Pennsylvania
City Asks Citizens Where Cuts Should Fall
With severe budget shortfalls, Philadelphia has turned to its citizens to see where the city should make cuts and what citizens are willing to pay to save.
Builders Split Over Ban
Homebuilders may oppose a building moratorium at a time like this, but Pennsylvania Rep. Robert Freeman (D-Northampton) has not let up on his efforts to enact one to give communities a break from development and to discourage sprawl.
Another Modernist Plaza Reimagined
Philadelphia's Dilworth Plaza is another modernist civic construction that didn't live up to the architect's utopian ideals. A new design aims to create a more park-like atmosphere and improve transit access.
Mall Struggling, New Look Not Enough
Wyoming Valley Mall in Wilkes-Barre, PA is fighting to stay relevant to shoppers by bringing in local retailers, updating the design with an $8 million makeover, and bringing in more restaurants and theaters.
'Keep Freeways Free' Legislation Introduced
In 2007, the PA legislature passed Act 44 that calls for converting Interstate 80 into a tolled facility. A freshman PA Congressman, continuing in his predecessor's footsteps, introduced a bill to ensure that never occurs.
The Dying Malls of Pittsburgh
Word from Pittsburgh that malls in the greater metro area are failing, from Frazer to Monroeville to West Mifflin.
Friday Blunder: NY Skyline on Philly Transit Passes
A special transit pass meant to promote the annual Philadelphia Beer Week accidentally used the Manhattan skyline in the background.
Turning Unbuilt Project Sites Into Open Space
DeLuca Homes planned to build condos in Bucks County, PA- until the bottom fell out of the market. Now they're one of many developers cutting deals with governments to create open space.
Parking Privatization Idea Has Pittsburgh Officials Seeing Green
Pittsburgh Mayor Luke Ravenstahl is considering a plan to raise extra money for his city by leasing public parking spaces and garages to a private company.
Pittsburgh Looks to Transit For Rebirth
Officials in Pittsburgh are hoping that expanding transit-oriented development will spur growth in struggling and decaying neighborhoods -- and they have the voter-approved legislation to help.
Post-Industrial Pittsburgh On the Rise
After decades of restructuring, Pittsburgh is doing significantly better than other cities attempting to recover from the loss of industry. Here's how they did it.
Giant Boxes Take Over Philly Streets
'Fridge-sized units' are being installed around Philadelphia to control traffic lights. Why so big? Columnist Inga Saffron investigates the morass of requirements that led to the oversized street furniture.
Philadelphia Trains to Try Out Quiet Cars
Starting Monday, some SEPTA trains will launch a pilot program that discourages too-loud talking, a problem now prevalent during rush-hour.
Reviving a Hardscrabble Steel Town
Mayor John Fetterman of Braddock, PA struggles with the challenges of reviving a former steel town that has lost 90% of its peak population.
Roads or Police?
A bi-partisan PA bill with considerable support seeks to redirect funds from the Motor License Fund, paid by motorists, that currently go to the State Police to roads. The police budget would have to compete with other needs from the general fund.
In Light of Violence, Student Subway Passes Reconsidered
Subway violence and crime in Philadelphia have been unofficially traced to truant students, who are enabled by unlimited rides on the SEPTA throughout the week. Whether or not the student TransPass system should be eliminated is being debated.
ACLU Takes RLUIPA Case in Pennsylvania
Evangelical pastor Rev. Jack L. Wisor was giving shelter to four homeless people in his church in downtown Brookville, PA. When he was ordered to move them on a zoning violation, Wisor - and the ACLU - sued the city.
Op-Ed: Legislature Blew It By Not Leasing PA Turnpike
In this op-ed, the former Secretary of the PA D.O.T. bemoans the lost opportunity to lease the PA turnpike to receive $12.8 billion from a private investor group, placing the blame squarely on the state legislature and the Turnpike Commission.
'Self-Motivated Activism' Behind Park's Beautification
Thanks to the ambitious clean-up efforts of a few residents, a neglected, unofficial park on city land is now maintained daily and is on its way to being a greenway.
Pittsburgh's Urban Wilderness
This piece from the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review looks at the rising amount of wildlife being seen in urban Pittsburgh. According to local experts, this trend has both good and bad implications.
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
