Rhode Island

Interstate 80

High Cost of Maintenance Prompts Wyoming Legislators to Consider Tolling I-80

Over the objections of the oil and trucking industries, an interim committee voted to allow the Wyoming legislature to determine whether to toll all lanes on Interstate 80 due to a shortfall in the state transportation budget.

August 18, 2019 - Buffalo Bulletin

Cedar Rapids Floods

Coastal States Are Building in Flood Zones Faster Than Anywhere Else

Here's a trillion dollar real estate market on the coasts of the United States—and it's building itself into rising levels of risk.

August 5, 2019 - The New York Times

Rhode Island Capitol Building

2019 'Parking Madness' Shows How Much Has Changed

Streetsblog USA's annual showcase of the worst examples of car-oriented land use this year focused on places that had overcome the worst excesses of 20th century planning.

April 24, 2019 - Streetsblog USA

Toll Road Truck

Judge Rules Tolls Are Taxes to Dismiss Truckers' Lawsuit Against Rhode Island

The nation's sole truck-only tolling program survived its first lawsuit after a federal judge dismissed litigation brought by the American Trucking Associations, ruling that the proper venue was state court. ATA believes it is unconstitutional.

March 27, 2019 - Transport Topics

Goods Movement

Active Transportation Program Suffers as Truck Toll Revenue Falls Short

Delays in constructing an extensive truck-only toll system have caused a shortfall in toll revenue affecting the Rhode Island DOT budget. A promise to repair bridges repair means a big cut for bike and pedestrian funding.

February 2, 2019 - Providence Journal

Traffic and Skyline

An East Coast Cap-and-Invest Approach to Reducing Transportation Emissions

Nine Mid-Atlantic and Northeast states and the District of Columbia have agreed to work together to develop a policy to price emissions from transportation, set a 'cap' on them, and invest the revenues in low carbon transportation solutions.

December 20, 2018 - The Boston Globe

Goods Movement

Truck Tolls Wins (Indirectly) on Election Day

Tolls were not on state ballots like gas taxes and transportation sales taxes on Nov. 6, but surrogates for and against truck-only tolling participated in two gubernatorial elections in New England, and the results will give no joy to truckers.

November 19, 2018 - IBTTA Tolling Points

Toll Road Truck

Nation's First Truck-Only Toll Program Off to Auspicious Start

After the Rhode Island General Assembly passed controversial legislation in February 2016 spearheaded by Gov. Gina Raimondo (D), the first two of what will be 13 truck-only toll gantries became operational on June 11. Results are looking good.

September 26, 2018 - Transport Topics

Balloons and Straws: Where's the Connection?

Think "The Graduate," but now the emphasis in the future of plastics may be on restrictions. California may become the first state to restrict access to plastic straws, and balloons could be next due to the harm they cause the marine environment.

August 26, 2018 - San Francisco Chronicle

Pumping Gas

Another Major Climate Win for Big Oil in Federal Court

A New York federal district court rules on a climate change lawsuit like its West Coast counterpart did last month: Don't hold oil companies accountable for climate change and sea level rise. Baltimore and Rhode Island file climate change lawsuits.

July 25, 2018 - Inside Climate News

Rhode Island Interstate 95

Major Bridge Rebuilding Project Cost Soars in Providence

When the Trump Administration scrapped the U.S. Department of Transportation's FASTLANE grant program, the state of Rhode Island decided to seek a public-private partnership for its I-95 bridge replacement project.

December 29, 2017 - Providence Journal

Storage Tank

$3 Billion Natural Gas Pipeline Shelved in New England; Controversy Remains

Controversy seems to follow natural gas pipelines everywhere they go, including New England.

July 5, 2017 - The Boston Globe

Environmentalism

Let the Climate Resistance Begin

States and cities are reacting to President Trump's withdrawal from the Paris Climate Agreement on Thursday. Three states formed the U.S. Climate Alliance; by Monday, it had grown to 13. Initially 30 mayors signed in support; it's now over 200.

June 6, 2017 - Planetizen

Wind

Maryland Positions Itself as Nation's Leader in Offshore Wind Power

In a few years, Maryland is expected to be the nation's leader in offshore renewable wind power made possible by the Public Service Commission's approval on May 11 of credits to two projects by U.S. Wind and Skipjack Offshore Energy.

May 15, 2017 - Planetizen

Providence Ditches Streetcar Plans; Goes With High-Frequency Buses Instead

A decade ago, Providence considered a streetcar for land that once moved cars along the former path of Route 195. Now transit planners have once again shifted gears, targeting a high-frequency bus corridor for the area.

April 11, 2017 - Providence Journal

Utah

The State with the Worst Drivers…

A new study from Quote Wizard finds Utah and Rhode Island have the worst and best drivers, respectively.

December 8, 2016 - Quote Wizard

Newport, Rhode Island

New Tool Prepares Rhode Island for Rising Seas

A new mapping tool shows the potential devastation along the Rhode Island coast caused by rising waters from climate change and storm surges.

December 7, 2016 - Providence Journal

Providence

Op-Ed: Programming the First Priority for Keeping Public Spaces Safe

Providence, Rhode Island is looking ways to make Kennedy Plaza, located in the city's downtown, safe for all users. Increased law enforcement in only one way to achieve that goal, according to an op-ed in the Providence Journal.

October 10, 2016 - Providence Journal

Providence to Get Plan C for Highway Intersection Rebuild

The Rhode Island Department of Transportation will go out to bid on a design-build contract to reconstruct the Routes 6 and 10 interchange in Providence, with the hope of completing construction in four years. Some will remember what might have been.

September 15, 2016 - Providence Journal

Suburb

New App Rents Driveway Parking Spaces for $1 an Hour

A pair of entrepreneurs has launched an app that allows property owners to rent driveway spaces to people looking for parking. Also, the app helps people find the parking they are looking for.

August 10, 2016 - RI Future

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.