Constructed at great expense over the past decade, Myanmar's planned capital city of Naypyidaw boasts an empty 20-lane stretch of road. The city's real purpose may be to discourage regime change.

Myanmar's own "road to nowhere" was likely constructed for very different reasons than outsized, underutilized infrastructure elsewhere. The country's planned capital city, Naypyidaw, was built from nothing under the regime of former military leader Than Shwe. "The reasons the government chose to relocate the capital from Rangoon (the previous capital) to a patch of previously uninhabited jungle 200 miles north remains [sic] equally unclear."
Some have theorized that Naypyidaw's location and layout are a means to prevent violent regime change. "Some reports suggest that the nervous president overseeing the construction of this new capital [...] insisted on the giant boulevard so that it could act as a runway for planes in case of riots." By design, the city lacks the wide public squares that often act as spatial catalysts for revolutions and popular movements.
Naypyidaw looks impressive, but its wide thoroughfares are often completely empty of traffic. The place serves as an extreme example of how politics can dictate a city's shape.
FULL STORY: The Road through Naypyidaw

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