Houston
Lessons Learned from Decades of California Planning
Since the 1980s, California has been both a beacon of cutting-edge urban policy and an example of the ways planning can go awry.
Coming Soon to Downtown Houston: the City's First Dedicated Bike Lane
Reflecting a series of recent initiatives by city leadership in Houston to promote bike safety and road diets, a vehicle lane will soon be removed and handed over to bikers in Downtown Houston.
Arriving in Texas: the Shinkansen Bullet Train
The Houston to Dallas high speed rail train will be built with the cooperation of Japan's Central Railway, a longtime successful and profitable operator of Shinkansen bullet train lines. Securing the private financing is key to the project.
Sating Food Deserts with Frequent Transit Networks
According to Jarrett Walker, one solution to alleviating food deserts is by providing residents access to frequent transportation networks.
The Value of Fast Transit—Under Construction in Paris
The proposed Grand Paris Express program, which began construction this summer and is expected for completion in 2030, will serve 2 million people a day at "wildly fast speeds." Then there's light rail in the United States.
Houston's Municipal Golf Courses Struggling to Make Ends Meet
Many cities around the country are facing the question about whether they should subsidize city-owned golf courses as the game's popularity declines. Supporters of "munis" say they provide an affordable location for outdoor recreation.
Ranking the Cities Leading the Industrial Revival
Forbes has produced a list of 'The Big Cities Leading A U.S. Manufacturing Revival.'
The Texas-Sized Impact of the 'Prior Appropriations' Water Management System
Christian McPhate and Ashlea Sigman provide a thorough and insightful read about the environmental impacts of Texas' water management policies, especially along the Brazos River, a drought-stricken water supply that cuts across the state.
Commuter Rail Showdown: Houston versus Dallas
The rivalry between Dallas and Houston is well known, but Dug Begley recently made a compelling comparison between the two cities: their approach to commuter rail.
Texas High Speed Rail Proposal Gaining Momentum
An article by Amy Crawford details the prospects of a plan to build a private rail connection between Houston and Dallas—the Texas Central Railway—that would be modeled on lines in Japan, and funded by Japanese interests.
Light Rail Success Story for Houston's Red Line
With two new rail lines, serving east and southeast Houston, due to open later this year, early returns have been positive for the "North Line" extension of the city's Red Line.
Houston's Home Sales Juggernaut Slows—Lack of Supply Blamed
New data from the Houston Association of Realtors shows the end of an "unrelenting string of positive monthly home sales data." According to the Houston Chronicle, the group "attributed the decline to this area’s lack of housing inventory."
Addressing the Challenges of Houston's Exceptional Growth
Houston's incredible rate of growth since 2000 has created a demographic and economic milieu that presents a unique set of challenges, and potential, that is often ignored by federal policies.
Despite Rejection of Residential High Rise, Houston Still Open to Density
A recent ruling that favored local homeowners over a developer in Houston had some wondering whether Houston's days as a "development free-for-all" were over. Fear not, says Stephen J. Smith.
Planners Working on a Road Diet Sea Change in Houston
Planners in Houston are working on street configurations in large swaths of the city. The plans reflect Mayor Annise Parker's recent executive order to embrace complete streets as well as a growing demand among residents for walkable, safe streets.
Massive Bus System Overhaul Proposed for Houston
Houston has proposed a large-scale overhaul of the Metro bus system. Based primarily on a high-frequency grid, the proposed plan would make sweeping changes to routes, nomenclature, and more. The plan will be a "must watch" for planners.
Houston High Rise Ruling a Win-Lose
A judge's ruling provides a way forward for the proposed Ashby high rise development in Houston—a 21-story residential building that provoked a lawsuit by neighbors who have little recourse to protest developments in their city.
Metro Areas Dominate National Population Growth
New Census data describes the country’s movement toward large metropolitan areas. Following the recent population growth in cities like Houston and New York, nearly one in three Americans reside in the country’s ten most populated cities.
Texas Mayors Support High Speed Rail
The mayors of Dallas, Fort Worth, and Houston recently announced their support of a high-speed rail connection between the two metropolitan areas. The line would be privately funded.
Houston Launching 'Goal Zero' Bike Safety Program
Following the lead of New York City and San Francisco, Houston is the latest large American city to launch a program aimed at eliminating bike fatalities. The program includes funding for the creation of a Bicycle Master Plan.
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 Rosemead
Rutgers University, Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy
One Hundred Miles
Hunter College, City University of New York (CUNY)
The Architects Foundation
University of Cincinnati Online
City of Cambridge
Montrose County
The Pocatello Development Authority
