Utah

'Envision Utah' a National Model for Long-Range Planning

An article in Governing thoroughly examines the historic and contemporary efforts of planning in Utah—especially the success of the Envision Utah planning process.

March 20, 2015 - Governing

Utah on Verge of Hiking Gas Tax by 21 Percent

Just before adjourning for the year, the Republican-controlled Utah House and Senate settled on a compromise—increase the gas tax by a nickel; the first hike in 18 years. Gov. Gary Herbert, also a Republican, has indicated he will sign the bill.

March 16, 2015 - The Salt Lake Tribune

Salt Lake City Launches '5,000 Doors' Initiative for Affordable Housing

Over a quarter of families in Salt Lake City pay half their income on rent, and between 2000 and 2011, median home values increased by 47 percent.

February 10, 2015 - Next City

Poll: Voters Remain Opposed To Raising State Gas Taxes

Notwithstanding plummeting gas prices, Keith Laing of The Hill reports on poll results that reveal an uphill battle for political leaders in Utah, Georgia, and New Jersey, who are advocating gas tax increases to fund roads, bridges, and transit.

January 26, 2015 - The Hill

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.

January 13, 2015 - Streetsblog USA

Low Gas Prices

Three States Hope to Take Advantage of Low Gas Prices to Boost Gas Taxes

A movement at the state and federal levels would take advantage of low oil prices to boost gas taxes to pay for infrastructure. Michigan, Iowa, and Utah proposals, and a change to the federal Corker-Murphy plan, are described below.

January 12, 2015 - The Wall Street Journal

Salt Lake City Looks West for Downtown Revitalization

The Salt Lake Tribune looked at the development plans made possible by the West Side Master Plan for Salt Lake City.

January 3, 2015 - Salt Lake City Tribune

trax light rail train in foreground, snow-covered mountains in background

How Cities are Overcoming Federal Roadblocks for Transportation Improvements

Tanya Snyder provides a thorough survey of the talking points of five U.S. mayors from a recent Washington Post forum on transportation.

October 27, 2014 - Streetsblog USA

Master Plan to Revitalize Salt Lake City's Struggling West Side

The Poplar Grove and Glendale neighborhoods in Salt Lake City perform poorly on the federal government's "opportunity index." A new master plan, however, would focus on transportation and nodes of activity to revitalize the area.

October 3, 2014 - The Salt Lake Tribune

Why the Federal Government Should Require Minimum Service Standards for Rail

According to Yonah Freemark, there's folly in the way the federal government has been funding rail transit projects but failing to set standards for minimum service—a key indicator of transit ridership success.

August 21, 2014 - the transport politic

Good Design Sparks Rural Community Development

Now more than ever, creative professionals are turning their attention to community development. While this trend toward good design is exciting, it’s harder to find in rural areas. Here are a few ideas from the forefront of rural design.

August 14, 2014 - CommunityMatters

New Census Data Shows the Country's Age

Christopher Ingraham breaks down recent data from the U.S. Census that shows which counties are getting younger and which are getting older.

July 4, 2014 - The Washington Post - Wonkblog

A Bad Year for State Transportation Funding

Compared to 2013, few states are increasing transportation spending through tax increases. Only New Hampshire and Rhode Island saw limited gas tax increases, though both were accompanied by road or bridge toll eliminations. Missouri could be next.

June 27, 2014 - Governing

Oil Shale (not Shale Oil) and Oil Sands Projects Underway in Utah

A major challenge facing oil companies in the Uinta Basin is how to transport the crude to market. Alignments have been winnowed and the mode appears to be selected - rail. Total cost: $2 billion to extract $30 billion worth of oil and gas reserves.

June 18, 2014 - The Salt Lake Tribune

Maintaining Social Mobility Amid Salt Lake City's Changing Demographics

A study released in 2013 ranked Sat Lake City fifth in upward mobility, but critics say that the study reflected an earlier era. Now with changing demographics, the Salt Lake is redoubling efforts to maintain opportunities for all of its citizens.

April 30, 2014 - National Journal

A Female Champion for Salt Lake City’s 'Transportation Revolution'

Robin Hutcheson has led the transportation planning division of Salt Lake City since 2011—a period of expansion for multi-modal transportation improvements all over the city.

March 26, 2014 - The Atlantic Cities

Challenging 'Mountain Urbanism, Mountain Modernism'

In a recent editorial, Joe Andrade questions the assumptions underlying the Salt Lake City region's approach to population growth.

February 25, 2014 - The Deseret News

Helping the homeless

How Utah Could End Homelessness by 2015

By implementing a rational, structured policy of providing free apartments for the homeless, the state of Utah has greatly reduced its homeless population and is on pace to eradicate it completely by 2015.

February 10, 2014 - PolicyMic

New Statistics Reveal Post-Recession Paradigms of Population Growth

Governing takes a closer look at the U.S. Census Bureau’s most recent population estimates to reveal the data behind the country’s shifted migration patterns and present some ideas about what’s driving the new migration paradigms.

February 5, 2014 - Governing

Utah Oil Shale Plans—'First Commercial Production In Decades'

A proposal to build and operate the first commercial oil shale production facility “in decades” near the Book Cliffs in Utah is meeting legal opposition from environmental groups.

January 26, 2014 - Deseret News

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.

Senior Manager Operations, Urban Planning

New York City School Construction Authority

Building Inspector

Village of Glen Ellyn

Manager of Model Development

Central Transportation Planning Staff/Boston Region MPO

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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.