Infrastructure

The 'Quietways' Bike Network Revolution

London has been preparing for years for a “quiet revolution” for its bike network: the "Quietways" of side streets and back roads. London is already building Quietways in anticipation of a September launch.

March 10, 2014 - The Atlantic Cities

Dallas Warming Up to Complete Streets

A new Complete Streets Design Manual is under consideration in Dallas City Hall, but according to a recent article explaining Dallas' move toward walkable neighborhoods, the city has some work to do before the idea fully takes hold.

March 10, 2014 - Dallas Morning News

Wisconsin Struggles with Interstate Tolling Option

State transportation leaders are scrambling to increase funding as MAP-21 draws to its expiration on Oct. 1. Interstate tolling is being eyed by more than a few. While the Wisconsin Assembly likes the idea, Gov. Scott Walker rejects it.

March 10, 2014 - Stateline

Road Diet

Removing a Vehicle Lane? It’s Not the End of the World

Most members of the public are still very skeptical that removing a vehicle lane won’t cause terrible congestion—especially on already busy streets. A recent articles details some of the counter arguments to those concerns.

March 9, 2014 - Calgary Herald

Elfreth's Alley

Historic Examples of 'Urbanism Without Government'

We’ve all heard the question “but who will build the roads?” put to libertarians. In a recent article, Emily Washington examines historic examples of urban settings that developed without the guidance of a government.

March 8, 2014 - Market Urbanism

How Can Los Angeles Fix its Broken Sidewalks? Shared Responsibility

City leaders have been in a struggle to come up with a viable solution to fix its buckling sidewalks for the past 50 years. Real estate developer Michael P. Russell takes a look at the work that needs to be done and outlines a plan for a fix.

March 8, 2014 - UrbDeZine

Bus Rapid Transit on Track in Albuquerque

Following three years of study, Albuquerque Mayor RJ Berry declared a “tipping point” in the city’s BRT plans. The city will require a federal matching grant to proceed.

March 7, 2014 - KRQE.com

Orange County Expanding its Recycled Wastewater Program

Southern California takes a lot of heat for sucking up the water from Northern California and the Colorado River, but the Orange County Water District, at least, is doing its part.

March 7, 2014 - KPCC

Mini Metro

Friday Fun: Build Your Own 'Mini Metro'

It's been available since September 2013, but news of the "Mini Metro' subway layout game recently hit the web. Finally, a test for all those armchair enthusiasts who think they can make the trains run on time.

March 7, 2014 - Dinosaur Polo Club

Highway 93

Long Road Ahead for Las Vegas-Phoenix Interstate Connection

The planners of the 1950s didn’t foresee the growth of the Southwest’s two largest cities. Upgrading the freeway connection between the cities, however, remains a tough task.

March 6, 2014 - AP via ABC News

San Francisco Announces New Pedestrian Safety Program: WalkFirst

With its own “Vision Zero” goals in place to eliminate pedestrian fatalities within a decade, San Francisco has developed the WalkFirst plan to target the most dangerous intersections in the city for safety improvements.

March 6, 2014 - The San Francisco Examiner

Transportation Reauthorization Funding Mechanism May Be Settled

How best to "plug the growing hole" in the Highway Trust Fund which provides the federal revenue for roads and transit: increase the gas tax, new vehicle miles traveled fees, more road tolls, or "corporate tax reform"? All but one is a user fee.

March 6, 2014 - Politico Morning Transportation

Edinburgh

Why Urban History Matters

Chuck Wolfe's recent reconnaissance of Edinburgh provides a foil for his rallying cry: Going forward, let’s not discount the influence of history’s recurring themes in how we redevelop the urban realm.

March 4, 2014 - myurbanist

High Line Crowds

Comparing Public Space in New York City and Paris

A recent article examines the ways New York City and Paris support large-scale pedestrian use and support the shared use of public space.

March 3, 2014 - Project For Public Spaces

States Reinvest in Once-Abandoned Freight Lines

Take 260 trucks off the road for every train, avoid costs for maintaining highways maintenance cost, and create multiple other environmental and economic development advantages—states are reinvesting in their rail lines.

March 3, 2014 - Governing

Post Peak Driving, America Needs a Road (Construction) Diet

Though it may be too soon to say for sure, it looks like the United States has reached peak driving. So shouldn’t we cut back on new road construction?

March 3, 2014 - The Atlantic Cities

Houston's downtown skyline

Defending Urban Freeways At All Costs Ignores the Potential of Cities

When freeways are dismantled, economic, and social benefits often follow. A mid-20th Century mechanistic view fails to understand such outcomes.

March 1, 2014 - Better! Cities & Towns

Obama Pitching $300 Billion Plan to Fix Nation’s Roads, Bridges

The White House announced its intentions to propose a $300 billion plan to “address the funding crisis facing our surface transportation programs and to increase infrastructure investment.”

February 26, 2014 - The Hill

The Case for Bus Rapid Transit

Bus rapid transit (BRT) is well known among planners as a cheap method to improve bus service and provide an alternative to rail, but BRT projects around the country have met resistance from an array of status quo interests.

February 26, 2014 - Atlantic Cities

A sign for pedestrians and cars

How Useful is Walkability: Are You Oriented to Walk?

The physical requirements for walkability—like narrow streets and wide sidewalks—aren't always enough to compel the activity of walking. How can we reorient toward the primal activity of walking?

February 26, 2014 - Steven Snell

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.