Urban Planning

North Houston Highway Improvement Project offers a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity

This post is part of a series on the I-45 project, published every Monday and Wednesday throughout June.

Kinder Institute seeks to make Houston one of the most-studied cities in America through Urban Data Platform

Session at the Urban Affairs Association conference highlights Kinder Institute’s efforts to encourage scholars to study Houston’s pressing issues.

Deadline to comment on region's $132 billion transportation plan closes in two weeks

By 2045, the Greater Houston and Galveston area will be home to nearly 11 million people, according to the Houston-Galveston Area Council.

Houston parks have a history of being built for the privileged, instead of children

According to a new study, Houston's children have less access to parks today than they did 70 years ago due to racial and class inequalities in park placement.

The Future of Urban Mobility

Experts discuss how technology, policy and transportation interact, and how they can be used to develop a city that functions better for all communities.

Two Texas highways labeled as freeways without futures, new report says

Austin's Interstate 35 and Dallas' Interstate 345 need to be reimagined, according to a report released April 3.

How Houston’s Decision On Affordable Housing Could Affect City Outcomes

The City of Houston may want to explore multilateral policies that intend to assist in rebuilding vulnerable communities.

Excerpt: Can A Market-Oriented City Also Be Inclusive?

In a new chapter, Kinder Institute Director Bill Fulton considers Houston's opportunities and challenges when it comes to creating a truly inclusive city.

The Unstudied Neighborhood

The bulk of sociological research and policies derived from it focuses on just a small slice of cities. That's a problem.

Sales Tax Could be the Key to Alleviate Revenue Shortfalls

Government entities in the Greater Houston region are increasingly struggling to provide urban-level services to all residents, particularly those in unincorporated suburban areas. Raising or allowing high-growth urban counties to collect sales tax could improve the provision of public services to all residents.

Carol Coletta Pushes Citizens to Better Engage Their Communities to Increase Neighborly Trust

The phrase, "You can't feel 'em, if you can't see 'em," frames her discussion of how we all need to better connect with our neighbors.

Governing A Growing Region: Addressing Challenges of Service Provision and Development in Houston

This report takes a regional view to find major issues with the way our growth is governed.

Special Districts Helped Form Houston. But the Patchwork of Governments Also Presents A Challenge Going Forward.

A patchwork of cities, counties, municipal utility districts and other jurisdictions across the region has created barriers to long-term regional prosperity, according to a new report.

How are parks created in Houston and why Houston isn't meeting its park goal

As the city grew, planners and developers didn't initially plan to embrace the landscape, but rather cover it with a pavement jungle.

How the Walkable Places Committee Plans to Make Houston More Pedestrian Friendly

The Houston Walkable Places Committee aims to make the Bayou City a more pedestrian-friendly city one new construction at a time.