Infrastructure
Denver's New Commuter Rail Line to Airport to Open in April
You will be forgiven for thinking you are looking at an East Coast commuter rail line: It's electrified with level boarding, mostly 15-minute headways, with bike and luggage racks, operating 22 hours a day from Denver's Union Station to the airport.
The Hidden Costs of Building Green
New green buildings may be de riguer, but preservation does less harm.
Gabe Klein's Vision for D.C. Transportation
Drawing on his experience with the Washington D.C. and Chicago departments of transportation, Gabe Klein shared his thoughts about transportation improvements in the capital—if money were no object.
6-year Transportation Reauthorization Passes Committee; 3-Week Extension Introduced
The bipartisan, $325 billion STRR Act unanimously passed the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee on Oct. 22. A three-week transportation funding extension bill was also introduced, as the Highway Trust Fund expires on Oct. 29.
Checking on the Status of Rebuild by Design
The hoopla has subsided surrounding nearly $1 billion awarded by HUD to fund coastal resilience projects on the Atlantic Coast, but the work of implementing the winning Rebuild by Design projects has continued.
Railroads Given Three More Years to Install Positive Train Control
Agreement has been reached by Congress to extend the vital but costly safety system said to prevent many train crashes. Had it not been reached, freight railroads warned they would shut down, as would passenger rail lines running on their tracks.
Regional Bike Trail Plan Extends West from Portland
Washington County, located just west of Portland, is planning a regional trail that could eventually reap benefits for recreation and transportation.
California's Bay Delta Explained
As California's drought drags on, the Delta—which provides water to much of the state—has come to symbolize the tension among water users with competing interests. But the strained resource has also prompted ambitious initiatives for sustainability.
A Citizen's Wish List for Boston Transportation
As part of the city's long-term Go Boston 2030 plan, residents were consulted about what improvements they would like to see. Answers included an end to fatal crashes and better-integrated, more frequent transit.
The Walking City
What implications does pedestrian activity have on urban design? Creating walkable environments for pedestrians can improve urban conditions according to Arup architect Demetrio Scopelliti. We spoke to him about upcoming research on the topic.
A Case Study of California's Lowest-Ranked Transit Station
Build it and they will come hasn't worked out so well for the Gillespie Field station on the Green Line of the San Diego Metropolitan Transit System. A recent scorecard rated the station lowest among 489 competitors.
Blaming Millennials for Decaying Road Infrastructure
If you thought inflation and fuel efficiency, along with politicians unwillingness to raise gas taxes were the main causes of America's decaying road and bridges, S&P adds another contributing factor—millennial transportation preferences.
Millennials Can't Change U.S. Driving Habits Alone
Yonah Freemark throws cold water on the notion that the country is becoming less auto-dependent. Yes, millennials are less auto-oriented than older were, but they haven't stopped per-capita vehicle miles traveled from increasing.
Fixing the Flood of Congestion at its Source
In pursuit of an honest conversation about congestion, Charles Marohn produces a comparison between roads and stormwater infrastructure.
Shifting the Timeline of Hazard Mitigation Plans
South Carolina recently experienced the impacts of what was called a 1,000-year storm. The problem? The state experienced the same level of storm just 26 years ago, and can expect more of the same in the future.
Cleveland Planning a New Bikeway on the Model of the Cultural Trail of Indianapolis
The city of Cleveland's first protected bike path has planning commission approval. The protected path is a component of the city's ambitious bike infrastructure plans.
Construction Begins Raising San Francisco Bike Lane
A small section of the well-used, protected bike lane on San Francisco's busy Market Street will be raised just a few inches to increase bicycle safety. Construction began Monday and should take a month to complete.
A New Bridge Opens Today in Suburban Pittsburgh; An Old Bridge Closes
A new bridge across the Alleghany River will connect Oakmant and Harmar. Another bridge located in nearby Pittsburgh, made infamous by John Oliver, closed earlier this week.
Safe Routes for All Seattle Schools
Seattle continues to expand its efforts to improve walkability with the Safe Routes to School Program.
New House Transportation Reauthorization Bill Expected for Mark Up This Week
The current patch bill funding highway and transit spending expires on Oct. 29. The House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee has released a multi-year bill called the Surface Transportation Reauthorization & Reform Act of 2015 (STRR Act).
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
