Planners and public health professionals in Maine are working together to increase opportunities for physical activity and active transportation.
Maine's Public Health in Transportation (PHiT) Coalition is enabling public health and planning professionals to combine efforts and build healthy communities. Formed in 2011, PHiT works to build awareness of the relationship between transportation design and health; and to stimulate actions that result in improved health and safety. PHiT is comprised of a wide range of planning, public health, and non-profit advocacy organizations, each with unique and complementary skill sets.
This article highlights to of the coalition's success stories and offers resources for connecting public health and planning objectives:
- The Lakes Region Explorer, offering transit options for rural areas. The Coalition successfully promoted the Explorer, and worked to expand service locations.
- A "Complete Streets" event in Westbrook, Maine drew 200 residents out to experience their Main Street without vehicle traffic.
FULL STORY: Returning To Our Roots: Reinvigorating the Role of Public Health in Planning
Beyond PSAs: Making Traffic Safety Outreach More Effective
Streetsblog surveyed readers about how road safety education can be made better.
Redesigning Streets for Livability: A Global View
An excerpt from the introduction of the recent book, “Streets For All: 50 Strategies for Shaping Resilient Cities,” edited by Vinayak Bharne and Shyam Khandekar.
San Francisco Returns $15 Million Federal Grant for Market Street Improvements
San Francisco was awarded a federal grant in 2018 that it was forced to return in 2022 because it couldn't start construction by 2025.
Amtrak Ramping Up Infrastructure Projects
Thanks to federal funding from the 2021 infrastructure act, the agency plans to triple its investment in infrastructure improvements and new routes in the next two years.
Ending Downtown San Francisco’s ‘Doom Loop’
A new public space project offers an ambitious vision—so why is the city implementing it at such a small scale?
Proposal Would Transform L.A.’s ‘Freeway to Nowhere’ Into Park, Housing
A never-completed freeway segment could see new life as a mixed-use development with housing, commercial space, and one of the county’s largest parks.
Report: Bike Lanes Can't Make up for New Roads
If California wants to meet its climate goals, the state must stop funding its myriad road construction and expansion projects.
Minneapolis Affordable Housing Project Largest in 20 Years
The city opened its first large multifamily affordable housing complex in decades, but a recent court ruling against the Minneapolis 2040 rezoning plan could jeopardize future projects.
NYC Mayor Proposes Eliminating Parking Minimums
Mayor Adams wants to stop requiring off-site parking for new buildings to reduce the costs of construction as part of the ‘City of Yes’ package of zoning reforms.
Urban3
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
Washington University
Mpact: Mobility, Community, Possibility
Lassen County Planning and Building Services
City of San Carlos
National Capital Planning Commission
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.
