Infrastructure
Building Atlanta's Future
Big projects are setting up Atlanta for a big future, argues Pete Saunders in a recent Forbes piece
Engineers Scramble for Pedestrian Safety in Los Angeles and Santa Monica
A "good news" story for pedestrians emerges from the streets of Los Angeles and Santa Monica. Traffic signals at heavily used pedestrian intersections have been reengineered to add a 'scramble phase' and the results are startling.
Landmark Agreement Reached to Increase New Jersey Gas Tax by 23 Cents
A day after a fatal NJ Transit train crash at the Hoboken Terminal, Republican Gov. Chris Christie and Democratic leaders of the legislature announced the agreement to raise the tax by 159 percent; the first increase to the *14.5-cent tax since 1990.
Tamping Down Urban Heat Islands
As summer temperatures rise and heat waves roll through, cities can take steps to keep cool. But shedding the heat may be difficult for urban areas designed to retain it.
Pittsburgh Planning Two Big New Bike Lane Projects
A city already known for its livability is ready to add new bike lanes in high profile locations.
Los Angeles Leader Steps Up On Homelessness Crisis
Los Angeles County Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas, a veteran leader at the city, county, and state-level, addresses the funding gaps to address this urgent issue and shares some innovative models being deployed by the county.
Are Drive-Thru Stores Appropriate For Walkable Neighborhoods?
Anthony Morando of New York's Cuddy & Feder LLP offers an opinion that drive-thru uses like fast food stores and pharmacies can co-exist in walkable communities. Examples given of drive-thru stores that have been designed to be contextually sensitive
$170 Million for Flint Water Pipes a Step Closer to Congressional Funding
An amendment to the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) that would provide $170 million to replace contaminated water pipes is headed to the 11th hour of the Congressional session.
Planning for a Microgrid: Santa Monica Reclaims Industrial Space for Renewable Energy
Cities throughout California, including Santa Monica, have been awarded research and development funding through the California Energy Commission to plan community-scale microgrid solutions.
How Far Can You Take Complete Streets?
8th Avenue was one of New York’s first "complete streets." Coined in 2003, the term refers to including cars, pedestrians, bikers, and public transit into city thoroughfares instead of prioritizing cars. Today, the trend is growing to other cities.
Planetizen Week in Review: September 30, 2016
Welcome, President Obama, to the NIMBY wars.
Critiquing the $1.9 Billion Project to Widen I-5 in Los Angeles County
Streetsblog slams Caltrans for wasting $1.9 billion on futile freeway widening projects.
Leadership Shakeup at the Atlanta BeltLine
All is not well at the Atlanta BeltLine Partnership, after two prominent board members, including Ryan Gravel, who originally proposed the idea for the BeltLine, resigned this week.
Tale of Two Cities: A U.S.-Mexico Bike Trail
Election rhetoric aside, towns on the U.S.-Mexico border share common urban challenges. A proposal is in the works to connect Brownsville, Texas and the Mexican city of Matamoros via bike path.
Commercial Vehicles Are No Match for Bike Safety
All six bicyclists killed in Chicago this year had something in common: commercial vehicles. Still missing from the discussion: what to do about it.
'The Well-Tempered City': An Epic Book, and Why
In a review of Jonathan F.P. Rose's new book, 'The Well-Tempered City,' Chuck Wolfe enthusiastically endorses Rose's refreshing world view.
What the First Debate Taught About the Candidate's Positions on Cities
Urbanists and their ilk might have been disappointed in the first presidential debate's lack of focused attention to affordable housing, infrastructure, and other issues of importance to cities.
Close to a Half Million Americans Lack Proper Plumbing
Nearly 500,000 people in the rural parts of the United States cannot afford modern plumbing.
New York Has Plan to Make Room for Penn Station Renovations
With more than 600,000 daily commuters passing through, Penn Station is one of the busiest transit halls in the Western Hemisphere. Finally, there's a plan in place to make necessary repairs without making the commute even more unbearable.
A Clever Way to End Cigarette Litter
Chicago smokers will soon be able to vote on matters of pop culture importance with their butts.
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
