Transportation
In Maryland, a Highway Built on Hype is "Stuck in Neutral"
Stretching through suburban Maryland, the Intercounty Connector was sold on promises of boosting development and relieving congestion. Two years after it opened, users are few, while its drain on state transportation finances continues to grow.
A Design and Planning To-Do List for NYC's Next Mayor
Over the past 12 years, New York has been transformed. For the better in some instances (bike lanes, pedestrian plazas), and perhaps not in others (unaffordability). Michael Kimmelman suggests how to build on the successes and correct the problems.
(Somewhat) Complete Streets
"Complete Streets" policies are a good start, but only a start.
The Gold Standard for Civic Data Delivery
Emily Badger is extremely impressed—and for good reason—with the City of Los Angeles' new neighborhood data portal, built in connection with the development a new health and wellness chapter for the city's General Plan.
Rebuffing Planner Recommendations, Illinois Officials Approve New Expressway
The approval of the Illiana Expressway by the CMAP Policy Committee rejects the recommendation of the organization's own planners and years of regional cooperation. Yonah Freemark says the decision will have an effect on regional planning nationwide.
Friday Funny: Hip-Hop Hounds Promote Cycling Safety
Some cities see citations as the best way to improve bike safety; others focus on educational classes. But in Boston, a crew of rapping puppets encourage riders to "Put Your Helmet On".
America's Biking Boom Moves to the 'Burbs
Suburban locales have typically lagged behind larger cities in building bike-friendly infrastructure. But the League of American Bicyclists' latest round of Bicycle Friendly Communities designations indicate a sea change is happening in the suburbs.
BART Workers Strike Over "Work Rules"
For the second time in four months, during which time negotiations had continued, BART workers went on strike Friday morning, creating huge challenges for the 400,000 commuters who rely on it daily in four Bay Area counties.
With Lower Fines, Davis Hopes More Citations Will Promote More Cycling
The City of Davis has introduced a new tiered bicycle fine system to encourage officers to issue more tickets to those that break the rules. They hope more tickets will result in more safety and more cycling.
Bicycling Ban Sparks Outrage in Kolkata
In order to "ease traffic flow" the police commissioner in Kolkata, India (formerly Calcutta) has expanded a ban on bikes to 174 roads across the sprawling city of 14 million. Environmentalists and social activists are protesting the measures.
Chicago Speed Cameras: Mayoral Money Grab or Sign of a Speeding Epidemic?
Over the first 40 days they've been in operation, Chicago's nine new speed enforcement cameras have issued warnings to 200,000 drivers. Politicians and reporters are skeptical about the city's motivation for installing the cameras.
Is Biking With Your Child an Unnecessary Risk?
Tanya Snyder, Streetsblog's Capitol Hill editor and mother of 21-month-old daughter Luna, writes about a conversation she had with Dr. Phyllis Agran, consultant to American Academy of Pediatrics, about the risks she has exposed Luna to when biking.
New California Law Aims to Prevent Bridge Suicides
A new law hopes to expunge the "impulse and accessibility" aspect of suicides from new or rebuilt bridges by requiring that they "consider" suicide barriers. The price for barriers can be greatly reduced when evaluated in the planning phase.
Can Maryland Pull Off Its Risky Purple Line Partnership?
To finance and construct a new $2.2 billion light rail line in the D.C. suburbs, Maryland will seek to enter into a unique private sector partnership. The ambitious strategy is drawing concern from lawmakers.
Parking Meters Provide a Pipeline of Cash in America's Oil Capital
The energy capital of America sees money in them thar autos - in parking them, that is. Tapping motorists for parking bears some similarity to tapping shale basins for oil - without the fracking. Sightline's Alan Durning writes about the resemblance.
Too Much TOD Set to Strain D.C.'s Subway
New development is poised to add thousands of riders to D.C.'s Metro, but rush hour trains are often packed already. Though Metro has proposed $6 billion in fixes, some see better land use planning across the area as the key to solving the problem.
The Dangers of Distracted Subway Riding
Former Treasury Secretary LaHood made distracted driving a pet cause. The dangers of walking and texting are well documented. But would could straphangers have to fear from smartphones? Plenty, as the death of a S.F. Muni rider illustrates.
Top 100 City Innovators Worldwide
To celebrate its first anniversary, Future Cities has assembled a list of the top 100 city innovators making the biggest difference across a range of industries and specialties.
Despite Sandy Disruption, Amtrak Has Another Historic Year
For the tenth time in eleven years, Amtrak hit another historic high in ridership in FY 2013. While overall ridership was up one percent, revenues were up more than 4 percent.
Answers on the Nation's First VMT Fee Law
With Oregon set to implement their vehicle-miles-traveled (VMT) fee program, Streetsblog's Tanya Snyder provides answers to ten questions, including the privacy challenge, that she posed to ODOT’s Jim Whitty, architect of the program.
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
University of Michigan School for Environment and Sustainability (SEAS)
Hunter College, City University of New York (CUNY)
The Architects Foundation
City of Cambridge
The Pocatello Development Authority
The Urban Renewal Agency of the City of Pocatello
