• First prize: Best pavement art in new streetscape

    This is Argyle Street, Halifax, Nova Scotia, a downtown street known for its entertainment and dining. As part of a streetscape improvement project, the pavement was painted in an argyle pattern. Whoever had this idea should get a prize, and it lifts my spirits. This photo is from Increments of...Read more

  • Investment in historic square pays off

    The pedestrian-friendly redesign of Cleveland’s Public Square spurred $1.2 billion in investment, according to a study . The 10-acre site at the heart of downtown used to be divided into four smaller squares with wide streets of through-traffic. The $50 million redesign closed Ontario Street, to...Read more

  • Creating civic space from the invisible

    Entire light rail corridors could be reimagined as much better civic space with green tracks rather than the current heavy-freight style engineered rip-rap rocks and fences. More cities should embrace this model. Here is a sketch of this design approach applied to Southend Charlotte, North Carolina...Read more

  • ‘Induced demand’ calls for smarter transportation policy

    Widening of roads usually reduces congestion only for a short period of time, after which the congestion returns—as bad or worse than ever. The above graph shows why the forecast benefits of more roads are almost always a disappointment. “Induced demand is the name for what happens when increasing...Read more