Under new state regulations, Colorado transportation projects will be required to reduce GHG emissions and promote more sustainable transportation modes.

New rules from the Colorado Transportation Commission will shift the state's focus from road construction to more sustainable modes of transit in an effort to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. An article by Noelle Phillips and Jon Murray outlines the new regulations, which transportation commissioner Kathleen Bracke called a "critically important milestone." Starting February 14, future projects will be required to assess the impact of new projects on emissions and switch to cleaner alternatives if the projections surpass a set limit. "The Department of Transportation’s commissioners hope the new rules build on the state’s push to put more electric vehicles on the road while improving mass transit, biking and walking options."
The rules received pushback from critics who worry that rural, car-dependent areas could suffer disproportionately from reduced transportation funding. Business groups and some local leaders in Colorado's burgeoning Northern Front Range region claim that the rapid growth of their communities indicates a need for roadway expansions, arguing that the Commission is overstepping its legal authority.
Meanwhile, environmental groups say the regulations don't go far enough to make the drastic reductions in emissions needed to mitigate the effects of climate change and air pollution. While the state has pledged to get one million electric vehicles on its roads by 2030, environmentalists say the benefits won't accrue fast enough.

The California High-Speed Rail Project Illustrates America’s Transit Issues
Slow progress and a bloated budget have plagued the High-Speed Rail project linking San Francisco to Los Angeles, exposing deeper issues with American transit projects.

What Role Does Health Care Play in Community Development?
Cities are economically diverse and require accessible health care systems, but this can be challenging to implement. Urban developers are working alongside health professionals to create affordable care for city residents.

Density and Driving: A Second Look
A common argument against more compact housing is that increased population density will only reduce vehicle miles traveled at moderate levels of density, as opposed to very low-density and very high-density areas. But this might not be so.

Zoning Reform Works, but Is No Magic Bullet
Improving housing affordability and boosting housing production requires more than just eliminating single-family zoning.

Feds to Award $13 Million for Transit Oriented Development Planning
A newly bolstered competitive grant program administered by the Federal Transit Administration has announced a new round of funding.

Bay Area Transit Stations To Feature Local Writers
A contest in the San Francisco Bay Area will select 30 short stories that will be available at special vending kiosks at transit stations.
Piedmont Environmental Council
City of Oakland, California
Marin Transit
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
City of San Carlos
City of Redwood City
City of Rohnert Park
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.