Infrastructure

Austin

Austin Lowers Speed Limits to Increase Traffic Safety

It's not quite citywide speed limit reductions that some Vision Zero cities are implementing, but the city of Austin has approved a suite of speed limit changes.

September 22, 2019 - KUT

Bloor and Major STreets

The Billion-Year-Old Curb Bulbout

Bloor Street didn't land on this billion-year old rock; the rock landed on Bloor Street.

September 20, 2019 - Toronto Star

Philadelphia Waterfront

Iconic Remnants of Failed Tram on the Philly Waterfront to Be Demolished

It's the end of an era that never was.

September 20, 2019 - The Philadelphia Inquirer

The Underline

Miami's Underline Receives a Major Gift

The Knight Foundation is supplying a significant cash infusion to Miami's version of the High Line.

September 20, 2019 - Smart Cities Dive

Carpool Lane

Converting a Carpool Lane to a High Occupancy Toll Lane No Easy Task

Supervisors of California's fourth-largest county declared their formal opposition to the conversion of carpool lanes on the Riverside Freeway to high occupancy toll (HOT) lanes, but they are open to toll lanes, under the right conditions.

September 19, 2019 - The Press-Enterprise

Natural Fort, Colorado

As Community's Colorado's Front Range Grows, Road Planning Follows

Transportation planners are creating extra road capacity to keep up with sprawling development in the I-25 corridor in Colorado's Northern Front Range.

September 19, 2019 - The Denver Post

Empty Parking

Stop Giving Away Valuable Public Assets! A Fiduciary Obligation for Road and Parking Pricing

Cities significantly underprice their roads and parking facilities, forcing local taxpayers to subsidize out-of-town motorists. Municipal officials have an obligation to better manage these valuable public resources.

September 19, 2019 - Todd Litman

SFO

As the Waters Rise Toward San Francisco International Airport, So Do the Costs of Staying Dry

San Francisco International Airport lies on 5,171-acres of land on eight miles of shoreline along the west side of the San Francisco Bay. Protecting the property from sea-level rise is becoming a more challenging, and expensive, task.

September 18, 2019 - San Francisco Chronicle

San Luis Valley, Colorado

Imported Water Needed to Fuel Colorado Sprawl

An old-fashioned story of wealthy developers coming for the water supply of low-income farming communities is being reprised in Colorado.

September 18, 2019 - The Denver Post

Minneapolis Bike Lanes

Lower Speed Limits Included in Early Vision Zero Recommendations for Minneapolis

A report on how to implement Vision Zero traffic safety improvements in the city of Minneapolis included an ambitious menu of options, including lower speed limits citywide.

September 18, 2019 - Star Tribune

recycled water sign

U.S. EPA Report Assists the Water Reuse Cause

A new plan released by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency provides technical and strategic assistance for the implementation of water reuse infrastructure around the United States.

September 17, 2019 - WaterNewsNetwork

High-Speed Rail

$14 Billion Deal for Texas High-Speed Rail Construction

Italian construction giant Salini Impregilo will build the high-speed rail route connecting Houston and Dallas.

September 17, 2019 - Houston Chronicle

Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta

Environmental Law, Resistance to Trump Administration Splits California Democrats

California has made a practice of resisting changes to environmental regulations pursued by the Trump administration, but the latest legislative effort to protect the state's waterways was a bridge too far for the governor.

September 17, 2019 - Sacramento Bee

Central Subway Construction

2021 Opening Expected for San Francisco's Central Subway

Mark your calendars (but maybe use pencil).

September 17, 2019 - San Francisco Examiner

Portland Street

'No Crossing' Signs in Portland Limit the Public Way, Say Critics

In Portland, Oregon, transportation advocates are questioning the justifications for crosswalk closures in the city.

September 17, 2019 - BikePortland

Amtrak ACS-64

Increasing Passenger Rail Service from Pittsburgh Would Be Costly, Studies Show

Transportation advocates are calling for expanded rail service to the east, but studies indicate the needed infrastructure improvements would be pricey.

September 17, 2019 - Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Subway Sign

$51 Billion Capital Investment Plan Sets Records for New York MTA

There are some very large contingencies still left to resolve (like funding from the federal government) but revenues generated from congestion pricing are allowing for new levels of transit infrastructure spending.

September 17, 2019 - Politico

Vancouver Street Scene

Pedestrian Planning Changing the Public Realm in Vancouver

A renewed commitment to pedestrian friendly infrastructure is changing the face of Vancouver and making space for more density.

September 16, 2019 - The Globe and Mail

Garcetti Expo Line

Frequencies Restored on L.A.'s Expo Line After Rider Backlash

Trains were already crowded on the Metro Expo Line when they ran every six minutes during peak hours. When Metro cut frequencies to every eight minutes in June, riders were not pleased.

September 16, 2019 - The Source

Street Construction

A Traffic Safety Commitment for Chicago's West Side

Transportation planning will take on a much more safety-oriented focus according to the West Side Vision Zero Traffic Safety Plan announced last week.

September 16, 2019 - Streetsblog Chicago

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.

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.