Texas

Houston Bayou

The Evidence for Houston as a World Class City

Houston is famous among urbanists for many reasons: its lack of traditional zoning, its perpetual growth, and its position in the oil industry are just a few examples. Here, Wendell Cox argues that the city is still under appreciated.

December 21, 2016 - New Geography

New York City

A Grid Balancing Act for Vibrant, Varied, and Sustainable Places

An analysis of three essential attributes of urban grids reveals a preferred layout for the desired effect of a vibrant, active community.

December 20, 2016 - Fanis Grammenos

Austin

Casting Doubt on Yield-to-Transit Laws

Austin planners are considering a law designed to ensure bus service performance by requiring drivers to allow buses to merge after making a stop, but transit advocates point to a body of research that casts doubt on the efficacy of such laws.

December 19, 2016 - Austin Monitor

Clear-Sky Flood

Houston's Rapid Growth Will Make Future Floods Worse

Houston's development has meant the loss of many wetlands, a key factor in protecting the against floods. This, coupled with climate change, will mean more floods, causing more danger and damage to the growing city.

December 15, 2016 - ProPublica

Houston Bus Lane

Houston Buses Gain Ridership While Bus Systems Around the Country Struggle

When Houston reworked their bus system they emphasized frequency and simplicity. The results have been a bump in ridership, though some complain the system sacrificed coverage and equity to make those gains.

December 14, 2016 - Texas Star Tribune

Texas Governor Rick Perry

Trump Picks Energy Secretary Who Wanted to Eliminate Department

In an infamous 2011 Republican presidential primary debate, then-Texas Gov. Rick Perry stated he would abolish three federal agencies: Commerce, Education, and "Oops!" — he couldn't recall. That department, energy, he has now been selected to lead.

December 14, 2016 - Politico

Co-Working Office

Co-Working Spaces Find a Place in Houston's Suburban Reaches

A Houston Chronicle journalist travels a surmising distance from downtown to survey the city's co-working spaces.

December 14, 2016 - Houston Chronicle

Trinity River Dallas Floodplain

The Country's Largest Urban Park—Coming Soon to Dallas

A Dallas News op-ed argues for a repackaging of the Dallas' ongoing open space and park investments to properly acknowledge the scale of the city's accomplishments.

December 9, 2016 - Dallas News

Chariot Commuter Shuttle in San Francisco Expands 50 Percent After Ford Acquisition

Chariot shuttle service, recently acquired by Ford Motor Company, may soon be a more formidable competitor for San Francisco's public transit provider, Muni, due to an expansion to 150 vans. Expect new routes, five-minute headways, and $4 rides.

December 6, 2016 - San Francisco Chronicle

A New Twist for Downtown Dallas Big Box Proposal

A Dallas County judge threw a wrench in a controversial plan to build a 100,000-square-foot Sam's Club near Cityplace in Dallas.

December 5, 2016 - The Dallas News

Trump Selects Elaine J. Chao, former Labor Secretary, as Transportation Secretary

Elaine Chao served all eight years as President George W. Bush's former Secretary of Labor and also under his father's administration as Deputy Secretary of Transportation. She is married to Senate majority leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.).

December 1, 2016 - The New York Times

Austin Texas

Austin Will Use Virtual Reality to Attract Foreign Direct Investment

The city of Austin hopes that virtual reality can connect foreign investors and proposed development projects in need of funding.

November 30, 2016 - Austin Monitor

Moving Truck

Where Millennials are Moving To and Leaving From

Apartment List has published research showing the top destination cities for those 19 to 35 years of age based on ten years of census data from 2005-2010. Among the top 10 destinations, only three were on East and West coasts.

November 28, 2016 - Apartment List

Houston Astrodome

Preservation Comes to Houston

For the first time in its 70-year history, the National Trust for Historic Preservation will hold its annual conference in the city of Houston.

November 18, 2016 - The Houston Chronicle

Report Finds Rising Poverty in Greater Houston

The Kinder Institute reveals a "stunning trend" of poverty spreading around Houston.

November 15, 2016 - The Houston Chronicle

Houston, Construction

Vacancies Define the Houston Office Market in 2016

Industries over leased and developers over built. The city of Houston's office market has gone from boom to bust in only a few years.

November 9, 2016 - The Wall Street Journal

Waco Suspension Bridge

Waco, Texas Region Needs a New Water Plan

Communities in McClennan County, Texas, are working together to plan for a new water supply infrastructure that relies less on groundwater from the depleted Trinity Aquifer.

November 7, 2016 - The Architect's Newspaper

Dallas

Plan to Link 50 Miles of Dallas Trails Seeks City Partnership to Complete Funding

Dallas' Circuit Trail Conservancy has raised $23 million dollars to fund the construction of connectors that would link 50 miles of trails, now they're looking for an additional $20 million in bond money to get the project fully funded.

November 4, 2016 - The Dallas Morning News

Pumping Gas

U.S. Gasoline Consumption Jumps Three Percent in First Six Months of 2016

Gasoline consumption continued to increase for the first six months of the year, as it has for the last years, reports the Federal Highway Administration. What's different this year is that it was by the largest amount, ever.

November 1, 2016 - U.S. Department Of Transportation

Houston Flood

Texas Flood Victims Searching for Answers

The controversy over the flooding of the Addicks Reservoir outside Houston seems to have no resolution in site. What follows is a cautionary tale about building homes where waters flood.

October 31, 2016 - Houston Chronicle

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.

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.