Texas

High-Speed Rail to Stop Short of Downtown Houston

The latest plan for the Texas Central high-speed rail line would stop trains well short of downtown Houston. Transit advocates are displeased with the change of plans.

November 28, 2015 - Houston Chronicle

Texas Transit Agency Faces Financial Demise

The TAPS transit agency is severely distressed, and continuing to receive bad news about its finances.

November 27, 2015 - The Dallas Morning News

Convention Center Arms Race Heats Up in Texas

Four major cities in Texas are either considering or constructing convention center upgrades.

November 25, 2015 - Community Impact Newspaper

Dallas Area Ready for More Greenfield Developments

A pair of articles details two new, massive greenfield developments on the way in North Texas.

November 24, 2015 - The Dallas Morning News

Accessory Dwelling Unit

Legalize It: Austin Eases Restrictions on Accessory Dwelling Units

Accessory dwelling units, granny flats, mother-in-law units—whatever you call them, they're now legal in Austin.

November 23, 2015 - Community Impact Newspaper

Dallas Pushing for a Convention Center Upgrade

The age-old competition between cities to attract convention business is getting its latest public debate in Dallas, where stakeholders are preparing a proposal to bring the city's convention center into the modern era.

November 22, 2015 - The Dallas Morning News

Two-Way Streets Coming Soon to Dallas' Victory Park

The city of Dallas got the memo about the benefits of converting one-way streets to two-ways. Two streets in the Victory Park neighborhood will be reconfigured this weekend.

November 19, 2015 - The Dallas Morning News

Toll Road Truck

A Texas Toll Road Struggling to Induce Demand

Texas 130 has failed to live up to its revenue potential, leaving the private company that operates the road in junk bond status.

November 18, 2015 - San Antonio Express News

Houston

On the Effect of Houston's Loose Land Use Regulations

A conversation with an architect yields insight into how Houston's pride in the lack of traditional land use regulation mechanisms has created the city as it exists today.

November 16, 2015 - OffCite

Downtown Dallas

A Parking Kerfuffle in Downtown Dallas

The big, contentious question of contemporary downtowns is under consideration in Dallas: Is there too much parking or not enough parking?

November 11, 2015 - The Dallas Morning News

Texas Votes to Keep Old Road Spending Habits

Lots of dollar signs were flying around on Texas ballots last week, many of which were headed toward road construction measures. The Houston Chronicle, however, points out the shortcomings of the state's patterns of investment.

November 9, 2015 - Houston Chronicle

Houston's downtown skyline

Dispelling Four Myths of Houston's Growth and Affordability

A researcher at Rice University finds that proclamations of Houston’s affordability, gentrification, and growth are just myths.

November 9, 2015 - The Urban Edge

More Diversity Needed in Bike Planning Processes

Left behind in business-as-usual city planning processes: low income and racial minority residents who rely on biking for transportation.

November 5, 2015 - Next City

Skytrain Over Parking Lot, Surrey Central

Parking Requirements at TOD Projects Remain Stubbornly Out of Sync

Transit Oriented Development projects around the country are still facing suburban-style parking requirements.

October 30, 2015 - The Dallas Morning News

Downtown Houston

Re-Evaluating Houston's Downtown Living Initiative

Like many other cities, Houston was looking for ways to bring more residents to Downtown. The Downtown Living Initiative has worked well—but will it leave some populations behind?

October 28, 2015 - Houston Chronicle

Pretty City. Don't swim after storm.

Houston's Drainage Controversy Isn't Unique

Houston faces political conflict around a new drainage fee, meant to fund efforts to fix the city's crumbling infrastructure. Other cities could soon find themselves in a similar predicament.

October 26, 2015 - Next City

Same Old Transportation Policy Found in Texas' Prop 7

By shifting salves tax revenue to highway construction and prohibiting the use of tolls, Prop 7 would ensure that Texas continues on a path of sprawl and congestion, according to opponents of the proposed constitutional amendment.

October 23, 2015 - Streetsblog USA

Santiago Calatrava

Coming Soon to Dallas-Fort Worth: 8 Million Square Feet of Office Buildings

Large corporations are making huge investments in new office parks in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, reflecting a desire to attract young talent with Google- and Facebook-like workplaces.

October 22, 2015 - The Dallas Morning News

Houston Light Rail

Texas Cities See Mass Transit as a Path to Economic Development

Dallas and Houston's expanding light rail systems are helping boost economic development as new commercial and residential development sprouts up around transit stations.

October 19, 2015 - PBS NewsHour

Japan High Speed Rail

Report: Texas High-Speed Rail Worth $35 Billion in Economic Benefit by 2040

A report commissioned by Texas Central Partners is the first to calculate the potential economic benefit of a proposed privately developed high-speed rail connection between Houston and Dallas.

October 17, 2015 - The Dallas Morning News

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.

Transportation Planner I

KFH Group Inc.

Director, Strategy and Research

Greater Baltimore Committee

Senior Planner

Eagle County Government

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.