Japanese officials recently approved plans to build a 320-mile magnetic levitation train system. The $114 billion project is expected to begin construction in 2014.
Speeds are expected to exceed 300 mph, and will cut the trip between Osaka and Tokyo to one hour.
"Of course, all of these selling points come with a hefty price tag that's hard to swallow for most countries. Japan's project is currently estimated to cost $114 billion with construction to start in 2014 and last until 2045. Such an incredible budget and long timeline is mostly due to the decision to make the route as straight as possible, sending it under mountains and requiring massive tunnels. In fact, 60 percent of the line will exist underground at an average depth of 130 feet.
While Japan has committed to maglev as the future of its rail system, similar projects throughout the United States are still struggling to get off the ground. Only one high-speed corridor exists in the United States, bridging the 456 miles between Boston and Washington, D.C.. With an average cruising speed of just 70 mph, travel time clocks in right around seven hours.
Efforts by the U.S. government to fund the development of new and faster infrastructure have either been demonized by opponents as wasteful spending or been criticized for not going far enough. "
FULL STORY: Big in Japan: High-Speed Magnetic Levitation Trains
Pennsylvania Mall Conversion Bill Passes House
If passed, the bill would promote the adaptive reuse of defunct commercial buildings.
Planning for Accessibility: Proximity is More Important than Mobility
Accessibility-based planning minimizes the distance that people must travel to reach desired services and activities. Measured this way, increased density can provide more total benefits than increased speeds.
World's Largest Wildlife Overpass In the Works in Los Angeles County
Caltrans will soon close half of the 101 Freeway in order to continue construction of the Wallis Annenberg Wildlife Crossing near Agoura Hills in Los Angeles County.
Eviction Looms for Low-Income Tenants as Rent Debt Rises
Nonprofit housing operators across the country face almost $10 billion in rent debt.
Brightline West Breaks Ground
The high-speed rail line will link Las Vegas and the Los Angeles area.
Colorado Bans No-Fault Evictions
In most cases, landlords must provide a just cause for evicting tenants.
City of Costa Mesa
Licking County
Barrett Planning Group LLC
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
Mpact Transit + Community
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
Tufts University, Department of Urban and Environmental Policy & Planning
City of Universal City TX
ULI Northwest Arkansas
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.