A series of pieces from Sidewalk Labs examines the history and context of vital urban "innovations." So far, elevators, sewers, and traffic signals have been covered.

For Sidewalk Labs, Eric Jaffe introduces a series of articles on how urban life has generated some of the most world-changing technologies out there. The focus is on history and context. "One of the many problems with the term 'smart cities' is its suggestion that urban life has been dumb in the past."
Jaffe goes on, "Over the coming weeks, we'll explore some of the biggest steps forward — and, at times, backward — in transportation, buildings, energy, data, and infrastructure." Three pieces are out already, covering relatively recent inventions like elevators and traffic lights, as well as ancient ones like sewage systems (whose world-changing nature we cannot overstate).
There is wisdom to be gleaned from all of this. As Jaffe puts it, "The clearest lesson is that innovation never takes hold in cities overnight. That's been true even of the greatest leaps forward in urban technology. Steam accounted for a tiny fraction of U.S. power nearly 60 years after Watts invented his great engine." He also points to the role of policy and public-private collaboration in mainstreaming many of these inventions.
FULL STORY: 15 Innovations That Shaped the City

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