The Philly Voice provides a primer on Houston's ascendance up the ranks of major U.S. cities as it evolves into a more urban version of itself.
"Hidden in the haze of the petrochemical plants and beyond the seemingly endless traffic jams, a Texas city has grown so large that it is poised to pass Chicago as the third biggest in the United States in the next decade," according to an article by Jon Herskovitz.
That city, of course, is Houston, which has been growing quickly for years as Chicago has shrunk. Yet despite that stereotyped intro, the article describes the new Houston as a surprising departure from cultural signifiers traditionally associated with Texas. According to Herskovitz, "Houston also embodies the new, urban Texas, where political views have been drifting to the left, diversity is being embraced and newer residents are just as likely to drive a hybrid as a pickup truck." Regarding the city's diversity, Herskovits points out that "about one in five Houstonians is foreign born and more than 90 languages are spoken in the city."
The article goes into more detail about some of the political realities of the city, which allowed Mayor Annise Parker to become the "first open lesbian to run a major U.S. city" and the city to buy more renewable energy than any other in the United States. Also noted is the recent proposal to spend $250 million "to put bike and hike trials along the bayous, or small rivers, that run through the city like veins."
Read the full story: Space City bears down on Windy City as third biggest in U.S.
Houston: The Prophetic City
The Houston story gets a new telling in a recently published book by Stephen Klineberg.
Bike Infrastructure Makeover Underway in Houston
It might surprise people outside of Texas to hear about the progress of new, high quality bike infrastructure in the city of Houston.
A Look at Houston's Demographic Future
Using the Urban Institute's Mapping America's Futures tool, the Kinder Institute overviews likely racial demographics in Texas and elsewhere by 2030.
Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.
Amtrak, CN end decades-long dispute with eight-year agreement
The new operating agreement establishes an updated framework for the companies to work together, including processes to resolve disputes.
Northwest rail fans eager for Sept. 30 debut of Amtrak’s Airo fleet
Get ready for that new train smell and more seats. But they won’t go faster or run more frequently on the Cascades route in Washington and Oregon.
Brightline Florida files for bankruptcy
The transit company is over $5 billion in debt.
St. Louis Metro to test if single-car trains can reduce operating costs, maintain rider satisfaction
The pilot program will run from October to spring 2027, and begin with one single-car train operating on Metrolink’s Red and Blue lines.
Pennsylvania is building data centers in abandoned mines
Housing data centers in mines provides an alternative to destroying local forests and may spare residents from data centers’ noise and air pollution.
FREE Course: Walkable City 1: Why Walkability?
After describing his path towards focusing on walkability as the essence of good planning, Jeff Speck marches through his five principal reasons for making more walkable places.
Reinventing Malls: Planning Alchemy—Turning Gray Fields Into Gold
The course focuses on the opportunities and imperatives that shape reinvention of mall sites.
City of Thousand Oaks
City of Wisconsin Rapids
Harvard University Graduate School of Design
The Architects Foundation
University of Cincinnati Online
The Pocatello Development Authority
The Urban Renewal Agency of the City of Pocatello