Oregon

An Airo train passes over a mostly-dried river in between two large forests.

Airo trainsets begin service on Amtrak Cascades route

The trains feature panoramic windows, complementary wifi and over 300 seats per train set.

September 30, 2026 - Mass Transit

An Airo train driving towards the camera on a track. There is a forest behind it.

Northwest rail fans eager for Sept. 30 debut of Amtrak’s Airo fleet

Get ready for that new train smell and more seats. But they won’t go faster or run more frequently on the Cascades route in Washington and Oregon.

September 22, 2026 - Washington State Standard

Public land in Idaho. Most of the photo is a green field, with mountains and a forest in the distance.

Trump is considering data centers on 6 states' public land — some state officials say they had no idea

If the administration approves the proposed projects, data center and data center-related developments will cover 17,600 acres of public land.

September 20, 2026 - The Washington Sun

Aerial drone picture of a massive hyperscale Google data center campus with cooling steam rising from industrial cooling systems, located along the Columbia River.

Data centers are consuming nearly 25% of Oregon’s power

The state has 111 data centers, with 32 more either planned or under construction.

September 18, 2026 - OPB

Two large trucks cross the I-5. One is blue, to the right is a white truck.

Budget constraints threaten light rail for Oregon, Washington’s new bridge

The current proposal includes only the infrastructure for the light rail, without funding for the train and tracks.

September 11, 2026 - Next City

A road in Portland with cars facing the camera and tall buildings on either side. The cars are stopped at a traffic light.

In two U.S. cities, new technology is rewarding slower driving with a quicker commute

Albuquerque, New Mexico and Portland, Oregon have introduced traffic lights that are red by default, and turn green faster if drivers approach while going at or below the speed limit.

September 10, 2026 - Next City

A dark green Airo train on the train tracks.

Washington and Oregon receive first new Amtrak trains in decades

The Airo trains promise shorter commutes, more frequent trips and fewer emissions than their predecessors.

August 26, 2026 - Grist

Two-story homes with driveways on small street in Bend, Oregon.

Oregon cities are excluding a key tool that could help their housing goals: maps

An effort to use geospatial analysis to understand how housing and access to opportunity are distributed in Oregon cities has largely stalled.

July 28, 2026 - Shelterforce

Green steel bridge over Columbia River with Portland, OR skyline in background.

Federal agencies give go-ahead to I-5 Columbia River bridge project

The next few months will clarify whether the massive bridge replacement project will secure the funding to move forward as planned.

July 16, 2026 - The Urbanist

Woman in pink top boarding white TriMet tram.

TriMet will eliminate 'Hand-to-Hand' paratransit service for half of its users

Roughly 300 Portland-area paratransit riders will lose access to a program that lets drivers escort them into their destination.

July 7, 2026 - The Oregonian

TriMet train at a platform at nighttime.

Portland transit announces deep service cuts, hundreds of layoffs

The TriMet agency is cutting service on multiple transit lines, reducing customer service phone hours and eliminating over 100 staff positions.

May 31, 2026 - Portland Tribune

Woman in pink sweater rides a beach cruiser bicycle on a paved trail next to the beach in Seaside, Oregon.

Oregon updates coastal bike map for the first time in a decade

The printed guide helps cyclists navigate the coastal region where cellular service can be unpredictable.

May 30, 2026 - AASHTO Journal

A tiny home in a Portland community with a solar panel on the roof.

Portland's clean energy fund has generated $1 billion for climate action

Since 2019, the city has levied a 1% sales tax on large corporations to support climate resilience and clean energy projects.

May 25, 2026 - Oregon Public Broadcasting

A TriMet MAX light rail Type 1 train on street in Portland, Oregon in front of brick buildings.

Portland gathers to pay respects to the last of its original light rail cars

The TriMet agency has fully replaced its aging fleet of Type 1 cars.

April 20, 2026 - Fox 12

Mid-rise housing next to high-rise building in east Portland, Oregon.

Portland approves expedited permitting for multifamily housing on the Eastside

A city council resolution requires staff to prepare a plan for speeding up rezoning for multifamily projects.

April 17, 2026 - KGW8

Colorful abstract mural on apartment building in Portland, Oregon.

Portland finds $106M in unspent housing funds

The city announced a plan to spend $56 million on new housing assistance programs.

April 9, 2026 - Axios

Aerial view of downtown Portland, Oregon on a sunny day.

Portland Affordable Condo Project Offers a Path to Homeownership, but is it a Long-term Solution?

The project's affordability currently rests on temporary subsidies and market goodwill. For tenants who can’t buy—and future buyers looking for affordability—the risks are significant.

March 17, 2026 - Shelterforce Magazine

Colorful two-story historic homes in Portland, Oregon.

Portland’s Fines for Short-term Rental Violations Are 27 Times Higher Than Comparable Cities

A city report criticizes short-term rental regulations as ‘flawed,’ calling for less punitive enforcement.

March 10, 2026 - KATU.com

Barista coffee shop in the Pearl District of Portland Oregon.

In Defense of QUIMBY — a Rebuttal

Psychology shows that residents love what planners and architects don’t. Experience tells me that they’re right.

March 3, 2026 - Michael W. Mehaffy

Heat pump installed next to brick wall on  residential building next to brown wood planter boxes.

Oregon Requires Energy-efficient Heat Pumps in New Housing

A new state law is expected to save residents an average of $125 per month on energy costs.

February 22, 2026 - Smart Cities Dive

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.

Senior Planner

City of Thousand Oaks

Community Development Director

City of Wisconsin Rapids

Professor of Urban Planning

Harvard University Graduate School of Design

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