In Defense of Lake Merritt’s Paid Parking Plan

By Ryan Ford It is time to realize our parks are not free and Oakland residents already pay for them in one form or another. Lake Merritt is no exception. In 2020, the city spent $25,000 week of taxpayer money to maintain Lake Merritt (Devries 2021). It turns out littering has a cost and residents are already picking up the tab. Understandably, there was strong public … Continue reading In Defense of Lake Merritt’s Paid Parking Plan

How Raleigh Should Earn the “E” in their ETOD 

By Amy Grace Watkins What is Transit-Oriented Development? In urban planning, what does TOD stand for? It depends on who you ask! It could be Transit-Oriented Development, Design, or Displacement. In the 1990s, Peter Calthrope popularized the term as Transit-Oriented Development and the planning framework quickly spread across the world. The goal of TOD is to invest in transit centers to increase transit access, reduce the … Continue reading How Raleigh Should Earn the “E” in their ETOD 

What are the Urbanists Listening to?

By Emma Vinella-Brusher Looking for some podcasts to listen to while walking to class, doing chores, or avoiding homework? Check out some of our favorite urbanist (or urbanist-adjacent) podcasts and featured episodes below. And if you’re looking for, even more, our September 2020 post includes a few more recommendations. 99% Invisible323- The House that Came in the Mail AgainDesign is everywhere in our lives, perhaps … Continue reading What are the Urbanists Listening to?

Flipping the Script: Understanding Pedestrian and Bicyclist Safety in Chapel Hill-Carrboro

By Emma Vinella-Brusher, Angles Managing Editor Each year, over 3,000 pedestrians and 850 bicyclists are hit by vehicles here in North Carolina, making our state one of the least safe states for walking and biking[i]. Last month, the UNC Department of City & Regional Planning and Collaborative Sciences Center for Road Safety were joined by Tom Flood of Rovélo Creative and Arleigh Greenwald aka Bike … Continue reading Flipping the Script: Understanding Pedestrian and Bicyclist Safety in Chapel Hill-Carrboro

New York City Congestion Pricing is Needed – But Only if Equity Concerns are Taken Seriously

By Sophia Nelson If the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) approves the Central Business District Program’s Environmental Assessment, New York City will be the first in the nation to implement a congestion pricing program, something it desperately needs to minimize congestion in Manhattan and to raise revenue for overdue transit improvements, but it must help make transportation easier for those it aims to serve – not … Continue reading New York City Congestion Pricing is Needed – But Only if Equity Concerns are Taken Seriously

On the Road to Transportation Leadership in Blacksburg, VA

Earlier this semester, a group of seven UNC Transportation Planning students made the trek up to Blacksburg, Virginia for the 2022 Southern District Institute of Transportation Engineers (SDITE) Student Leadership Summit. Jointly hosted by Virginia Tech and the University of Virginia, the conference brought together students from 24 universities for a weekend of presentations and networking. Under the theme “Invent the Future: Developing the Next … Continue reading On the Road to Transportation Leadership in Blacksburg, VA

Seems Like an Unsolvable Problem: A Loosely Hinged Recommendation for Tackling Bus Driver Shortages

By James Hamilton This week Chapel Hill Transit celebrated Valentine’s Day by restoring several bus trips that had been removed at the beginning of the year.[i]  Following an erratic Fall semester, the provider officially reduced its service in response to staff shortages. Beginning in January 2022, the A, CL, CM, CW, D, J, and N routes all had leaner schedules with the goal of “minimizing … Continue reading Seems Like an Unsolvable Problem: A Loosely Hinged Recommendation for Tackling Bus Driver Shortages

Missing the Train: Why Raleigh’s Lack of a Light Rail is Holding the City Back

By Ian Ramirez If you’re a vehicle owner and you’re reading this, I’m willing to bet you can think of a time or two in your life where you felt a real freedom attached to driving. However, I’d also wager that you don’t always love sitting in traffic when you’re already twenty minutes late to work. Recognizing the environmental and economic downturn that has been … Continue reading Missing the Train: Why Raleigh’s Lack of a Light Rail is Holding the City Back

New Website Highlights Communities’ Perspectives on Urban Renewal

By Lindsay Oluyede Between 1955 and 1966, U.S. cities reported displacing approximately a third of a million families for urban renewal projects. As noted by researchers at the University of Richmond, their homes were razed to clear land for redevelopment that included “new, sometimes public housing, more often private, or for other purposes like the development of department stores or office buildings.”[i] The displaced families … Continue reading New Website Highlights Communities’ Perspectives on Urban Renewal