Michigan
Trump's Budget Still a Draft, But Officials Credit it for Demise of BRT Project in Michigan
Local officials have ended any hope of completing a bus rapid transit project in the Lansing, Michigan area, for fear of of the budget cuts for transportation investment projects promised by the Trump Administration.
Volkswagen Emissions Cheating Scandal Produces Land Use Lawsuit in Michigan
The city of Pontiac has filed a lawsuit over the illegal storage of hundreds of Volkswagen vehicles. The vehicles have mothballed at the Pontiac Silverdome as a result of the buy-back program necessitated by the 2016 emissions cheating scandal.
Ann Arbor's Futuristic Traffic Software
The networked sensors and signals in Ann Arbor give the city a coordinated way to respond to traffic.
On Detroit's Proposed Tallest Skyscraper
Slated for the site of the late Hudson's department store, Dan Gilbert's mixed-use mecca and its glassy 734-foot tower would symbolize Detroit's rebirth, in downtown at least.
A New, Park-Filled Vision for Detroit's Waterfront
A new framework plan for Detroit's East Riverfront District will focus more on creating public spaces than a previous version of the plan. The proposed vision for the waterfront would expand Milliken State Park and create two new parks.
Pedestrian and Bike Access Included at Planned U.S.-Canada Border Crossing
A request for proposals for the planned Gordie Howe International Bridge, connecting Detroit to Windsor, includes a mandate to include pedestrian and bike infrastructure across the span.
Monday Inspiration: The Best School Crossing Guard in the Business
Meet Penni Robertson, also known as America's Favorite Crossing Guard.
Detroit Still a Long Way from Recovery
It's fun to write miracle comeback stories, but the epic of Detroit's resurgence has been exaggerated, according to an article in The Conversation.
Unique 'Audio Portraits' Pay Homage to Urban Noise
One man's noise pollution is another man's symphony.
When the Dust Settles: Removing Blight, But Spreading Toxins
Data regarding ongoing demolitions of blighted properties in cities across the U.S. has turned up some unexpected consequences: the spread of lead toxins into the surrounding community.
The End of Federal Environmental Protection in the United States?
The end of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency may not come from the hands of President Trump or Scott Pruitt, the nominee to head the agency, but from a bill introduced Feb. 3 titled, "To terminate the Environmental Protection Agency."
1,700 Flint Residents Sue U.S. EPA for $722 Million in Damages
Flint residents are suing the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for damages caused by exposure to lead in the city's drinking supply.
Detroit Completes Citywide Property Tax Reappraisal
It's counterintuitive, but in Detroit, the hope is that by lowering property taxes, the city might actually collect more in property taxes.
Friday Fun: Bikes and Beer Take to the Water
Hold my beer while I pedal this boat around Lake St. Clair.
Review of November 2016 Transportation Ballot Measures
About 50 transportation measures appeared on local ballots on November 8, 2016. To date, Planetizen reviewed outcomes in nine regions in six states. Here we compare the measures in terms of revenue, taxes, projects, and reasons for failure.
New Year's Day State Gas Tax Increases, Decreases, and What Lies Ahead
Pennsylvania, the state that had the highest gas tax last year, saw the highest gas tax increase of 7.9 cents per gallon, the final increment of a 2013 law. Michigan's 7.3 cents tax increase, signed into law in 2015, is the second largest increase.
Feds End Financial Restrictions on Detroit's Bus System
The Federal Transit Authority is calling the Detroit Department of Transportation in from the cold.
Michigan the Latest to Preempt Municipalities from Banning Plastic Bags
Michigan has joined a small but growing list of states that have passed laws prohibiting municipalities from banning single-use plastic bags or charging for bags, as is done in California. Critics assail it as an 'attack on local control.'
Holiday Cheer from Detroit: Downtown Office Vacancies Have Rebounded in a Big Way
A new report on office vacancies in Downtown Detroit shows just how far Downtown Detroit has come in ten years.
Lead Poisoning Found in Thousands of U.S. Communities
A Reuters study of public health data found 3,000 examples in the United States where lead poisoning rates exceed those in Flint, Michigan.
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
