition Rust Belt cities into a new era of prosperity. The history of Buffalo, as presented, serves as a microcosm for the history of planning in the United States.
FULL STORY: The 19th Century’s “Best Planned City” Tries Again

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

Chicago’s Ghost Rails
Just beneath the surface of the modern city lie the remnants of its expansive early 20th-century streetcar system.

Amtrak Cutting Jobs, Funding to High-Speed Rail
The agency plans to cut 10 percent of its workforce and has confirmed it will not fund new high-speed rail projects.

Ohio Forces Data Centers to Prepay for Power
Utilities are calling on states to hold data center operators responsible for new energy demands to prevent leaving consumers on the hook for their bills.

MARTA CEO Steps Down Amid Citizenship Concerns
MARTA’s board announced Thursday that its chief, who is from Canada, is resigning due to questions about his immigration status.

Silicon Valley ‘Bike Superhighway’ Awarded $14M State Grant
A Caltrans grant brings the 10-mile Central Bikeway project connecting Santa Clara and East San Jose closer to fruition.
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.
Caltrans
City of Fort Worth
Mpact (founded as Rail~Volution)
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
City of Portland
City of Laramie