Georgia

Atlanta Streetcar

Atlanta Streetcar Finally Opens

It's 'back to the future' for Atlanta's $98 million investment that opened Dec. 30, although these will be modern, not vintage, streetcars that operate on a small loop. Streetcars last operated here in 1949. Mayor Reed intends to lengthen the route.

January 3, 2015 - The New York Times

Atlanta International Airport

RFQ Released for Atlanta's Planned 'Airport City'

The city of Atlanta is moving forward with a plan to upgrade the world's busiest airport to "Airport City" status.

December 29, 2014 - Atlanta Business Chronicle

The Georgia Transportation Funding Debate

Georgia's experience emerging from the recession as revenues increase after years of government belt tightening is common around the country. The question now: How to finance the improvements to the state's neglected transportation infrastructure?

December 13, 2014 - SaportaReport

Revealed: $400 Million Mixed-Use Development Adjacent to Cobb County Baseball Stadium

The Atlanta Braves Major league Baseball team made a splash last year by deciding to decamp to suburban Cobb County for a new ballpark. Still to be determined: Can the new ballpark spur development and integrate into the community?

December 11, 2014 - Atlanta Journal Constitution

The End of the Era of Cheap Water

In many places around the country, the price of water is increasing, quickly. While the reasons for the increase vary depending on the location, common to the issue is the ability of planning to either help or hinder the problem.

December 9, 2014 - Governing

Walk Along with an Atlanta Road Safety Audit

Metropolitan Atlanta accounts for half of the pedestrian fatalities in Georgia. One pedestrian advocacy group is doing the legwork to begin the process of improving the city's pedestrian infrastructure.

November 30, 2014 - PEDS

Collisions Trouble Atlanta Streetcar Testing

Some would argue that introducing streetcars to auto-oriented streets is a recipe for collisions. Drivers in Atlanta are already having trouble mixing with streetcars, before the system even launches.

November 25, 2014 - Atlanta Business Chronicle

Report Details Best Practices for Land Banks

A recent report collects data from the experience of cities using land banks as a method for addressing vacant and blighted properties.

November 19, 2014 - Community Progress Blog

Switching to Transit in Atlanta—Affordable but Unlikely

Darin from ATL Urbanist picks up on a recent report by the American Public Transportation Association (APTA) finding that residents of Atlanta can save big money by ditching their cars and riding transit.

November 17, 2014 - ATL Urbanist

Oakland skyline and San Francisco Bay

The Biggest Transportation Winner on the Nov. 4 Ballot

The ballot measure generating the most new transportation funds approved by voters this month was in Alameda County, Calif. Voters chose to double an existing sales tax to one percent and extend it to 2045, raising $7.8 billion over 30 years.

November 16, 2014 - Contra Costa Times

MARTA Crowdfunds Bike Repair Facilities Near Stations

The Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA) turned to crowdfunding for a small project that could have big returns in luring bikers to go multi-modal on public transit.

November 13, 2014 - Progressive Railroading

MARTA to Expand into Suburban Clayton County

After a ballot measure approved the Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority's (MARTA) expansion into a suburban county outside of Atlanta, the transit agency could set precedent on how to effectively adapt to sprawling suburbs.

November 7, 2014 - The Week

Making the Case for Biking in Atlanta

The take of a large culture publication like Atlanta magazine can be helpful in assessing the traction of a movement—in this case, biking in the city of Atlanta.

November 5, 2014 - Atlanta

trax light rail train in foreground, snow-covered mountains in background

How Cities are Overcoming Federal Roadblocks for Transportation Improvements

Tanya Snyder provides a thorough survey of the talking points of five U.S. mayors from a recent Washington Post forum on transportation.

October 27, 2014 - Streetsblog USA

The Business of Speeding Tickets

Small towns in Georgia, such as Doraville along I-285, are making millions of dollars a year by issuing traffic tickets.

October 24, 2014 - Governing

Millennial Crowd

The 'Young and Restless' Choosing to Live in Cities

A report by new think tank City Observatory about where young college graduates are choosing to live inspired plenty of commentary this week.

October 22, 2014 - New York Times - The Upshot

Transit Oriented Development

The New Transit User Fee: Real Estate Rent

Driven by a need to meet growing costs amid unstable federal subsidies, metropolitan transit agencies are eying their properties, particularly parking lots, as money makers from new residential and commercial development.

October 20, 2014 - The Wall Street Journal

Profile in Success: Keith Parker, General Manager and CEO of MARTA

A profile piece for Governing focuses on the work of Keith Parker, who since 2012 has been leading the ninth-largest transportation agency in the country: Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA).

October 10, 2014 - Governing

Report Reveals Imbalanced Investments for Atlanta's BeltLine

While the neighborhoods on northern segments of the Atlanta's BeltLine has received 94 percent of funding invested towards parks and trails, segments to the south have received 86 percent of affordable housing investments.

September 25, 2014 - SaportaReport

Redevelopment of GM Plant in Doraville, Georgia Would Be Region's Largest TOD

A redevelopment project in Doraville, outside of Atlanta, is touted as potentially of catalytic significance for the region, thanks in part to the location of a MARTA station next door.

September 22, 2014 - Atlanta Business Chronicle

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.

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.