Maryland

Homes

Maryland Program Looks to Put Student Loan Debtors in Homes

A novel initiative called Maryland SmartBuy aims to help those with student loan debt buy homes.

December 3, 2016 - The Washington Post

Charles County, Maryland

Limitations on Rural Sprawl in Maryland Nixed

Changes in state law that rolls back regulations on septic systems could spark more residential sprawl in Maryland's rural areas.

November 23, 2016 - MyEasternShoreMD

Transit Fail

WMATA's SafeTrack: Behind Schedule and Over Budget

The SafeTrack repair program has shut down Metrorail lines for much of 2016—and the price for the repairs to the system keep going up.

November 21, 2016 - The Washington Post

Montgomery County Planners Target 4,2000 New Housing Units

The Montgomery County Planning Department is making the case for more housing to meet the growing number of jobs in the county.

November 21, 2016 - Greater Greater Washington

Baltimore MTA Bus

Baltimore Transit Advocates, Politicians Pushing for a Better Bus Plan

First came the demise of the $2.9 billion Red Line light rail project, then came the $138 million BaltimoreLink bus system project. Now a coalition of union and political interests are pushing for a "People's Alternative."

November 17, 2016 - The Baltimore Sun

WMATA Stepping Up Efforts to End Sexual Assaults on Transit Lines

The Washington Metropolitan Transit Authority (WMATA) recently launched a new campaign to combat sexual harassment and assault—especially toward some of the most marginalized members of the community.

November 16, 2016 - Greater Greater Washington

Montgomery County

Modernizing Planning Codes in Montgomery County

Subdivision Staging Policy stirs passion and, some hope, progress in the Washington, D.C. suburbs of Montgomery County.

November 10, 2016 - The Washington Post

Empty Subway

The Washington Post Urges a Radical Fix for D.C. Metro: Federal Takeover

The Washington Post opines that the best way to end Metro's 'death spiral' is to have the federal government take it over, similar to the way it intervened in the district's fiscal meltdown in the 1990s or Puerto Rico's debt crisis this summer.

November 5, 2016 - The Washington Post - Editorial

Bike Trail

New Anacostia Bike Trail Segment: Kind of Like the Cherry on Top

Greater Greater Washington raves about the new section of the Anacostia River Bike Trail, calling it arguably the most beautiful bike trail in the region.

November 2, 2016 - Greater Greater Washington

Baltimore Bike Share

Bikeshare Launches in Baltimore

It took six years and two returns from the dead, but Baltimore now has its own bike share system.

November 2, 2016 - Baltimore Brew

Bromo Seltzer Tower Baltimore

Baltimore's New Zoning Code Almost a Done Deal

The Baltimore City Council granted initial approval for the city's first zoning code overhaul in over 40 years.

October 27, 2016 - The Baltimore Sun

D.C. Metro

D.C. Metro's Proposed Service Cuts Would Disproportionately Affect Communities of Color

Planning and urbanism writers in Washington, D.C. agree that a proposal to cut service to 20 stations in the Metrorail system would have harmful effects for minorities in the region.

October 18, 2016 - The Washington Post

ADA Sidewalk

'Project Sidewalk' App Rates Accessibility

The long, ongoing project of retrofitting sidewalks and curbs to allow access for users of all needs continues. Project Sidewalk puts the power to audit sidewalks for accessibility in your hands.

September 23, 2016 - Greater Greater Washington

Op-Ed: Privatizing Parking at D.C. Metro Would Be a 50-Year Mistake

The executive director of a research and policy center on privatization and responsible contracting says a proposal to privative parking operations at the Washington Metro Area Transit Authority would bring a half century of regret.

September 18, 2016 - The Huffington Post

D.C. Metro

Three Proposals to End Late Night Rail Service on D.C. Metro

Three proposals, that is, save one. David Alpert wants to know why the public isn't considering another option for delivering necessary repairs to the D.C. Metro system.

September 8, 2016 - Greater Greater Washington

Chesapeake Bay Bridge

Maryland Spending $5 Million to Study Another Span for the Bay Bridge

Maryland Governor Larry Hogan has thrown support behind a study to add a third span to the Bay Bridge that spans the Chesapeake Bay.

September 1, 2016 - The Baltimore Sun

A New Protected Bike Lane in College Park, Maryland

Greater Greater Washington reports on the newest addition to the streets of Prince George's County.

August 10, 2016 - Greater Greater Washington

Bus Stop

Biggest Loser: Streetsblog Announces its 2016 'Sorriest Bus Stop in America'

An annual tradition is back, and there's plenty of decrepit, unsafe bus infrastructure to lament.

August 9, 2016 - Streetsblog USA

Purple Line

Court Ruling Will Delay Maryland's Planned Purple Line

A project dogged by controversy and opposition took another blow this week, this time from a federal judge. The ongoing safety and operations issue of the Metrorail system played a role in the ruling.

August 4, 2016 - WTOP

Baltimore

Baltimore County Rejects Law to Curb Housing Discrimination

The decision by the Baltimore County Council allows landlords to continue using "source of income" as criteria for prospective tenants. Such practices are often used to bar residents relying on housing vouchers.

August 4, 2016 - The Baltimore Sun

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.