North America

The 'Wide-Ranging Ecological Downside' of Road Salt
A study from the USGS using five decades of data shows salinity and alkalinity are up in waterways across the United States.

How an Urban Grid Becomes a Maze
Many rational, open grids can seem like a labyrinth to users. The labyrinth has emerged as an unplanned consequence of the evolution of cities, but solutions like GPS navigation and autonomous vehicles could mean relief.
'Twas the Night Before Christmas and Here's a Reminder About the Meaning of Environmentalism
San Gabriel Valley Tribune reporter Steve Scauzillo turns the words of the poem "A Visit from St. Nicholas," by Clement Clarke Moore into an environmental message.

Explained: Mobility as a Service
Mobility as a Service, or MaaS for short, is a buzzword you've probably seen a lot of in recent months.

A Proposal to Plan Regionally in the Silicon Valley
Could development fights in the home of the biggest tech companies be avoided if cities just talked to each other?

In Praise of Toronto's Least Ambitious Transit Project
After decades of big, expensive plans, diverting cars from a busy streetcar route will make a bigger difference to commuters for far less money.

Timber Industry 'Bracing' for Soaring Demand
Building with wood is back in fashion, but lumber producers have to reckon with thorny politics and new timber-based materials that have yet to be truly defined.

Nebraska Commission Authorizes Keystone XL Pipeline, But With a Major Twist
TransCanada got its second wish. Last March, President Trump reversed President Obama's rejection of the 1,136-mile pipeline to carry Alberta oil sands crude. On Monday, the Nebraska Public Service Commission OK'd a route, but not the one it wanted.

Tesla's 'Badass' Electric Semi Beats Diesel and Rail, Says Elon Musk
Tesla introduces a high-performance, totally electric, semi-autonomous truck that that can haul 80,000 of freight for 500 miles without recharging.

Keystone Pipeline Leaks Oil in Advance of Crucial Decision on Sister Pipeline
Thursday's massive oil spill in South Dakota is not a good omen for TransCanada for a favorable decision on Monday on an application before the Nebraska Public Service Commission on the routing of the controversial Keystone XL pipeline.

Top Planning Websites - 2017
The annual list of best websites by and for planners (and anyone else interested in planning).

Ranking the Sustainability of Transportation Systems in North American Cities
Out of 23 cities, New York City came in first, Indianapolis came in 23rd.
Suburban Density Retrofit, Vancouver-Style
Vancouver shows how to retrofit suburban sprawl with transit and density at a recent Lambda Alpha International event, attended and recounted by development consultant Jim Chappell.
Public Transportation Provides a Vital Mobility Link in Rural and Small Towns
A new report describes the important roles that public transit plays in rural communities and small towns, current demographic and economic trends that are increasing these demands, and examples of successful rural transit development programs.

Ranking the Safest Cities in the World—Tokyo Leads the List
The Economist's Intelligence Unit has released its 2017 Safe Cities Index.

The Real Estate Bubble Grows North of the Border
A new report rates the real estate bubble risk of the world's economic powerhouses.
High Speed Rail Transforming California's Housing, TOD Conversation
The California Legislature took steps to address the state's housing crisis this year, but housing activists might look to the Governor's High Speed Rail project to provide a link to affordable housing in the Central Valley.

Could Seattle Be the U.S. Vancouver?
Seattle appears to be following the Vancouver, B.C. model by increasing population and residential density while investing in transit. If it works, traffic congestion will not deteriorate, and vehicle trips should drop.

Puerto Rico Braces for Direct Hit from Hurricane Maria on Wednesday
A second catastrophic hurricane is on track to devastate much of the Caribbean, barely two weeks after category five Hurricane Irma departed. In addition to Maria, a much weaker Hurricane Jose will affect the Mid-Atlantic and New England.

Florida Prepares for Irma: Building Codes, Cranes, Evacuation, Storm Surge
As Irma leaves the Caribbean and heads for Florida, with landfall expected this weekend, there is a lot to worry about: New building codes will be put to test, fuel to evacuate is in short supply, and cranes have not been dismantled.
Pagination
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.
New York City School Construction Authority
Village of Glen Ellyn
Central Transportation Planning Staff/Boston Region MPO
Chaddick Institute at DePaul University
Institute for Housing and Urban Development Studies (IHS)
City of Grandview
Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada
Toledo-Lucas County Plan Commissions