Illinois
Mobile Phone-Enabled Train Tickets Coming to Chicago's Metra
Mobile phones are doubling for tickets onto airplanes and into concerts all over the world. Why not commuter trains too?
Chicago Considers Raising Parking Taxes to Pay for Potholes
In need of 80 additional employees to keep up with the city's pothole repair deficit, Mayor Rah Emanuel is proposing that the city raise taxes parking.
Chicago's Red Light Camera Mess Now Features Yellow Lights
After switching vendors on its red light camera program last spring, the city of Chicago has had difficulties enforcing tickets (and thus, traffic laws) because of fluctuating times for yellow lights.
Chicago Cubs Begin Renovations on Historic Wrigley Field
The controversial 1060 Project to renovate the Home of the Chicago Cubs broke ground over the weekend on a renovation proposal that will allow a mix of uses on the ballpark property.
Chicago's First Shared Street Planned for Uptown's Argyle Street
Following one failed attempt at a similar plan, a popular neighborhood for shopping will soon become a shared street project. The effort is part of a trend in Chicago looking for ways to transform streets into pedestrian friendly destinations.
Political Winds Could End 'Black=Urban'
Pete Saunders examines the urban base of African-American politics since the Civil Rights and how recent trends in urbanization will require a restructuring of political agendas in cities all over the country.
State Funding Sends Divvy Bikeshare to the Suburbs
Divvy—Chicago's popular bikeshare system—is expanding to farther flung areas of the metropolitan area, thanks to state funding approved by the governor.
Great Lakes Leaders Call for Drinking Water Protections
In light of August's drinking water catastrophe in Toledo, Ohio, Great Lakes mayors gathered this week to call for policy action to protect water resources round the Great Lakes.
Report Details Shortcomings in Chicago's Transportation System
In many ways, Chicagoland's transportation system is the envy of other American cities, but a new report says that lack of coordination and fragmented authority costs the area in economic development potential.
First All-Electric Garbage Truck Hits the Road in Chicago
The first and only all-electric garbage truck in North America gets rolling in Chicago, working on residential refuse and recycling routes.
110-mph Talgo Trains Headed to Michigan [Corrected]
If the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) approves the order, two Wisconsin-manufactured Talgo train sets will reduce travel times from Detroit to Chicago by as much as two hours while significantly increasing on-time performance.
Proposing a New Model for Regional Stratification: 'The New Donut'
Aaron Renn presents a new model for conceptualizing the health of the many layers of communities that make up metropolitan regions, namely the "new donut."
Criticism for Chicago's Lucas Museum Planning Process
Chicago won the opportunity to house the Lucas Museum of Narrative Art, proposed for a location at Chicago's Museum Campus. But critics are gathering with questions about how the museum will fit into the city's fabric.
Transit Oriented Development Ordinance in Chicago Saves Space and Money
A recently adopted ordinance allows developers to build significantly fewer parking spaces for projects in proximity to transit stations. Developers have already responded to the advantages offered by the reduced requirements.
Mapping the Shrinking Neighborhoods of Chicago
Daniel Kay Hertz shares a map tracking the population of neighborhoods in Chicago since 1950, providing insights into how the city has changed.
Survey Finds Chicago Drivers Failing to Yield for Pedestrians
A study finds that most drivers disregard for the rights of pedestrians to cross the road. Visual cues, however, provided by street design, greatly increase the likelihood that drivers will yield.
The United States' Top Large City for Biking Is...
Portland (top city in 2012)? Minneapolis (top city in 2010)? No, it's the Big Apple! New York City leaped from #7 in 2012 to the top spot this year for cities with populations of 100,000 or greater.
Does Chicago Have the 'Divvy Blues'?
A recent article details some of the complaints about the lack of reach and bikes in Chicago's growing and popular Divvy bikeshare system.
$102 Million Brings Chicago-St. Louis High Speed Rail a Step Closer
A $102 million investment by Illinois along with federal funds from the Recovery Act will pay for double-tracking and a new rail bridge to enable 109 mph service on a key section of Amtrak's Chicago to St. Louis high speed rail corridor.
Watch: How the Chicago Riverwalk Project Will Transform the City
Sasaki Associates has produced a video about the under-construction Chicago Riverwalk. The lesson for all cities from the video, as well as the project: "If you can imagine it, you can built it."
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
