North Carolina metro areas frequently lead the lists of the best places to live and work. Yet the very things that make it popular may lead to its downfall.
North Carolina metropolitan areas frequently show up at the top of lists of the nations best places to live or work.This year, Forbes magazine ranked 200 metro areas by wage, salary, and job growth, and increases in high tech clusters.Charlotte was 14th, Raleigh was 21st, and Wilmington was 35th. Money magazines, The Best Places to Live, 2000 rankedRaleigh-Durham 2nd, Greensboro/Winston-Salem 11th, and Charlotte 12th among large metropolitan areas in the South.1The Research Triangle Region alone was highly ranked in over 40 magazines, books, reports and newspapers over the lastseven years.2 Yet, the very things that make North Carolina desirable become threatened when too many people act on theirdesires and move there. Thus, urban growth, and its environmental, social, and economic consequences, has become apressing political issue across the state.
Thanks to Chris Steins
FULL STORY: Adding It Up

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