Maryland
Subprime Lending and the Great Recession Still Impacting Black Americans
Nathalie Baptiste examines the case of Prince George’s County in Maryland near Washington D.C. as a study in how the housing and real estate markets has unjustly attacked the wealth of Black Americans.
Cell Phones Fail the Eyeball Test for Public Safety
Citing anecdotal evidence from Montgomery County, the Governors Highway Safety Association, and China, a Washington Post article argues that cell phones are creating public safety concerns.

$5 Billion in Funding for Northeast High-Speed Rail—Courtesy the Japanese Government
A bank controlled by the government of Japan has promised $5 billion in financing for a proposal that would connect Washington D.C. and Baltimore via maglev, high-speed rail.
More Questions than Answers for the Silver Spring Transit Center
Bill Turque catches up on the progress of the "$120 million concrete albatross" that is the Silver Spring Transit Center.

Baltimore Bus Stop Design Leaves No Doubt
Part street furniture, part advertisement for public transit, part public art—the designers of a new bus stop installation in Baltimore call it "an obvious bus stop."
Baltimore's Greenmount West Neighborhood Faces Fears of Gentrification
The neighborhood of Greenmount West provides a case study of neighborhoods exposed to the risks of gentrification as a result of cultural changes and pointed policy measures meant to reverse the status quo in crime and poverty ridden neighborhoods.
Gas Tax Amendments Headed to Voters in Maryland, Wisconsin
Preventing gas tax and vehicle registration fee revenues from being used for non-transportation purposes is seen as key to increasing transportation revenue, be it through raising gas taxes or approving new revenue options, in Maryland and Wisconsin.
Baltimore Past and Future Found on Brewers Hill
Adaptive reuse of historic breweries has revitalized the Brewers Hill neighborhood in Baltimore, which is well-situated with future Red Line access and proximity to the Port of Baltimore and the Canton Crossing shopping district.
Baltimore Water Wheel Takes out the Trash—40 Tons since May
Part innovative urban design solution, part historic and simple design solution, the city of Baltimore's trash-collecting water wheel has been an unmitigated success at mitigating the trash in the Jones Fall River.
Baltimore's Code Enforcement Has Teeth with 'Vacants to Value' Initiative
Baltimore is increasing lawsuits against negligent property owners with outstanding code violations. As part of the city's "Vacants to Value" initiative, forfeited properties are transferred to receivership and auctioned to new owners.
Inside Baltimore's City Farms Program
Baltimore's urban gardening program dates back to 1978. A recent article details how the program works and the opportunity presented by a recent expansion to a new kind of property.
College Town Proposes Median Barriers as Solution to Pedestrian Deaths
State transportation officials, the president of the University of Maryland, and a local city councilmember agree: a barrier on the median of Route 1 in College Park is the way to curtail a tragic rash of pedestrian deaths on the corridor.
Baltimore Launches 'Anchor Plan' for Partnerships with Colleges and Hospitals
The city of Baltimore, led by Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake, has launched "The Baltimore City Anchor Plan"—a plan that prioritizes strategic partnerships with the city's "eds and meds" sector.
Baltimore's First EcoDistrict: State Center Redevelopment Project
Baltimore's first test of the EcoDistrict green neighborhood program was enabled by a lawsuit that delayed the State Center redevelopment project for four years.
Transit Oriented Development Gaining Post-Recession Momentum in Maryland
A recent article describes the transit oriented development market in Maryland, where recession blues have given way to a boom.
Mapping the D.C.'s Region's 267 Miles of Proposed Transit
Proposals for light rail, streetcar, and BRT lines spread in every direction from Washington D.C. into nearby climes. Although some are more realistic than others, one blog dares to dream about what the full extent of the proposals would look like.

How Does Social Status Drive Transit Opposition?
A new book explains how suburban dwellers have built "zoning rules, housing covenants and other mechanisms" to protect "their privileged place in the residential pecking order."
Montgomery County VMT Holds Steady—Despite 100,000 New Residents
Montgomery County, Maryland—located immediately to the north of Washington D.C.—is embracing the trend of driving less while opting for other forms of transportation.
Enough with the Parking Garages: Baltimore's Inner Harbor Redo Criticized
The first step in the transformation of Baltimore’s Inner Harbor is a proposed renovation of Rash Field. But one commentator sees the subterranean parking garage included in conceptual plans as more of the same car-domination.

Rethinking the Value of Parking Lots
To create more active and economically healthy downtowns, cities are seeking development on parking lots.
Pagination
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.
New York City School Construction Authority
Village of Glen Ellyn
Central Transportation Planning Staff/Boston Region MPO
Institute for Housing and Urban Development Studies (IHS)
City of Grandview
Harvard GSD Executive Education
Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada
Toledo-Lucas County Plan Commissions