Complete Streets
Might Councilman Foot-Dragging Doom a Complete Street Project for Downtown L.A.?
The redesign planned for Figueroa Street is supposed to bring bike, pedestrian, and transit amenities to downtown L.A. But with a deadline to begin construction looming, a new city councilmember is asking for the project to undergo further study.
Could Chicago's Lake Shore Drive Get a Complete Street Makeover?
As the State of Illinois and City of Chicago begin envisioning the future of North Lake Shore Drive, a coalition of 15 local advocacy groups have put forth a plan to return the artery to the original vision put forth by Daniel Burnham.
Complete Streets Policies: Easy to Adopt and Easy to Ignore
More and more local governments are adopting complete streets policies. But gaps in implementation in these places suggests that the building of actual complete streets is dependent on a true culture shift. Angie Schmitt looks at the obstacles.
Federal Complete Streets Mandate Gains Speed
Although nearly 500 localities around the U.S. have created complete streets policies, there is no federal mandate that they do so. That may soon change if a bipartisan bill introduced last week in the House of Representatives is passed.
Could a Petition Sway the U.S. DOT to Change Its Ancient Road Classification System?
US Department of Transportation (DOT) officials would consider a change in the way they classify thoroughfares — to the benefit of pedestrians, bicyclists, and transit users — but they need political support, writes Robert Steuteville.
Ways to Fail at Form-Based Codes 04: Don’t Capture the Character
Form-based codes extract the DNA of the desired local character, and enable it by right. Hazel Borys talks about how to get the numbers right in this week's Back of the Envelope.
The Voyage of the Woonerf
Writing in The New York Times, Paul Hockenos describes the revival and global spread of the "woonerf", the Dutch complete street model that's bringing shared public space to cities from Montreal to Auckland.
10 Principles for Smart Growth in Existing Communities
Frustrated by what's passing as "smart growth" and "transit oriented development," Bill Adams postulates ten refinements (or less subtly stated clarifications) of the principles of smart growth and new urbanism.
For a Model Complete Streets Policy, Look to Indianapolis
Smart Growth America has recognized the best of the 130 complete streets policies approved last year across the United States; and the one passed by Indianapolis has received the highest ranking.
Cycle Tracks and Bus Only Lanes Coming to Downtown L.A.
The updated designs for an ambitious project to remake car-clogged Figueroa Street as a transit-, pedestrian-, and bicycle-friendly complete street have been made public in advance of a community meeting next month.
6 Easy Ways to Make a City More Livable
Baltimore has a lot of bold ideas for changing the face of the city. While we wait for them to happen, why not implement some simple solutions for making the city more livable, proposes Mark R. Brown, AICP.
Placemaking Wishes for 2013
Like a lot of people, Placeshakers is kicking off the new year with a list: placemaking wishes for 2013. Read on for seven trending ideas they hope break large.
Raleigh Paves the Way for Walkability
Raleigh, North Carolina didn't take getting placed sixth most dangerous metro area in the country lightly back in 2009, and recently drafted a Comprehensive Pedestrian Plan in response.
Transit Wins at Job Creation Game
Blogging on HuffPo, Greg LeRoy, director of Good Jobs First, makes the case that transit, transit oriented development and smart growth are key factors in job growth.
Complete Streets Gaining Speed
A new report details the growing adoption of Complete Streets policies in locales across the United States, despite the removal of a Complete Streets provision from the recent federal transportation bill.
What's the Difference Between a Strip Mall and Paris?
Geoff Dyer points out why the difference between the typical strip mall and the multi-way boulevard may be more subtle than you think.
Pop-up Infrastructure Makes a Street Green and Complete
Imagine converting a downtown street into a bicycle, people, and eco-friendly one - for just one week, by a crack team of urban design graduate students. Such an undertaking was done by Kent State U.'s urban design collaborative. Watch and learn!
What's to Come of America's Pedestrian Malls?
In a pictorial essay, Mark Byrnes chronicles the uneven legacy of 50 years of pedestrian malls, and the uncertain future for a redevelopment tool that has been derided in some cities and celebrated in others.
Ambitious Complete Street Project for LA Back On Track
James Brasuell celebrates the perseverance of one of LA's "most important urban projects," the remaking of Figueroa Boulevard, one of the city's major spines, linking downtown to the campus of the University of Southern California.
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
Institute for Housing and Urban Development Studies (IHS)
City of Grandview
Harvard GSD Executive Education
Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada
Toledo-Lucas County Plan Commissions
