To reduce traffic congestion and pollution, officials in Beijing will prohibit the use of private cars at sporting events during the 2008 Olympic Summer Games.
"Parking lots near the sporting venues will not accept private cars, Xinhua [News Agency] said, citing a Beijing transportation official, Liu Xiaopeng. Instead, ticket holders will be able to ride special Olympic buses for free to the events, the report said.
Beijing's often gridlocked traffic, along with choking pollution, have emerged as among the most nettlesome issues for the city in preparing for the 2008 Olympics. Last week, city officials and experts discussed a range of possible measures, from expelling many of the city's estimated 1 million migrant workers to shutting down heavily polluting factories to ease congestion and smog during the Games.
In addition to the limits on private-car use, Beijing will also designate lanes on major roadways for Olympic traffic and bar other vehicles from using those lanes. Xinhua said 210 kilometers (130 miles) of city roadways will be designated as Olympic lanes."
FULL STORY: Beijing will ban private cars from Olympic sporting venues in 2008, Xinhua says
Depopulation Patterns Get Weird
A recent ranking of “declining” cities heavily features some of the most expensive cities in the country — including New York City and a half-dozen in the San Francisco Bay Area.
Pennsylvania Mall Conversion Bill Passes House
If passed, the bill would promote the adaptive reuse of defunct commercial buildings.
California Exodus: Population Drops Below 39 Million
Never mind the 40 million that demographers predicted the Golden State would reach by 2018. The state's population dipped below 39 million to 38.965 million last July, according to Census data released in March, the lowest since 2015.
Google Maps Introduces New Transit, EV Features
It will now be easier to find electric car charging stations and transit options.
Ohio Lawmakers Propose Incentivizing Housing Production
A proposed bill would take a carrot approach to stimulating housing production through a grant program that would reward cities that implement pro-housing policies.
Chicago Awarded $2M Reconnecting Communities Grant
Community advocates say the city’s plan may not do enough to reverse the negative impacts of a major expressway.
City of Costa Mesa
Licking County
Barrett Planning Group LLC
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
Mpact Transit + Community
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
City of Universal City TX
ULI Northwest Arkansas
Town of Zionsville
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.