United States
The Hidden Costs of Building Green
New green buildings may be de riguer, but preservation does less harm.
Republican Attacks Shifting Focus Toward Cities
By focusing their criticism on the federal government, argues Jonathan Chait, Republicans fail to address the real problem: over-regulation on the state and local level.
6-year Transportation Reauthorization Passes Committee; 3-Week Extension Introduced
The bipartisan, $325 billion STRR Act unanimously passed the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee on Oct. 22. A three-week transportation funding extension bill was also introduced, as the Highway Trust Fund expires on Oct. 29.
Railroads Given Three More Years to Install Positive Train Control
Agreement has been reached by Congress to extend the vital but costly safety system said to prevent many train crashes. Had it not been reached, freight railroads warned they would shut down, as would passenger rail lines running on their tracks.
Saying Bye-Bye to Fireplaces And Wood-Burning Heaters in the Bay Area
In a Bay Area first, new home construction in most of the region will be banned from having these heating devices installed as the result of a rule adopted unanimously by the Bay Area Air Quality Management District on Oct. 21.
California's Bay Delta Explained
As California's drought drags on, the Delta—which provides water to much of the state—has come to symbolize the tension among water users with competing interests. But the strained resource has also prompted ambitious initiatives for sustainability.
Blaming Millennials for Decaying Road Infrastructure
If you thought inflation and fuel efficiency, along with politicians unwillingness to raise gas taxes were the main causes of America's decaying road and bridges, S&P adds another contributing factor—millennial transportation preferences.
One Year Later: What has Cards Against Urbanity Taught Planners?
Reflection on the education provided by the irreverent game called Cards Against Urbanity has led the game's creators to create a new, less snarky version of the game.
The Evolving Market for Water in an Era of Droughts and Efficiencies
As some areas of the country seek out new sources of water, other areas are trying to protect what they have.
GAO Study Highlights Need for Geography Education Funding
K-12 geography proficiency has not improved since 1994.
Millennials Can't Change U.S. Driving Habits Alone
Yonah Freemark throws cold water on the notion that the country is becoming less auto-dependent. Yes, millennials are less auto-oriented than older were, but they haven't stopped per-capita vehicle miles traveled from increasing.
Fixing the Flood of Congestion at its Source
In pursuit of an honest conversation about congestion, Charles Marohn produces a comparison between roads and stormwater infrastructure.
Making the Case for Planning
Planetizen Managing Editor James Brasuell recently gave the Pitkin Lecture at the Pennsylvania state chapter of the American Planning Association's annual conference. An adapted and excerpted version of that lecture follows.
Questioning the Wisdom of Light Rail in the Sun Belt States
As Houston, Dallas and other sun belt cities build out their light-rail systems, some are asking if the investment is worth it.
Interactive Map Allows Comparisons of the Nation's Traffic Camera Systems
Some cities take their surveillance of traffic violations very seriously. Washington, D.C., this time we're looking at you.
New House Transportation Reauthorization Bill Expected for Mark Up This Week
The current patch bill funding highway and transit spending expires on Oct. 29. The House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee has released a multi-year bill called the Surface Transportation Reauthorization & Reform Act of 2015 (STRR Act).
Ranking the American Cities with the Most Parkland Per Household
While we often talk about the places that are park poor, Builder Online has done the data crunching to find out which cities are park rich.
The Conflicting Goals of America's Housing Policy
Current housing policies at the local and national level have tried to make housing more affordable while at the same time increasing the value of homes, recognizing them as a personal investment.
Teaching Students the Power of GIS
Ninth graders in Soldotna, Alaska, were introduced to geographic information systems (GIS) by a team of volunteers who spent two days illustrating how GIS technology is used in analyzing complex systems.
Minnesota History Center Exhibit Makes Room for Suburban Romance
"Suburbia," opening today at the new Minnesota History Center in St. Paul, allows a portrait of suburban living that goes well beyond the mundane. By redefining the history suburbia, the exhibit also tracks the contemporary evolution of suburbs.
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.
One Hundred Miles
County of Mendocino
planning NEXT
The Architects Foundation
University of Cincinnati Online
Montrose County
Northern Illinois Transit Authority (NITA)
The Pocatello Development Authority
