Big things are expected from planners in Northern Virginia this year.
Michelle Krocker examines three big planning efforts underway in Northern Virginia for 2016. According to Krocker, all three plans—in Old Town North in Alexandria, Reston Town Center, and Arlington's Lee Highway—"are happening within the framework of last year's local election campaigns, with lagging economies, rising housing costs, growing poverty in the suburbs, and the question of where our jobs will sleep at night."
The three plans, with lots more detail and analysis provided in the article:
- The Old Town North Small Area Plan in Alexandria will update a plan approved in 1992.
- The Lee Highway Briefing Book "will examine existing conditions and policies that affect the corridor between Rosslyn and East Falls Church" to help guide future redevelopment in the area.
- The redevelopment of Reston Town Center North in Fairfaz will create "eight block parcels with a grid of streets and a mix of uses…"
Read the full story: Three big urban planning efforts that will transform Northern Virginia
Ridership Down for Northern Virginia Public Transit
Metrorail has seen ridership improve in Northern Virginia, but not enough to balance out the losses to bus ridership.
Virginia's New 395 Express Lanes Guaranteed to Fund Public Transit
The $500 million, eight-mile extension, mostly paid by private funds and express lane tolls, broke ground August 9. Transurban, the private company in the public-private partnership, will pay $15 million annually for public transit improvements.
The Massachusetts town that didn't get the T wants a re-do
Fifty years ago, Arlington said no to a stop on the MBTA Red Line connecting it to Boston. Now, the town wants a second chance.
Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.
California plans to bury El Niño’s downpour
If the state plays its cards right, it may be able to store a billion acre-feet of El Niño’s water in aquifers.
Desperate measures: Advocates weigh draining Lake Powell to fill Colorado River
Draining the reservoir could reduce evaporation losses by a couple hundred thousand acre-feet.
Housing is the top priority of Seattle’s sole new councilmember
Jenks campaigned on building 1,000 new units of affordable housing.
New tax cuts may slash $1.5 billion in funding for Miami transit, public parks
Amendment 3 will save Miami-Dade homeowners $2,700 in 2028.
Arizona, Wisconsin, Pennsylvania hope to finally advance climate goals post-midterms
The three states have spent years under Republican or divided control.
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 Rosemead
Rutgers University, Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy
One Hundred Miles
University of Michigan School for Environment and Sustainability (SEAS)
Hunter College, City University of New York (CUNY)
The Architects Foundation
City of Cambridge
Montrose County
The Pocatello Development Authority