Highway Planning

Should We Continue to Ignore Induced Vehicle Travel Costs?
A recent Planetizen blog claims that urban highway expansions reduce traffic congestion and benefit everyone. That must be a joke! Most planners now recognize that such projects tend to be economically wasteful and contradict community goals.

L.A. Metro Board Approves Changes to Highway Program
The updated language clarifies that projects can include Complete Streets features, items supported by the county's voters through Measure M.

Pedestrian Improvements Planned for Washington State Highway
New medians, dedicated turn lanes, and signalized crosswalks are aimed at improving pedestrian safety along the busy corridor.

Failing to Account for Induced Traffic, Even When the Public Demands It
Induced traffic occurs when new highway capacity speeds up traffic, allowing travelers to drive further, increasing sprawl. A review of major highway project plans finds that most fail to accurately account for induced travel effects.

Removal Over Reconstruction: Rectifying Crumbling U.S. Highways
Successful urban highway deconstruction projects have swapped highways for boulevards and saw economic, public health, and urban design benefits. Will more cities opt for highway removal programs over reconstruction?
Big Changes Proposed for I-81 in Virginia
The Virginia Department of Transportation is proposing $2 billion worth of changes to Interstate 81 in Roanoke.

Shreveport Planning Committee Approves New Highway Through Historically Black Neighborhood
A key committee of the Metropolitan Planning Organization for Shreveport, Louisiana approved a new highway through the neighborhood of Allendale, a historic but struggling neighborhood adjacent to downtown.
From the Bridge to Nowhere Files: Florida's West Bay Parkway
An examination of the proposed plan for the West Bay Parkway in Florida reveals many holes, a wasteful project, and the need for more accountability in transportation planning.
The Implications of Southeast Wisconsin's $7 Billion in Freeway Projects
Some people call it a road-building program. Others call it "an all out war on urbanism."
Federal Court: Wisconsin DOT's Traffic Projections Fail to Justify Highway Expansion
A federal court found that the Wisconsin DOT uses specious traffic projections to justify the $146 million widening of Highway 23. The state must now either perform verifiable forecasting or scrap the expansion plans.
Princeton Planning
City of College Park
Houston-Galveston Area Council
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
City of Spearfish
City of Lomita
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.