Pennsylvania

Pittsburgh's Food Deserts
A map of Pittsburgh's food deserts illustrates a nationwide problem with food insecurity.
SEPTA Investing $18.3 Million in Energy Efficiency
SEPTA has approved funding for $18.3 million in energy-efficient upgrades to the regional transit network.
When the Rush to Redevelop a Transit-Adjacent Parcel Spells Missed Opportunity
Haddon Township, a suburb of Philadelphia located in New Jersey, might have been so relieved to finally close a deal on a long-disputed redevelopment project that it neglected the immense potential of the opportunity.
The Benefits of Free Transit for College Students
A growing coalition of education and transit advocates are calling for a program that would allow Philadelphia-area college students to access transit for free with their student IDs.

Preservation in Philly Is Attracting a Younger Generation
Young historic-preservation minded Philadelphians are organized and ready to protect the history of their city.

Making the Case for Planning
Planetizen Managing Editor James Brasuell recently gave the Pitkin Lecture at the Pennsylvania state chapter of the American Planning Association's annual conference. An adapted and excerpted version of that lecture follows.
A New Bridge Opens Today in Suburban Pittsburgh; An Old Bridge Closes
A new bridge across the Alleghany River will connect Oakmant and Harmar. Another bridge located in nearby Pittsburgh, made infamous by John Oliver, closed earlier this week.

Planners Find Support for Rail Transit Connection from Lehigh Valley to Philadelphia
MoveLV: Long Range Transportation Plan process is finding support for the rebirth of defunct rail transit corridor between the Allentown-Easton-Bethlehem and the City of Brotherly Love.
Is Philadelphia's Healthy Rowhouse Project an Answer to Gentrification?
The Healthy Rowhouse Project seeks to improve the health of Philadelphians and preserve critical affordable housing by using innovative strategies to improve housing conditions in thousands of rowhouses each year.
Open Streets as Teachable Moments
"There is just too much to learn," from open streets events, says Philadelphia Inquirer Architecture Critic Inga Saffron.

Philadelphia's New Arrivals Are Unapologetic Gentrifiers
As the new arrivals—young, mostly white urbanites—have descended into some of Philadelphia's working class and immigrant neighborhoods, the push back by locals has been met with a push back by the gentrifiers.
Pope's Visit Converts Car-Free Believers in Philadelphia
The decision to shut down a 4.7-square-mile swath of Philadelphia's Center City on the occasion of the Pope's visit last weekend has converted a lot of new believers to the open streets cause.
Opening Tomorrow: Pier 68—Philadelphia's Newest Waterfront Park
The latest city to upgrade its urban waterfront into an open space amenity is Philadelphia, which will open Pier 68 to the public October 1, 2015.
Philadelphia's Open Data Reveals Land Use Trends
A trove of data from the Office of Property Assessment has been released to the public. It's like Christmas day for zoning wonks in the City of Brotherly Love.
Pittsburgh Project Could Include Corridor for Driverless Vehicles
A massive redevelopment project moving forward in Pittsburgh would provide in-demand office and tech space near local universities. An innovative transportation infrastructure project could be a part of the deal.

Amtrak Becoming Bike Friendlier
It's still not bike-friendly, but it's getting better. The Capitol Limited from Chicago to Washington joins a small list of routes allowing for "roll-on, roll-off," though reservations and a $25 fee may apply.
SEPTA Cycle-Transit Plan a Model for Multi-Modal Commuting
As ridership grows on the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA) rail system, system planners are looking to a novel approach to relieve crunched station parking: bikes.
California Cap-And-Trade Surprise: Cash Flows Out-of-State to Reduce Emissions
California industries are buying offsets in lieu of purchasing carbon allowances or reducing carbon emissions, and most of the offsets are spent out-of-state, assisting the recipients economically as well as reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
Take a Digital Tour of Pennsylvania's Urban Waterfronts
Keystone Crossroads has produced an interactive series about Pennsylvania's urban waterfronts. A storymap and in-depth reporting provide waterfront access from afar.
Indego Bikeshare in Philadelphia Building on Early Success
Now that Philadelphia has established itself as a bikeshare town by quickly reaching high numbers of rides on Indego, the question turns to what happens next for expanding and improving the system.
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