Houston

Texas, the Bellwether State
With its rapid economic growth, dynamic cities, and increasingly diverse population, Texas could offer a model for the future of the United States.

Federal Dollars Could Pave the Way for Greener, More Equitable Infrastructure
Houston's director of Transportation and Drainage Operations wants to see more sustainable development in the city that has historically depended on freeways as its critical infrastructure.

Houston's Land Market Heats Up
The pandemic has spurred a sharp spike in land sales in the Houston area as more people look to buy homes and developers buy land for industrial uses.

Houston Area Loses $64 Million in Federal Transportation Funds Due to Delays and Lack of Oversight
The funding was directed to congestion mitigation, air quality, and transportation alternatives projects.

Is Historic Preservation Zoning?
In a victory for preservationists, the Texas Supreme Court upheld Houston's Historic Preservation Ordinance despite a lawsuit alleging that the ordinance constitutes illegal zoning rules.

A Tour of Houston's Rapidly Gentrifying Neighborhoods
These Houston communities have experienced the most dramatic demographic changes in the last decade, according to new Census data.

Why Texas's $29 Billion Coastal Protection Plan Is Needed
The Houston Chronicle editorial board argues for the construction of the so-called 'Ike Dike,' but warns that more investment is needed to protect the South Texas coast from future storms.

Can Houston Rein In Its Famous Sprawl?
The city's unabated growth has made it a bustling hub of industry and commerce, but can it sustain its unmitigated outward sprawl?

Houston Transit Agency Moves Forward With Long-Range Plan Even as Revenue Falls
Despite reduced ridership during the COVID-19 pandemic, Houston Metro is pushing ahead with its $7.5 billion long-range transit plan.

Houston's Pedestrian Death Problem, Explained
The city's roadways were built to prioritize fast-moving traffic, not safety. With a new Vision Zero plan, that could change.

Houston Plans New Downtown Bus-Only Lanes
The lull in commuter traffic during the pandemic gave Houston's transit agencies time to implement new projects and redesign downtown roads to better accommodate transit users.

Flood Buyouts Exacerbate Inequality in Harris County, Texas
New research shows that less affluent households disperse farther to find affordable homes, leading to a loss of community and social capital.

12 Developments That Will Change Houston Forever
Major upcoming projects include Hewlett Packard's new global headquarters, a 'boardwalk district' in Katy, and massive housing developments.

The Link Between COVID-19 Deaths and Overcrowded Housing
Overcrowding and housing insecurity among Black and Brown communities led to disproportionately high COVID-19 fatalities, research shows.

Harris County Will Use Toll Road Revenue to Pay for Flood Control
A new Flood Resilience Trust will create a permanent source of funding for flood control purposes, but the county still faces a shortfall for planned projects.

Contracts Signed, Funding Still TBD: Texas Central High-Speed Rail Moves Forward
Texas Central has its construction contracts and a court decision in its favor, but significant obstacles remain for the high-speed rail project connecting Houston and Dallas to get underway.

Coronavirus Legislation: Vaccine Choice or Anti-Vax?
If vaccines provide the means out of the pandemic, vaccine hesitancy and opposition threaten to prolong it. Battles over public health are being fought in courtrooms and statehouses like in Ohio, where a 'vaccine choice' bill is being considered.

Coronavirus Litigation: Can Employers Require Employee Vaccinations?
The plaintiffs in one of the nation's first court cases over employer-required COVID vaccinations are among the heroes of the pandemic—nurses fighting to remain unvaccinated. Houston Methodist Hospital suspended unvaccinated employees on June 6.

2020 Population Growth Rates for the 50 Biggest U.S. Cities
The Census Bureau released new data on May 27 that includes the first four months of the pandemic. Seattle tops the growth rate at 2.2% from July 1, 2019, to July 1, 2020, while Baltimore and San Francisco land at the bottom with -1.4%.

New Park Opens as Part of Houston's Ambitious Bayou Greenways 2020 Plan
Bayou Greenways Park is part of a decade-long project building 172 miles of connected greenways around the city of Houston.
Pagination
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