"Cities Alive," an attractive new report by Arup, one of the world's largest engineering firm, highlights the significant social, economic, environmental and political benefits of walking.
The new free report, Cities Alive, by Arup, one of the world's largest engineering and planning firms, describes why and how to create more walkable cities. Informed by specialist insight and multidisciplinary expertise from across their global offices, the report highlights 50 benefits of walking explored through 16 distinct indicative themes, and lists 40 actions that city leaders can consider to improve walking policy, strategy and design. These are informed by a catalogue of 80 international case studies that will inspire action and further aid cities in identifying and evaluating opportunities. It is a terrific, attractive document.
This is an example of the shift among professional organizations toward more comprehensive and multi-modal transport planning, which is particularly important in developing country cities where the costs of automobile dependency are particularly high, and most households will never own automobiles.
“...I truly believe that if you can change the street, you can change the world.” —Janette Sadik-Khan, Commissioner of the New York City Department of Transportation from 2007 to 2013
Read the full story: Cities Alive: Towards a Walking World
Austin Kicks off Multimodal Congress Avenue Redesign
The Congress Avenue Urban Design Initiative is bringing new pedestrian infrastructure and ‘storefront activation zones’ to the popular street.
See Downtown Brooklyn’s Dramatic Complete Streets Transformation
A streetscape redesign spearheaded by the Downtown Brooklyn Partnership has quickly made many of Brooklyn’s streets unrecognizable.
The Vast Potential of the Right-of-Way
One writer argues that the space between two building faces is the most important element of the built environment.
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.
LAX SkyLink opening delayed again, contractor won’t commit to new deadline
The project was supposed to open its doors to the public in 2023.
Caltrain may slash over one-third of its stations
If Bay Area voters reject two transit tax measures, Caltrain, BART and AC Transit will see steep service cuts.
A 'dangerous' precedent: North Carolina successfully pressures communities into voting for toll roads
Two mayors resigned from the Charlotte Regional Transportation Planning Organization after it voted in favor of the toll roads.
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