United States
Study: 'It's hard to beat gasoline' on Air Quality
A University of Minnesota study published in PNAS looks at alternatives including ethanol and electricity and determined that "it's hard to beat gasoline." Even electric vehicles can do better or worse depending on how utilities source electricity.
CEQA and High-Speed Rail Foes Dealt Setback by Federal Board
Faced with seven CEQA lawsuits from rail opponents threatening to delay the high-speed rail project, the California High-Speed Rail Authority sought preemption of the California environmental law. The Surface Transportation Board agreed.
Citizens in Central Arkansas Imagine the Future with Interactive Online Plans
How do you create a plan document that grabs the attention of your audience and generates feedback? In Central Arkansas, citizens are exploring and experiencing an interactive online draft plan that makes participation easy and fun.
Op-Ed Critiques Architecture: from 'Infinitesimal Specks' to 'Sprawling Dreck'
Steven Bingler and Martin C. Pedersen pen a withering critique of the architecture profession's obsession with glamorous contracts at the expense of context-sensitive, community-focused designs.
Federal Spending Bill Passes—TIGER Trimmed But Still Alive
With most of its funding intact for 2014, and a proposed ban on funding for active transportation projects off the table, fans of TIGER grants can take a deep breath.
Report Shows Which States Lead the Net-Zero Building Market
Although net-zero buildings have yet to scale to mass adoption, a new report hopes to inspire architects and developers to join the ranks of the most energy efficient buildings in the country.
Fair Housing and Community Development: Better Together!
Conversations about fair housing and place-based work too often lead to a perceived need to defend turf. Reece and Kriesberg got together instead to talk about common ground, using Rooflines as a hub for debate!
12 Cities Awarded 'Innovation Delivery Team' Grants from Bloomberg Philanthropies
After announcing a first round of grants in August, Bloomberg Philanthropies expanded its $45 million innovation teams program to 12 cities in the United States and two abroad.
Race, Poverty, and Change in America: The Persistent Dilemmas of Equity and Equality
The themes of race, poverty, and change in America are as relevant as ever, as our nation grapples with the recent tragedies in Ferguson, Missouri and Staten Island, New York.
Retrofitting Suburban Downtowns for Walkability
Ian Law of Place Alliance spoke to the 2014 ASLA Annual Meeting in Denver at the end of November about what it takes to accomplish a vision for a more dense, walkable suburban downtown.
After Keystone Delay, Enviros Challenge Other Pipelines
After successfully stalling the Keystone XL pipeline that would transport tar sands crude from Alberta to Gulf area refineries, environmental activists are targeting other proposed pipelines, although the result may be more crude-by-rail shipments.
Study: Passenger Vehicle Fleet is Older and More Polluting
Arguably just as important than the sales of new vehicles, e.g., hybrids and EVs, are the consequences of not buying new cars.
Interactive Map Shows Wage Requirements for Rent Affordability
A post by Matthew Yglesias for Vox shows how much you would need to earn an hour to be able to afford a median rental property in your city.
A Map of Worldwide Speed Limits
Do you have a need for speed? Or at least a need to know the speed limit anywhere in the world? Greater Greater Washington has just the map for you.
Compare the Scale of U.S. Streetcar Systems
Everyone likes a little friendly competition—in this case a Greater Greater Washington post does a side-by-side comparison of all the active streetcar systems in the United States.
Republican Governors, Encouraged by Low Gas Prices, to Raise Gas Taxes
While there may never be a good time to increase the federal gas tax, the same is not true when it comes to state gas taxes—perhaps because governors can't transfer billions of dollars from general funds to pay for roads. Lower gas prices helps.
2014's Best and Worst in Architecture and Design
Critics Alexandra Lange and Mark Lamster hand out their annual awards for architecture and design. Snark is on the menu, but the awards still provide a nice recap of the biggest design news from around the country (and some from around the world).
Friday Eye Candy: 'The Secret Life of Buildings'
The latest edition of The Paris Review includes a portfolio of 16 images by Mark Yankus. The print publication was kind enough to provide a sample of these deeply texture images online.
Growing Suburbs for the Good for the World
The Economist has published a pair of feature articles examining the growth of suburbs around the world in the hopes of avoiding the mistakes of the West.
North Dakota to Reduce Volatility of Bakken Crude-By-Rail
Bakken crude is considered more volatile than other types of oil, which presents a safety problem when moved by rail. New regulations approved Tuesday require oil producers to separate flammable and volatile liquids prior to shipment by rail.
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.
planning NEXT
Appalachian Highlands Housing Partners
Mpact (founded as Rail~Volution)
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
City of Portland
City of Laramie
