United States

Lawsuit Settled, CA HSR Authority Ready to Purchase Property

A major environmental lawsuit against the High Speed Rail Authority brought by Central Valley farmers and other parties was settled on April 18, clearing the way for initial construction to begin on the 30 mile corridor between Madera and Fresno.

April 22, 2013 - KQED

What Is Green Infrastructure and Why Does it Matter?

From traditional stormwater management to storm surge abatement and conserving drinking water and watersheds, green infrastructure improves our cities, explains Adrian Benepe of the Trust for Public Land.

April 22, 2013 - Sustainable Cities Collective

How Housing Speculation Became an American Pastime

Speculation about property values is as old as the U.S. itself, but it used to be much more localized, explains Robert Shiller, Yale economist. Is the recent housing roller coaster likely to repeat itself in the future?

April 22, 2013 - New York Times

Walking: America's Next Medical Breakthrough

A group of America's leading corporations, health care providers, and government officials are preparing to launch a national walking movement this fall. "If walking was a pill or surgical procedure, it would be on 60 Minutes,” says Dr. Bob Sallis.

April 22, 2013 - Citiwire.net

Op-Ed: Invest in Natural-Hazard Mitigation to Save Billions in Disaster Recovery

With the costs of rebuilding after natural disaster in the U.S. escalating (now estimated at $50 billion a year), David R. Conrad and Edward A. Thomas argue that scant resources can be better spent on mitigation rather than rebuilding in place.

April 21, 2013 - Los Angeles Times

Suburbs and Exurbs Were Hit Hardest by Great Recession

A new report from the Brookings Metropolitan Policy Program shows that areas located 10-35 miles from America's central cities sustained far higher job losses during the recession, staunching the sprawl of people and employment.

April 19, 2013 - Next City

America's Campuses Foment Transportation Revolution

Angie Schmitt looks at how America's institutions of higher learning are embracing progressive transportation demand management strategies to cut costs, expand their footprints, and encourage healthier lifestyles.

April 19, 2013 - DC.Streetsblog

Senators Resist Obama Budget Proposal to Sell TVA

A proposal in President Obama's fiscal year 2014 budget would reduce the deficit and place a government-owned utility in private hands - ostensibly Republican goals - but it is being opposed by Tennessee's senior Republican Senator, Lamar Alexander.

April 18, 2013 - The Wall Street Journal

Incubator Provides Bridge for Civic Startups

Google is teaming with Code for America to help transition the most promising ideas from the civic tech group's fellows into viable businesses.

April 18, 2013 - VentureBeat

Gentrification Provides an Opportunity to Diversify Urban Schools

Segregated schools are an enduring problem in urban America. But with young affluent (often white) professionals flocking to cities, and enrolling their children in public schools, a historic opportunity exists to create diverse schools.

April 18, 2013 - The Atlantic Cities

Architecture Firms Look to Hire; But Where Are the Qualified Candidates?

After five rough years, architecture billings are on a sustained upswing. In Chicago, where the number of employed architects dropped 33 percent between 2008-2011, this means firms are staffing up to meet a growing number of commissions.

April 17, 2013 - Crain's Chicago Business

New U.S. Ocean Policy Balances Industry, Energy, and Recreation

The National Ocean Policy released this week by the White House is being praised by many as a collaborative response to the myriad challenges confronting the nation's oceans. For others, it's just another example of federal overreach.

April 17, 2013 - The Washington Post

Gas Tax or VMT Fee? Experts Debate How to Fund Transportation

In this special "Energy: Squaring Off" section, experts take opposing sides on six energy issues - the first being how best to pay for transportation. Carl Davis of the Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy vs. Robert Poole of Reason Foundation.

April 17, 2013 - The Wall Street Journal

Broken Bus

Are Corporations Imperiling America's Public Transportation Systems?

Chris Hedges warns that corporate consolidation of public transportation is leading to increasingly dangerous conditions for both drivers and passengers, especially in intercity bus systems.

April 17, 2013 - AlterNet

Transportation Budget: "Where's The Beef, Mr. President?"

Kathryn W. Wolfe takes President Obama to task on his fiscal 2014, $77 billion transportation budget - not in where the money goes but where it comes from. How often can the 'peace dividend' be justifiably used as a funding source?

April 16, 2013 - Politico

6 Risks of Public-Private Partnerships

Public agencies need money to finance their projects. Private investors see opportunities for a decent return. Sounds like a perfect marriage, no? Not so fast, says Laura Barrett, who outlines 6 reasons to be wary of public-private partnerships.

April 15, 2013 - Rooflines

America's Surprising Springs of Sprawl

Although urban living has been making a comeback throughout the United States, "sprawl still dominates new construction in emerging metro regions in certain parts of the country," says Kaid Benfield. He looks at the areas where sprawl still rules.

April 12, 2013 - NRDC Switchboard

Striking Images of America Under Water

Graphs and maps can be compelling means to illustrate the dire threat to our cities of rising seas caused by climate change. But for blunt impact, a series of photo illustrations by artist Nickolay Lamm are hard to beat.

April 11, 2013 - Daily Mail

Transportation and Community Revitalization a Focus of Obama's 2014 Budget

In President Obama's newly released 2014 budget proposal, planners will find much to applaud. But what are the chances those nuggets will survive the contentious negotiations to come?

April 11, 2013 - APA Policy News

What Infrastructure Crisis?

Evan Soltas pens a contrarian take on the state of America's infrastructure, equating those who repeatedly warn of crumbling roads and bridges to a bunch of "Chicken Littles."

April 10, 2013 - Bloomberg View

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.

Home and Land Services Coordinator

Appalachian Highlands Housing Partners

Associate/Senior Planner

Gallatin County Department of Planning & Community Development

Senior Planner

Heyer Gruel & Associates PA

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.