Infrastructure
Low Oil Prices Adds to Texas Transportation Budget Shortfall
Plummeting oil prices means Texans are seeing savings at the gas pump, but they also mean reduced revenue due to Proposition 1, the November 4 ballot measure that diverted energy taxes from the state's rainy day fund to the transportation budget.
Minnesota Governor Mark Dayton Proposes Gas Tax
The tax would be a wholesale tax paid by fuel suppliers as has become more common in the last two years, not a retail tax at the gas pump. The Democratic governor's main problem may be his timing—the house flipped to Republican control.
Has the Streetcar Boom Reached the End of the Line?
Politico takes a critical look at the streetcar trend in American cities—which had some high profile setbacks during 2014—with an eye toward the legacy of the Obama Administration.
Surveying California's Recent Environmental Accomplishments
Jon Christensen and Mark Gold survey the environmental accomplishments of the Los Angeles region as well as the state of California over the course of the past year.
Rising Seas Create a Catch-22 for Miami Development
Miami is in a race against time to build defenses against climate change and rising sea levels—resilience projects that require property tax revenue generated from luxury developments built in the areas most at risk.
Top Planning Trends – 2014
A deeper look at the traffic data on Planetizen reveals trends from the planning and urban design conversation of 2014.
RFQ Released for Atlanta's Planned 'Airport City'
The city of Atlanta is moving forward with a plan to upgrade the world's busiest airport to "Airport City" status.
An Aerial Photography Tool for Planners
File under tools for the tool kit: Jarrett Walker of Human Transit shares details about Nearmap, an aerial photography tool that serves as a helpful alternative to Google Earth.
Can a 32-Acre Mixed-Use Development Block an Oil-By-Rail Facility in Time?
Environmentalists and developers are in a race against time to prevent a proposed oil-by-rail facility in Vancouver, Washington.
Explaining the Ups and Downs of U.S. Wind Power
A Vox post explains the fickle trends of wind power production in the United States.
Is America's Best Bike Lane Overrated?
The SF Examiner reports on America's top-rated bike lane, as rated by People for Bikes. The protected contraflow lane runs from Market Street to Grove Street, all of two blocks; only one block in opposite direction is separated
Northern Avenue Bridge Shut Down in Boston
The Northern Avenue Bridge in Boston—a 100-year-old swing bridge used by pedestrians and cyclists—was closed abruptly due to structural defects.
Could Keystone XL Become the Next Casualty of Falling Oil Prices?
Recently we noted that Chevron had dropped their Arctic lease due to falling oil prices. With falling gasoline prices, Americans may no longer see the Keystone XL pipeline as urgent. In addition, President Obama appears likely to oppose the project.
Traffic 'Crisis' in the Birthplace of Jesus
If Jesus and Mary came to Bethlehem in 2014, they'd be frustrated by high levels of congestion before finding a place to settle down for the night.
Mapping America's Toy Manufacturing
All those toys under the Christmas tree came from somewhere.
Los Angeles Lacking Data to Support Bike Infrastructure Investments
Los Angeles has added hundreds of miles of bike routes in recent years, but the local paper of record identifies a lack of data as contributing to ongoing discord from drivers who feel like they're being pinched by bike lanes.
Philadelphia Replacing 7 Bridges Above Vine Street Expressway
"A five-year, $82 million project to replace seven bridges over the Vine Street Expressway will also remodel the cultural spine of the city," reports Paul Nussbaum.
How Seattle's 'Rose-tinted Fantasy' Threw Billions in Public Money Away
"Seattle is in the midst of a full-spectrum transportation fustercluck," writes David Roberts for Grist.
The Role of Stadiums in Urban Revitalization
Los Angeles Dodger Senior Vice President of Planning and Development Janet Marie Smith reflects on her efforts to breathe new life into downtowns through sports stadiums.
Big Cities Make Pedestrian Safety a Priority
New data released Dec. 19 by NHTSA shows increased safety for those traveling by car, but pedestrian fatalities are 15% higher than in 2009. Plans by San Francisco, Los Angeles, New York, and Chicago to increase ped safety are described by the WSJ.
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
