Europe
Rebirth In Barcelona
With large investments made in refurbishing and emphasizing its waterfront in recent years, Barcelona has set off on a path towards rejuvenation -- bringing in many foreigners and a surge of young, creative professionals.
The Traffic Jam Forecast
Traffic sensors on Germany's Autobahn enable researchers to predict traffic jams a day in advance -- with surprising accuracy.
New Bridge In Venice Greeted With Criticism
A new pedestrian bridge has been added over the Grand Canal in Venice, despite objections from locals that the new modern-designed bridge is out of place.
Paris: Nice To People, Not Nice To Cars
An observer comments on the French capital's success at making alternate modes of transportation easier and accessible.
Soggy Subway Plans Advance In Amsterdam
Transportation planners and city officials are trying to find innovative ways to build a subway system in Amsterdam, a soggy city in a country that is mostly below sea-level.
Paris Embraces New Bike Rental Program
To reduce traffic congestion and parking shortage, Paris launched a bike rental program similar to one implemented in other European cities. After its first week, an average of 45,000 bikes have been rented every day.
America's Green Technology Is Basis For Stockholm's Congestion Pricing
New York Times columnist Thomas Friedman expounds on the use of IBM’s green technology that enables the congestion pricing system to work in Stockholm, the environmental benefits of road pricing to cities, and the ‘green-collar’ jobs they create.
Availability Of Industrial Sites Fuels Citywide Transformation
With millions of square feet of formerly industrial areas available for redevelopment, Milan is on the verge of a major urban transformation.
The Pedestrianization Of Rome
A historic section of streets and piazzas in Rome is being "pedestrianized", or altered so that it will be an area where the primary mode of transportation will be walking and private cars will not be allowed.
Paris Looks To Revitalize Former Central Marketplace
After numerous roadblocks and failed attempts at renovation, the city of Paris seems to have a promising jump on bringing new life to Les Halles, once one of the city's main marketplaces and now an area many Parisians completely avoid.
Wind Turbine Shortage Makes U.S. Look To Europe To Meet Demand
President Bush has often looked toward American technology to make voluntary carbon emission reductions, but that technology often must come from abroad, where industrialized countries are required to make emission reductions per the Kyoto Protocol.
High-Speed Rail Operators Team Up Against Airlines
Operators of the emerging high-speed rail lines in Europe are joining forces to improve the way European travelers move around the region. Some hope the partnership could increase competition between rail and low-cost airlines.
Bridge Will Link Denmark And Germany
A long-discussed plan to link Denmark and Germany with an 11-mile bridge is finally moving forward, as both countries recently came to an agreement on what will be one of the largest European infrastructure projects in history.
Drunken Tourists Threaten Historic Sites
The ancient palazzos of Rome are being transformed by a flood of restaurants and bars catering to a growing population of drunken tourists. Many locals and preservationist worry about what they see as social and historical decay.
Rome Recreated
Researchers at UCLA and the University of Virginia have developed the largest and most complete virtual reality simulation of a historic city ever created -- Rome in AD 320.
Longest Land Tunnel Cuts Train Travel Times
A 21-mile over-land tunnel has opened in Switzerland, running underneath the Swiss Alps and dramatically reducing the travel times for newly opened high-speed trains connecting Germany, France, and Italy.
Kiev Struggles With Rising Car Ownership
The Ukrainian capital has seen the number of cars increase over 600 percent in less than 30 years, taxing the city's infrastructure and presenting local planners with a major transportation challenge.
Carbon Tax Vs. Carbon Trading
L.A. Times editorial compares carbon taxes and carbon trading schemes and argues that carbon taxes are the best way to combat global warming.
Travel Company Buys Entire Village
A German tour operator has purchased the entirety of a village in Tuscany with plans to turn it into a mega-resort for vacationing Europeans. Many in the village were upset at the sale, which they say will destroy the local character.
Iraqi Refugees Find Few Welcoming Mats
For Iraqi refugees, finding a place to go is a major challenge. Strict policies in many European countries makes finding asylum difficult, but Sweden has proven to be the most welcoming country.
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.
EMC Planning Group, Inc.
Planetizen
Planetizen
Mpact (formerly Rail~Volution)
Great Falls Development Authority, Inc.
HUDs Office of Policy Development and Research
NYU Wagner Graduate School of Public Service
