Orlando

Universal Orlando Resort

Plans Revealed for 'Epic Universe': the Country's First New Theme Park Since 2001

The Universal Epic Universe, proposed for Orlando, Florida, has aspirations as a transit-oriented theme park.

August 7, 2019 - The Next Miami

Virgin Trains USA

Ridership Stagnant, Virgin Trains Prepares to Expand

Depending on your interest and perspective, the lede might be buried here.

August 6, 2019 - Treasure Coast Newspapers

West Palm Beach, Florida

A Big Week for Virgin Trains USA, Formerly Brightline, in Florida

Virgin Trains USA has the funding to start construction on a rail link between Orland and West Palm Beach, and the system has launched its official rebranding under its new ownership.

April 6, 2019 - CBS 12 News

Florida a Dangerous Place for Black Pedestrians

In the state that’s the most deadly for pedestrians, black pedestrians are 72% more likely to be the victims of a car crash than whites.

February 1, 2019 - Florida Courier

Orlando Rail Transit

Orlando SunRail Opens Southern Expansion

SunRail's new expansion includes four new stations, stretching down to Poinciana in Osceola County.

August 16, 2018 - Global Rail News

Hillsborough River

Tampa to Orlando High Speed Rail Back on the Table

Brightline thinks it can build a high speed rail connection between Tampa and Orlando without public money, and Governor Rick Scott looks ready to let them.

June 25, 2018 - Tampa Bay Times

Wealthy Neighborhood

Looking for a Starter Home in Dallas? Good Luck

According to a new study, fewer than 10 percent of homes in the Dallas-Fort Worth area are priced for first-time buyers.

May 1, 2018 - The Dallas Morning News

Mills 50

An Orlando Business District Revitalization Success Story

Mills 50, just northeast of Downtown Orlando, has been reborn as the city's Main Street and has helped spur development, investment, and interest in Orlando's urban core.

March 5, 2018 - Modern Cities

Race Map

Pollution Does Discriminate in Orlando’s Parramore Neighborhood

Poor air quality has decimated the health of residents in this predominantly black community ringed by highways.

January 31, 2018 - Huffington Post

Brightline

Fatalities Mount from Brightline, South Florida's New Higher-Speed Train Service

A 51-year-old bicyclist became the second fatality in the first week of revenue service. It was the fourth fatality since the summer for the diesel train, which operates from West Palm Beach to Fort Lauderdale.

January 19, 2018 - Sun Sentinel

Brightline

Florida's Brightline to Break Ground on Delayed Orlando Leg

The second phase of the highly anticipated Brightline express train service is finally moving forward after unanticipated delays.

October 20, 2017 - The Next Miami

Puerto Rico

Without Basic Utilities, Puerto Rican Exodus Expected

Hurricane Maria left the flooded island of 3.4 million American citizens without power, communications, and running water, which may take months before they are restored. An exodus to Florida, which had begun before Maria hit, will likely accelerate.

September 27, 2017 - The Washington Post

London, Nightlife

Night Mayors Come to America

The Night Mayor, a position first created in Amsterdam, has been taken up by cities around the world, first in Europe and now in more and more American cities.

August 18, 2017 - Governing

Road Diet

Orlando's Edgewater Drive: A Safer Street Through Lane Reduction

Its easy to criticize Florida, one of the deadliest states for pedestrians, however progress is being made through collaborative approaches between local citizens and their municipal officials.

July 11, 2017 - Modern Cities

orlando, Florida

Finding a Way to Bike in Orlando

Improvements in street design and bike infrastructure make life easier on bikers in car-centric Orlando, but employers and politicians could do more in the city to get commuters out of their cars.

May 11, 2017 - Orlando Sentinel

The Rise, Fall, and Possible Rebith Of Orlando's Parramore Neighborhood

Parramore, an African American community in Orlando, has been almost erased from history.

April 4, 2017 - Modern Cities

Brightline

Nation's Only Privately Funded Express Rail Service to Launch in July

Good and bad news for followers of Brightline, a South Florida rail start-up. Service between West Palm Beach and Fort Lauderdale begins in July, with Miami soon thereafter, but opponents may hamper extension to Orlando.

March 15, 2017 - Palm Beach Post

High Line

Downtown Residential Populations Catalogued and Compared

Nick Ian Emenhiser compares percent of city populations in their downtowns.

January 12, 2017 - Green City Blue Lake

Baldwin Park

A New Urbanist Community, 15 Years Later

A look at how Baldwin Park has matured after 15 years of development.

December 2, 2016 - Modern Cities

Orlando Street

Florida DOT Taking a New, Data-Driven Approach to Pedestrian Safety

The Florida Department of Transportation is trying to change the state's status as the most dangerous in the nation for pedestrians, with 5,100 people killed while walking between 2003 and 2010.

August 11, 2016 - Streetsblog USA

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.

Community Development Director

City of Wisconsin Rapids

Professor of Urban Planning

Harvard University Graduate School of Design

Transportation Planner I

KFH Group Inc.

Top Books

An annual review of books related to planning.

Top Schools

The definitive ranking of graduate planning programs.

100 Most Influential Urbanists

The who's who of urbanism, according to Planetizen readers.

Urban Planning Creators You Should Know

A short list of voices on social, video, and podcasting platforms.