Government / Politics
Detroit Considers Massive School Closures
The city of Detroit is considering a plan to close nearly half of its public schools and greatly increase its class sizes.
Pittsburgh's First Comprehensive Plan, 252 Years Later
The city of Pittsburgh is making progress on its first comprehensive plan. Next American City talks with Director of City Planning Noor Ismail about its process and potential impact.
Is A London 'Tech City' Viable?
British Prime Minister David Cameron wants to build a Silicon Valley-like "tech city" at the site of the 2012 Summer Olympics. But some question whether his plan can work.
Ray LaHood Responds To High-Speed Rail Critics
DOT Secretary Ray LaHood responds to a Washington Post editorial that condemned not only the California High Speed Rail project, but President Obama's vision for a national high-speed rail network.
The Difference Between Roads and Streets
Tao Rugkhapan reports on the etiology traffic accidents which are becoming all to common in Bangkok as vehicle speeds increase along with lane tolerances and the number of elevated expressways.
Aleppo's Conservation Plan Focuses On Architecture With A Social Vision
Aleppo, one of the oldest continually inhabited cities in the world, is undergoing a conservation project that includes the restoration of hundreds of houses, a new park, and rebuilding city streets and services.
Leaping Through Loopholes in Washington's Growth Management Act
Despite laws meant to protect open space and limit sprawl development, developers in Washington have found a legal way to get major housing projects approved in Washington.
"Realigning" Policies To Give Local Government More Power
Washington Governor Chris Gregoire is part of a growing national trend of empowering local government with areas that have been run by states, such as education. Reporter David Brewster says this is a movement the right and left can agree on.
Robert Moses, the Musical
A new musical has been written about Robert Moses and his impact on New York City. Robert A. Caro, Moses' Pulitzer Prize-winning biographer, attends a rehearsal.
A Test Case for Shrinking Cities
With a fleeing population, Youngstown, Ohio was ahead of the current trend on "shrinking cities." So what can planners learn from Youngstown's example?
From Mega-Cities to Meta-Cities
RThe impact of cities is spreading beyond local and even national borders, argues Robert Neuwirth in this piece from What Matters.
Urbanism Ain't Elitist
One of columnist Steve Berg's New Year's resolutions is to explain to how supporting urbanist ideas like using cars less and retrofitting suburbs come from sound principles and aren't based in elitism.
Cities to Supplant Nations as Drivers of Future World
Parag Khanna suggests that cities are the building blocks of humanity, and will take increasing control over the future shape of the world in the coming decades.
Did London Misjudge Demand for Bike Sharing?
In a review of the new bike sharing program in London, The Economist raises the question of whether the city wrongly predicted the existing demand for the service.
The Problems of the Public Process
NIMBYism is obstructing the urban planning process, according to architect and New Urbanist Andres Duany. He suggests changing the public participation process to unclog the system.
End of an Era in Toronto
Toronto Star critic Christopher Hume predicts a lackluster 2011 for Toronto -- both in terms of architecture and urbanism.
Mega-Retailer Revives Effort to Move Into New York City
Wal-Mart has started a major public relations effort to try to get the public behind plans to open several of its big box retail stores in New York City.
Earl Blumenauer Says Republicans Are Undermining Transportation Policy
Representative Earl Blumenauer, well-known as a supporter of progressive transportation policies, says that the Republican majority in the House is up to "budget gimmickry that undermines our economy and the safety of our communities."
Iowa May Reject Fed HSR Funding
Sounding very much like the new OH and WI Republican governors, a key state Republican legislator wants to avoid the ongoing state subsidy for Iowa City to Chicago trains. At stake is $230 million in a Federal rail grant to build 110 mph trains.
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
