United States
Maglev: Dreaming the Impossible Dream?
The idea of a magnetic levitation train has been bubbling for decades, but has yet to materialize in the U.S. Some say the idea is a pipe dream, but this column from The Baltimore Sun says the idea just needs the right home.
Invasion of the Granny Pods
The Rev. Kenneth Dupin of Virginia wanted to find a way to keep elderly folks independent and near their families while providing the care they need. So he invented the MEDCottage, and is working with cities to change zoning to allow it.
Defending the "Great Good Place"
Public libraries are being relied on more than ever to assist Americans struggling with the economic crisis, even as they themselves are under threat, writes Neal Peirce.
Opposition to Mosque Proposals Mounting
Across the U.S., proposals for new mosques (such as for one in Murfreesboro, Tennessee) are meeting with hostile opposition, leading to worries over an ugly shift in public perception of Muslims.
Cities Must Realign Priorities Toward Job Creation
Aaron Renn argues that when it comes to thinking on large cities, "too many people remain stuck in the 90s." Now that the recession has civic finances in a vice grip, we ought to focus not on condos or bike shares, but straightforward job creation.
A New Ethic for Urban Reinvention
In a unique collaboration, an American lawyer and a Venezuelan architect merge thinking on holistic design, planning and regulation
Don't Worship Jane Jacobs: Think Like Her
Bill Barnes of the National League of Cities argues that we don't need acolytes of Jane Jacobs; we need people who will think as hard and as well as she did about "the kind of problem a city is."
Gallup Charts "Well-Being" And Commute Times
And the result is fairly obvious - longer the commute, lower the reading. Well-being is a measurement of both physical and mental health, including ailments such as back pain and anxiety. No mention of modal type (e.g, driving, biking, transit).
Is American Ingenuity Dead When it Comes to Transportation?
Chikodi Chima looks at the innovative ideas coming out of China like the famous road-straddling bus announced earlier this month, and asks, has America lost it's edge?
High Speed Rail Gradually Develops, But Critics Remain Vocal
As high speed rail projects begin to take shape across America, commuters are anticipating eased travel but skeptics remain critical.
Creating Smart Cities and Replicating Silicon Valley
Google CEO Eric Schmidt discusses what makes a city smart and successful in this interview with Foreign Policy.
High Density and High Concentrations of Cars
Looking at Census data for urbanized areas and auto ownership, Randal O'Toole argues that denser areas have high rates of auto ownership per square mile, a correlation that is likely to increase congestion.
Sprawl and the Free Market
This piece from The Freeman looks at the debate over sprawl and whether free market economics encourage it or offer a solution.
Why Transit Agencies Should Open Their Data
Streetfilms offers this video about how opening up transit agency data can greatly improve urban public transit systems for riders at little or no cost to the agencies.
Kelo Redux: Struggling Malls
The eminent domain case of Kelo vs. New London is seeing new relevance in cities across the country, as empty malls are being classified by locals as blight.
Spain the Model Train Citizen
As the U.S. eases itself into a national system of high speed trains, other nations seem to be decades ahead, especially Spain.
Scoring Your Transitability
A new online tool shows people how accessible their homes, neighborhoods, and businesses are to public transit.
Green Building, Black Lung?
The U.S. Green Building Council's LEED building rating system has helped grow the ranks of green buildings, but some say it ignores the human health impact of those buildings.
Slow Pace for Infrastructure Stimulus Funds
The White House has distributed less than a third of the nearly $230 billion set aside for big infrastructure projects, prompting criticism from Republicans.
Reinventing Government in the Wiki Age
Beth Novick, author of Wiki Government, says that today's technology invites us to "rethink not only our democratic institutions, but our democratic theory."
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.
Heyer Gruel & Associates PA
JM Goldson LLC
Custer County Colorado
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
Transportation Research & Education Center (TREC) at Portland State University
Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Claremont
Municipality of Princeton (NJ)
