Minnesota
New Guide Provides Advice for Successful Regional Planning
Transportation for America has released "The Innovative MPO"—a guidebook of sorts that provides lessons in successful regional planning.
Powerful Political Forces Aligning Against Southwest Light Rail in Minneapolis
One of the most heavily-contested transit projects in the United States, the Southwest light rail line in the metropolitan Twin Cities area, is encountering increased levels of political opposition.
A Dissenting Take on the Nicollet Mall Planning Process
While many are excited about the prospect of James Corner Field Operations redesigning the Nicollet Mall in Minneapolis, one commenter sees some of the worst dynamics of top-down planning at work.
Who Will End the Transportation Funding Insanity?
Charles Marohn starts off the year strong by throwing down the gauntlet on the perpetual transportation funding debate.
Minnesota Governor Mark Dayton Proposes Gas Tax
The tax would be a wholesale tax paid by fuel suppliers as has become more common in the last two years, not a retail tax at the gas pump. The Democratic governor's main problem may be his timing—the house flipped to Republican control.
60 Years of Midwestern Urban Renewal
Researchers at the Institute for Quality Communities at the University of Oklahoma prepared a set of images to show the indelible impact of mid-20th century urban renewal on Midwestern cities.
New Designs Revealed for $50 Million Renovation of Minneapolis' Nicollet Mall
The public recently got a first look at a new design proposal from James Corner Field Operations for the $50 million improvement of Nicollet Mall in Minneapolis.
Bicycle Plan Leads to Parking Policy Questions in St. Paul
St. Paul is in the community engagement stage of a bike planning process expected to culminate early next year. Among the bike plan's proposals, none have sparked as much controversy as a downtown loop that would remove street parking.
When People Say 'Functionally Obsolete' but Really Mean 'Redline'
A MinnPost column finds nefarious purposes at work in the use of a couple of the common buzzwords employed in debates about Minneapolis housing.
Defending the Metropolitan Council as Political Support for Regional Planning Wanes
An editorial in the MinnPost supports the regional planning of the Metropolitan Council in the Twin Cities metro area, which has been beset by a string of controversial decisions.
Twin Cities Suburbs Planning for Transit Oriented Development
Local governments along the route Southwest Light Rail line in the suburbs of the Twin Cities are anticipating the route by studying and creating plans to accommodate transit oriented development.
The Many Benefits of Traditional Development
Charles Marohn assesses some of the economic benefits of traditional commercial development as compared to those of auto-oriented commercial development.
Study Ties Bike Infrastructure to Increased Active Commutes
A study led by researchers from the University of North Carolina finds a connection between bike-friendly infrastructure investments and positive public health outcomes.
The Twin Cities Offer Free Election Day Transit—Does it Matter?
There is little, or no, evidence that offering free transit on election day improves voter turnout. Today the Twin Cities will do it anyway for the sake of, hopefully, improving the democratic process.
Better Streets Include Transit
Dan Reed examines the Green Line in Minneapolis near the campus of the University of Minnesota as a case study of how transit can improve streets.
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.
Calling for a Transportation Sales Tax in the Twin Cities
Citing the model of Houston's local-tax-funded Red Line, a writer argues for a local sales tax in the Twin Cities to support urban transit investments.
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.
Local Governments Onboard with Minneapolis' Southwest Light Rail
With a vote last week by the Minneapolis City Council, the final local consent was granted the proposed Southwest light rail project. Despite that benchmark political action, the project will not be without challenges moving forward.
Planning for Rural Minnesota's 'Brain Gain'
While the share of Americans living in rural communities is decreasing relative to the overall population, some rural areas, such as the Willmar lakes area in Minnesota, have managed to attract young residents.
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
