Illinois

Public Housing Museum Idea Moves Forward

A non-profit group in Chicago wants to open a museum dedicated to American public housing in the Former Public Housing Authority Building.

July 22, 2008 - The Chicago Tribune

Chicago Trains To Go 'Standing Room Only'

The Chicago Transit Authority has announced plans to remove all the seating from some of its rush hour trains in order to deal with increased demand.

July 21, 2008 - The Chicago Tribune

Millennium Park Garden Takes Top Award from ASLA

The American Society of Landscape Architects has awarded the Lurie Garden in Chicago's Millennium Park with it's highest honor.

July 20, 2008 - Marketwatch

Water Supplies May Not Be Enough for Growing Chicago

More than 2 million people are expected to be added to the metropolitan Chicago region by 2030, and water supplies may not be able to keep up. Officials are trying to find a solution.

July 17, 2008 - The Chicago Tribune

'The Loop' is Back

Chicago's Loop is becoming a hot neighborhood.

July 11, 2008 - Reuters

A Public Housing Experiment Faces Problems

The Chicago Tribune examines what became of an ambitious city project, led by Mayor Daley, to revolutionize public housing. Private developers received public funding to tear down old projects and replace them with mixed-use neighborhoods.

July 9, 2008 - The Chicago Tribune

Chicago Alleys Go Permeable

As part of a plan to utilize the city's rainwater and recycle it back to lake Michigan, Chicago has been renovating its 13,00 alleys to become permeable surfaces, where rainwater can soak back into the ground. 40 alleys have been redone so far.

June 30, 2008 - CNN

Despite Streetcar Skeleton, Chicago Leans Towards BRT

Transit officials in Chicago are calling on the city to rebuild its historic streetcar system. Rails still exist on many streets, but city officials are leaning away from streetcars and towards bus rapid transit.

June 24, 2008 - Chicago Sun-Times

Levees in Danger as Midwest Flooding Continues

Flood waters along the Mississippi River continue to rise, leaving many Midwest towns deep under water. The Army Corps of Engineers has just identified 27 levees that may not be high enough to handle the rising waters.

June 18, 2008 - USA Today

Oklahoma's Car Culture Forced to Adapt

Oklahoma City residents used to 70-mile commutes are turning to carpooling as gas hovers at $4 a gallon. But with the largest land area of any U.S. city, providing public transit remains a major challenge.

June 14, 2008 - CNNMoney.com

Transportation Weaknesses Hurting Chicago's Olympic Bid

Chicago has come in second-to-last place in the selection of finalists seeking to host the 2016 Olympics. The city's bid was criticized for not having a strong transportation plan.

June 8, 2008 - The Chicago Tribune

Unfortunately, More Trains Means More Noise

A peaceful suburb wanting to preserve its tranquility is pitted against a large rail company attempting to lessen freight congestion around Chicago by running its trains through it and other suburbs on an existing rail line it hopes to purchase.

June 5, 2008 - Associated Press via Miami Herald

Fast Company Picks 'Fast Cities 2008'

Fast Company highlights Chicago and London, their picks for U.S. and Global Cities of the Year, respectively. Whatever you think of the way such lists come together, these are interesting profiles of two vibrant municipalities.

June 5, 2008 - Fast Company

Young Author Writes About Human Impact of Sprawl

Gina Olszowski's first book focuses on the personal stories of rural residents impacted by sprawl.

May 30, 2008 - The Beacon News

Chicago's Michigan Avenue Endangered

One of Chicago's most famous streetscapes is threatened by proposed new towers.

May 25, 2008 - The Chicago Tribune

Is Chicago Reaching For The Stick Before Offering A Carrot?

Chicago shouldn't be surprised if drivers don't take to transit once its new pricing scheme is enacted. No matter the cost, most motorists won't make the switch until the city's transit system is more reliable, argues a recent column.

May 16, 2008 - The Chicago Tribune

New Details About Chicago's Bus Rapid Transit System

Chicago's federally funded pilot program will target some of the city's most congested arteries with new bus-rapid transit lines that will feature dedicated lanes, pre-paid boarding, "next bus" signs, and potentially bicycle sharing.

May 13, 2008 - The Chicago Tribune

Feds Fund Chicago's Congestion Pricing Parking Plan

$153 million in congestion reduction funds that had been awarded to New York City will now go to Chicago to apply congestion pricing to street parking spaces. Funds will also go toward developing pilot Bus Rapid Transit routes on dedicated lanes.

May 1, 2008 - U.S DOT: Office of Public Affairs

Is Suburbia Avoiding Reality?

Michael Gecan uses the Chicago and New York City areas as examples of the challenges facing mature suburbs, examines the ways many are avoiding reality, and draws a series of conclusions.

April 8, 2008 - Boston Review

Sprawl Not an Option for Rural Chicago Suburb

Th small town of Golf, Illinois, is likely to stay that way because of barriers at its borders. Its residents couldn't be happier.

April 3, 2008 - The Chicago Tribune

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.

Senior Manager Operations, Urban Planning

New York City School Construction Authority

Building Inspector

Village of Glen Ellyn

Manager of Model Development

Central Transportation Planning Staff/Boston Region MPO

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.