Chicago
Amtrak Adding Service Between Chicago and Milwaukee
One additional round trip a day will have to do, because adding three new trips proved too many for suburban communities located long the route in Illinois.
Chicago’s Pace to improve Service with New Platforms and Signal Priority
Pace, the suburban Chicago transit provider, is investing in a route on the city's northwest side, looking to speed up buses and attract new riders.
New Chicago Residential Tower Sets a New Standard in a City Famous for Height
The newly opened Nema Chicago tower, at 76 stories, is the city of Chicago's tallest residential building.
The Great O'Hare Race (And its Discontents)
Four intrepid reporters from the Chicago Tribune raced to O'Hare International Airport by personal car, a ride-share, on CTA, and on Metra to decide which is fastest.
Trade War With China Impacts Transit Investments in Chicago
A 25 percent tariff on steel imports could eventually be passed to transit riders in the form of higher fares.
Research Documents the Negative Externalities of 20th Century Freeway Planning
According to a newly released working paper, people in 20th century noticed the air and noise pollution and severed neighborhoods caused by freeways, and many of those people chose to move to the suburbs rather than deal with the nuisance.
Chicago Coffee Shops Breaking Social and Economic Ground on the South Side
Cafes on the city's South Side are more than just businesses. They also provide important spaces for community building and economic development in neighborhoods that have been historically overlooked.
ICYMI: 12 States Hiked Gas Taxes on Monday
On July 1, Illinois and Ohio increased gas taxes by double digits: 19 cents per gallon and 10.5 CPG, respectively, followed by California at 5.6 CPG, all due to legislation passed this year or in 2017. Diesel tax hikes were even higher.
Hyperloop for the Great Lakes Gets Initial Blessing the U.S House of Representatives
The U.S. Senate still needs to approve the bill that would spend $5 million in initial funding for the Great Lakes Hyperloop System.
Two Chicago Neighborhoods—Same City, But Starkly Different Worlds
A dataset on health measures in U.S. cities shows the difference in life expectancy between two Chicago neighborhoods is 30 years.
The Congestion Pricing Movement Comes to Chicago
A large, powerful coalition of advocacy groups, local universities, and other organizations sent a letter to Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot to consider congestion pricing for single-occupant automobile trips in the city's core.
Editorial Board Calls for Tax Increment Financing Reform in Chicago
The Chicago Tribune says the city of Chicago can't be trusted with tax increment financing (TIF), so it's time for a do-over.
Polluted Chicago Water Travels Over 1,000 Miles and Wreaks Havoc in the Gulf
An algae bloom in the Gulf of Mexico has resulted in an oxygen-starved area the size of Massachusetts. Part of the problem is sewage runoff flowing south from Chicago.
The Case Against Aldermanic Control of Infrastructure Spending
Chicago’s alderman have control of millions of dollars of street resurfacing "menu money" for local projects. Inspector General Joe Ferguson argues that money would be better spent in a coordinated effort.
Op-Ed: Metra Expansion May Encourage Sprawl
The $45 billion transportation bill approved by the Illinois Legislature ended up including more public transit funding than it originally offered, but a Kendall County Metra project raises questions.
Immigration and Urban Growth
After growing in the first half of the decade, some cities might be losing population. Is this because of the pace of immigration has slowed?
Understanding Cities Through Their Life Cycles
Cities go through ups and downs over time, and where a city is in its longer history can reveal the reasons behind population changes.
Op-Ed: Good Design Isn't Just for Downtowns
Richard Driehaus attests to the importance of intentional, context-oriented design on the neighborhood level.
Many Contender Sites for Chicago Casino
The decision about where to locate a new casino project depends on competing goals—to maximize revenues or bring jobs and development to neighborhoods that need them.
O'Hare Tunnel, Proposed by Elon Musk, Looks Dead on Arrival in Chicago's New Political Regime
Advocates are relieved Elon Musk's proposal to build a new subterranean connection to O'Hare is dead, but still disappointed at the wasted brainpower and public funding devoted to the idea.
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
