Infrastructure

Why Would Arizona Deregulate Groundwater Now?
For decades the arid state has required most new construction projects to demonstrate adequate water supply, but at the edge of the next dry spell, two lawmakers are trying to get rid of the rules.

Houston Seriously Tightens Rules on Floodplain Construction
It was the city's "first major regulatory response" to Hurricane Harvey.

Critics See Transit as Old Fashioned
Critics of a transit referendum in Nashville see trains and buses as the transportation solutions of the past. According to this thinking, ride-hailing companies and self-driving cars are the future.
Subway Extension Price Jumps in Philadelphia
A proposal to extend the Broad Street subway line in Philadelphia is intended to attract new commercial and residential development in the city's Navy Yard. A change in construction technique is driving up the cost, however.
Insulating Transit Projects From P3 Non-Compete Clauses
Toll road projects using a public-private partnership often have non-compete clauses that protect the private partner if nearby projects impact profits. Maryland wants to exempt transit from those clauses.

Rebuilt Oroville Spillway Could Get its First Test This Weekend
The quickly repaired Oroville Dam spillway is hoping for better performance this year, after a year of intense repair work.
Architect of Trump Infrastructure Plan Resigns
Among the many departures of the Trump administration, one name hasn't made major headlines: DJ Gribbin, a former Macquarie Capital Group executive and general counsel for the U.S. Department of Transportation serving President George W. Bush.

Seattle to Consider Congestion Pricing
Seattle has been putting its money where its mouth is with policies to discourage driving.

The Americans With Disabilities Act Survives Congress (for Now)
Threat of a Senate filibuster has blocked the progress of a bill that would restrict enforcement of the Americans With Disabilities Act.

A Suburban Retrofit Rides the Bike Trails
Communities around Northwest Arkansas have placed bike infrastructure at the center of a plan to retrofit suburban communities.

When Coastal States Kill Building Codes, FEMA Pays
Despite the increasing number and intensity of natural disasters, some vulnerable states are relaxing building regulations and leaving the federal government to pick up the tab when tragedy strikes again.
Construction of I–66 Toll Lanes Outside the Capital Beltway Begins this Weekend
Widening of Interstate 66 for 22.5 miles in Northern Virginia will accommodate two toll lanes in each direction, accessible to trucks. The $3.7 billion project, to be built by public-private partnership at no cost to the state, will open in 2022.
Off the Beaten Path
Designing comfort stations to accommodate more than 60 million annual New York State Parks visitors — representing many different genders, backgrounds, and accessibility needs — is no simple task.

ACLU Report Recommends Municipal Broadband
Faced with the potential consequences of the federal Communications Commission's recent repeal of net neutrality, a report by the American Civil Liberties Union suggests that municipal internet as an antidote.

The Planned Community of the Future Is Also a 'Smart City'
Planned community developer LStar Ventures is building a smart city experiment near Boston.

APA-Texas Acknowledges the Great Places of the Lone Star State
There are a lot of great places to celebrate in Texas, and the state chapter of the American Planning Association is in the second year of a program that calls attention to the role of planners in making them happen.

Citywide Parking Requirement Reform Passes in Seattle
The U.S. city with the best recent history of convincing commuters to ditch the auto commute is taking further steps to make the city a little less car-centric.

Popularity of Express Lanes Spreads Beyond Virginia
Dan Vock of Governing takes a broad look at congestion pricing, beginning with the success of Virginia's 66 Express Lanes, the ones where tolls initially topped $40. Notwithstanding complaints, managed lanes are spreading, but challenges remain.

Op-Ed: Infrastructure Projects Need More Women in Leadership Roles
Calling attention to progress in the Bay Area, two leaders at employee- and women-owned firms argue that more female leadership will help projects better serve the entire population.

Report: Vancouver Leads North American Cities in Transit Ridership Growth
Vancouver's success in growing its ridership of public transit is thanks, in no small part, to large investments in rail and bus service.
Pagination
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