Michigan

Detroit Skyline

A Culture Change Takes Hold at the Detroit Planning Department

For all its troubles, Detroit has undertaken some of the greatest urban success stories of recent years. New leadership at the city's Planning Department is hoping to expand those narratives to long-neglected parts of the city.

December 20, 2016 - The Detroit Free Press

Aerial photo of the US 131/M-6/68th St. interchange in Wyoming, MIchigan

Report: Michigan has $4 Billion in Annual Infrastructure Needs

A recent report out of the state of Michigan lays the groundwork for a coordinated approach to the state's infamous infrastructure challenges.

December 8, 2016 - Detroit Free Press

Seattle Streetcar

Seattle's HUGE Transit Victory on Election Day

In dollars, Seattle region's Proposition 1 was second only to Measure M, a $120 billion sales tax measure in Los Angeles County, although the comparison is lacking in at least three respects. Prop 1 did not pass in all three Puget Sound counties.

November 21, 2016 - The Seattle Times

Rescue Bus

Metro Detroit's Millage Tax Comes Within Half a Percentage Point of Passing

A $4.6 billion transit plan proposed by the Regional Transit Authority of Southeast Michigan received 49.5 percent of the vote on November 8. The millage tax would have funded bus rapid transit and regional rail within a four-county region.

November 17, 2016 - Ann Arbor News

Detroit's Failed Regional Transit Plan Strikes a Blow to the City's Revival

Voters in the Detroit region had a chance to reverse 40 years of neglect for regional transit. Instead, they kicked the can down the road.

November 11, 2016 - Detroit Free Press

Homeless

Building Tiny Homes for Detroit's Homeless

Detroit plans to build 300 tiny homes on empty lots to help shelter the city's homeless.

November 1, 2016 - Christian Science Monitor

Flint

The U.S. EPA Recommits to Environmental Justice

By releasing the EJ 2020 Action Agenda earlier this week, the U.S. EPA has taken on a more ambitious role in pursuing environmental justice.

October 28, 2016 - Grist

Detroit People Mover

Detroit Ballot Measure Puts Regional Transit in Reach

Involving four counties and $4.6 billion, the measure proposes a system that could put a million residents (and a million jobs) within a quarter mile of transit.

October 27, 2016 - Streetsblog USA

Detroit Construction

Tearing Down Detroit to Build It Back Up

Detroit continues tear down empty housing in its farther afield neighborhoods, even as its downtown enjoys a spate of new construction.

October 5, 2016 - CNBC

Flint

$170 Million for Flint Water Pipes a Step Closer to Congressional Funding

An amendment to the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) that would provide $170 million to replace contaminated water pipes is headed to the 11th hour of the Congressional session.

September 30, 2016 - Detroit Free Press

Chevy Bolt

How Detroit Beat the Silicon Valley to the Breakthrough Electric Vehicle

It costs less than $40,000 and gets over 200 miles to a charge. The Tesla Model 3? Yes, and also the Chevy Bolt, which goes to market first. A New York Times technology columnist writes that 'size matters' when it comes to innovation.

September 26, 2016 - The New York Times - Technology

Empty Park

Rebuilding Civic Spaces: Going Small To Get Big Results

A $40 million investment is being split between four cities—Memphis, Chicago, Akron, and Detroit—with the hopes of making big impacts for the community by revitalizing and/or repurposing exiting civic spaces.

September 15, 2016 - CityLab

Gas Pump

Wouldn't It be Nice if Legislators Were Rewarded for Voting to Increase the Gas Tax?

Surprisingly, legislators are rewarded for supporting new gas taxes: they get reelected, according to a new analysis by the American Road and Transportation Builders Association. What's more, they overwhelmingly hail from red states.

September 9, 2016 - The Hill

Detroit Motor Bus

Detroit to Expand Bus Service

Good news for transit riders in Detroit—new buses and 24-hour routes are coming soon.

September 4, 2016 - The Detroit Free Press

Voting

This November, Four Major Transportation Measures at Stake

If you live in Detroit, Atlanta, Seattle, or Los Angeles, you have more to look forward to in November than choosing Donald or Hillary. Major decisions concerning regional transportation are on the line.

August 31, 2016 - Governing

Ghost Bike

NTSB Investigates Horrific Bicycle Crashes Too

The circumstances surrounding the deaths of five bicyclists and injuring of four in June by a motorist on a rural road outside Kalamazoo, Michigan, were so horrendous that it caught the attention of the National Transportation Safety Board.

August 18, 2016 - Kalamazoo News

Water Bottles

Good News, Finally, For Flint, Michigan Residents

There's good but guarded news on drinking water. Lead levels are lower, below the federal action threshold, but residents are advised not to drink it without using filters. A federal state of emergency in effect since January was lifted Sunday.

August 15, 2016 - Michigan Radio

Detroit Street Art

Detroit to Explore 'Pink Zoning' to Reduce Red Tape

Detroit is looking for ideas to make it easier to revitalize neighborhood main streets.

August 12, 2016 - The Detroit News

Traffic Cones

Traffic Safety Advocates Taking Action Into Their Own Hands

The San Francisco Transformation Agency is tired of watching cyclists and pedestrians die while the city promises more Vision Zero improvements.

August 10, 2016 - KQED

Ann Arbor

Southeast Michigan Regional Transit Plan Back From the Dead

The board of the Southeast Michigan Regional Transit Authority found a compromise and managed to get a regional transit plan onto the ballot for voters to consider in November.

August 4, 2016 - Detroit Free Press

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.