Infrastructure

Rainy Wetlands

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.

April 9, 2018 - The Arizona Republic

Texas Flood

Houston Seriously Tightens Rules on Floodplain Construction

It was the city's "first major regulatory response" to Hurricane Harvey.

April 9, 2018 - Houston Chronicle

MTA/RTA Strategic Plan

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.

April 8, 2018 - Tennessean

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.

April 8, 2018 - PlanPhilly

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.

April 7, 2018 - Greater Greater Washington

Oroville Dam Crisis

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.

April 6, 2018 - California Department of Water Resources

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.

April 6, 2018 - NPR: The Two-Way

Seattle, Washington

Seattle to Consider Congestion Pricing

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

April 6, 2018 - The Seattle Times

Wheelchair Ramp

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.

April 6, 2018 - Rewire.News

Fayetteville, Arkansas

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.

April 6, 2018 - The Atlantic

Volunteers

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.

April 5, 2018 - Bloomberg

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.

April 5, 2018 - WTOP

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.

April 5, 2018 - Urban Omnibus

Internet Cables

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.

April 5, 2018 - Smart Cities Dive

Weymouth, Massachusetts

The Planned Community of the Future Is Also a 'Smart City'

Planned community developer LStar Ventures is building a smart city experiment near Boston.

April 5, 2018 - The New York Times

Brazos River

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.

April 3, 2018 - Great Places in Texas Announcement

On-Street Parking

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.

April 3, 2018 - SeattleMet

Virginia Freeway

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.

April 3, 2018 - Governing

Bay Area Rapid Transit

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.

April 2, 2018 - The Mercury News

TransLink Canada Line

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.

April 2, 2018 - Vancouver Sun

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.