District of Columbia
Virginia Speed Bump Leads to Neighborhood Activist's Murder
A Virginia man who rallied to have a traffic-calming speed bump installed on his street became the source of so much local controversy that a neighbor recently shot and killed him.
Sound Assault on Mall Loafers
Mall officials in Washington D.C. are fighting back against young people accused of causing a ruckus outside shopping areas by installing a device that emits an annoying high-pitched frequency only audible to young people.
Meet the Geeks Re-Shaping D.C.
Planning nerd bloggers like David Alpert of Greater Greater Washington are finding that they can have significant influence in the world of D.C. planning and development.
Bikesharing Coming Soon to D.C.
Capitol Bikeshare will launch in September with over a thousand bikes. ReadsetDC goes behind the scenes to see the bikes and infrastructure as it is assembled.
Score One For Livability
Senator Dodd's Livable Communities Act passed a milestone on August 3 by passing the Banking Committee on a party line vote: 12-10. Known as a "smart growth planning" bill, it would integrate transportation with housing and economic planning.
Performance Parking
In this radio interview, KQED-FM reporter Kitty Felde interviews UCLA professor and parking guru Don Shoup on what he now calls "performance parking", a form of smart parking that includes congestion pricing used in D.C., SF, and soon LA.
The Transformation Of DOT Under LaHood
Few expected this Republican in the Obama cabinet to cause such a stir. Yet, from his high speed rail advocacy to campaigning for road safety ("just say no to texting") to pushing livable communities, 64-year-old Ray LaHood has changed D.O.T.
Do You Want a 9-Story Neighbor?
Misleading flyers are being circulated to drum up opposition to a mixed-use, transit-oriented development in the East Falls Church area of Arlington, VA., says Michael Perkins. His answer to the flyer's question? Yes.
Changing Behaviors with Bike to Work Day
Cong. Earl Blumenauer and Mayor Adrian Fenty both turned out in biking gear at Bike to Work Day in Washington, D.C., along with 900 riders who committed to bike commuting on that day.
Washington D.C. is the Healthiest City in the U.S.?
A new study by the American College of Sports Medicine says so, due to low rates of diabetes, obesity and several other factors. Oklahoma City is not OK, however; it's at the bottom of the list.
In Reusing Infrastructure, D.C. Should Look to NYC
Columnist Roger K. Lewis says Washington D.C. has a lot to learn from New York City in terms of reusing old and outdated infrastructure.
Funding for Washington DC H Street Streetcar Line Pulled at 11th Hour
The Washington DC City Council voted Wednesday to approve a FY2011 budget which strips nearly all the funding to complete the H Street-Benning Road streetcar line. The line is partially complete, and several streetcars have already been purchased.
Blind Eyes on the Street
Philip Kennicott decries the growing number of "windows" in new buildings that are covered from the beginning with advertisements, eliminating their usefulness as "eyes on the street."
Nearby Commercial Interests May Be Asked to Fund D.C. Streetcar System
Washington D.C.'s planned 37-mile streetcar system will be a boon to nearby businesses, according to a recent report. As a result, the mayor is pushing a plan that would ask commercial property owners to help fund the system.
Concern for Properties Beyond Tysons Corner Metro Villages
Plans to build dense urban villages around the new Metro stations in Tysons Corner have some landowners on the fringes feeling left out.
Relax, Smart Growth is Your Friend
Roger K. Lewis of The Washington Post paints a reassuring picture for suburban homeowners frightened of smart growth. Home values will go up, and you'll be able to walk to get a cup of coffee, says Lewis.
Overhead Wires Cloud Future of D.C. Streetcar and Reputation
Washington D.C. is moving forward with plans to construct streetcars in the city, but a law more than 100 years old banning overhead wires is threatening the progress of those plans.
The Demise of the Gay Neighborhood
In cities across the country, gays formed communities in neglected neighborhoods to create safe havens and strengthen political identity. Today, the identity of these 'gayborhoods' is fading as other demographics move in.
Preservationists Concerned About Visual Blight from Streetcars
Portland has them. So does Charlotte. But in the nation's capital, streetcar overhead wires are under fire from historic preservationists.
TOD Plans Approved in White Flint
Montgomery County officials have approved plans to build an extensive new transit-oriented neighborhood at the area around the White Flint Metro stop in North Bethesda, Maryland. The plan is one of the largest in the D.C. area since the 1950s.
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
