Virginia

Virginia Debates How to Make Mapquest Recognize Its 'Burger King Bridge'

As Virginia drafts new rules to govern the sale of naming rights to its highways, interchanges, and bridges, public officials want to ensure that their new "marketing technology" provides more than just a sign on the road, reports Liz Essley.

July 23, 2012 - The Examiner

Can D.C. Afford to Put Power Lines Underground?

It all depends on who you ask, argues David Alpert. Ratepayers have pushed for buried lines before; now, there's reason to doubt it would cost as much as the utility company once quoted them.

July 6, 2012 - Greater Greater Washington

One of D.C.'s Largest Infrastructure Projects Gets the Go-Ahead

On Tuesday, the Loudoun County Board of Supervisors voted 5-4 to support extending D.C.'s Metrorail to Dulles Airport, ending months of uncertainty over the project's fate.

July 4, 2012 - The Washington Post

D.C. Area Hits Uptick as Recession Peters Out

Carol Morello and Patricia Sullivan explore the recent population spike in Washington, D.C., part of a nationwide trend toward "an urban renaissance."

June 30, 2012 - Washington Post

Historically Inclined Richmond Brands Itself Anew

For a city known for its storied history, but whose burgeoning creative culture has gone less noticed, a recent branding campaign was charged with the challenge of merging both identities.

June 18, 2012 - Fast Company

Will Narrow Focus Sink Plans to Clean D.C.'s Polluted Waters?

A 20-year, $2.6 billion Clean Rivers Project intended to eliminate sewage discharge into D.C. area waterways will benefit the entire region. So, Carol O’Cleireacain asks, why only stick Washington's residents with the bill?

June 4, 2012 - The Washington Post

Smart Growth For Conservatives

According to James A. Bacon, "Smart growth is too important to leave to liberals." In a new essay, he argues that "Conservatives must articulate their own vision for creating prosperous, livable and fiscally sustainable communities."

June 4, 2012 - Bacon's Rebellion

Are Planners Responsible for Public Health?

Christine Green reports on the ways in which transportation and planning professionals in the Washington D.C. area are working alongside public health professionals to tackle the obesity epidemic.

May 22, 2012 - Greater Greater Washington

Should Taxpayers Have to Keep Waterfront Homes Afloat?

William Brangham takes a look at Norfolk, Virginia, where rising sea levels have made major floods increasingly commonplace – and increasingly burdensome for taxpayers.

May 3, 2012 - Grist

Successful DC Bikeshare Program Heading for the Suburbs

The runaway success of Washington D.C.'s bikeshare program, in less than two years of operation, has it poised to expand to the city's suburbs this year.

February 3, 2012 - The Washington Post

Virginia's Green Building Revolution

The commonwealth's nonprofit affordable housing developers are outgreening their market-rate peers, bringing green building up to scale statewide.

January 20, 2012 - Shelterforce

The Future of Development in D.C.

Steven Pearlstein reads the tea leaves to predict the future development patterns in Washington, D.C. and finds that all signs point inwards to the city center and its closer-in suburbs.

January 19, 2012 - The Washington Post

Building Transit Ridership Through R&D

Emily Badger profiles Arlington County's Mobility Lab, and its Transit Tech initiative, which has managed to take 40,000 car trips a day off of the county’s roads by easing access to their existing infrastructure.

January 19, 2012 - The Atlantic Cities

Columbia Pike Streetcar is the Better Design

According to Miles Grant, "the streetcar is a relative bargain purely on the basis of direct cost per estimated user, not even including the external costs of sprawl and pollution that new and improved highways engender."

December 15, 2011 - Greater Greater Washington

Obama Uses 1906 Act to Declare Fort Monroe a Natl. Monument

In declaring Fort Monroe in Hampton, Virginia a National Monument, President Obama circumvents Congressional approval - which would be required to make it a National Park.

December 6, 2011 - City Parks Blog

ASLA Seeks A More Sustainable D.C.

For Washington D.C., ASLA polled members to develop a new "comprehensive framework" connecting sustainability with economic development.

November 16, 2011 - American Society of Lanscape Architects

Tysons Corner Comprehensive Plan Stymies Project

Citing the city's need for private dollars to contribute to $810 million in road improvements, developers of one residential development has indefinitely shelved its plans.

November 12, 2011 - Capital Business - The Washington Post

Around D.C., Metro Essential for Regional Growth

Reporting on a topic of discussion at the Greening Greater Washington Conference, Neal Peirce expounds on how public transit choices has bolstered regionalism around the nation's capital.

September 24, 2011 - Citiwire

Finally, New and Improved Pentagon 2.0

The Pentagon, previously called the War Department Building, took a mere 17 months to construct in 1941. The building's recent renovation took considerably longer: 17 years and $4.5 billion, to be exact.

June 25, 2011 - The Washington Post

Can A Strip Mall Be Worthy of Historic Preservation?

The Arlington, VA County Board is voting in July on naming 23 properties as 'essential' to preserve. Among those chosen are two strip malls.

June 14, 2011 - The Green Miles

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.

Comprehensive Bikeway Design Workshop

Transportation Research & Education Center (TREC) at Portland State University

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Institute for Housing and Urban Development Studies (IHS)

Top Books

An annual review of books related to planning.

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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.