Canada

Protected Bike Lane

British Columbia's Climate Plan Bans Sales of Gas and Diesel Passenger Vehicles by 2040

Ten years ago, British Columbia launched North America's first carbon tax. This month, Premier John Horgan unveiled the long awaited climate plan, CleanBC, that aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions 40 percent below 2007 levels by 2030.

December 26, 2018 - Vancouver Sun

Google Self-Driving Car smaller

Self-Driving Car or Hotel Room on Wheels?

With self-driving cars already well lodged in the public imagination as a sure thing in the relative near future, many people are already thinking about the potential business opportunities for the new technology.

November 27, 2018 - CNN

Oil Pipeline

Federal Judge in Montana Halts Construction of Keystone XL Pipeline

The Trump administration's denial of climate change may serve a political purpose, but in the courtroom, it can prove a liability. A federal judge in Montana took into account the administration's "discarding" of climate science in its ruling.

November 15, 2018 - InsideClimate News

Intercity Buses

A Music Video About a Last Greyhound Ride

A Greyhound bus driver, like his father before him, wrote a song about his last time driving the bus he loves in Western Canada.

November 3, 2018 - CBC News: The National (Via YouTube)

Carbon Emissions

Prime Minister Trudeau Extends Carbon Pricing Throughout Canada

A carbon tax-and-dividend plan goes into effect on January 1 in the four Canadian provinces that don't price carbon emissions. Revenues will be rebated to residents, small businesses, and public institutions as Climate Action Incentive payments.

October 25, 2018 - Bloomberg News

Paris RER

To Improve U.S. Transit, Follow the Lead of Other Countries

The common refrain is that transit is just better in other countries. However, the reasons why are more complex than initial impressions allow, providing important lessons for the United States.

October 19, 2018 - CityLab

Toronto, Dundas St, Chinatown

New Research Shows Toronto Highly Segregated Along Race and Class Lines

A closer look at the numbers reveals stark divides among Toronto neighborhoods.

October 10, 2018 - Toronto Star

Surveying

Toronto Mayoral Candidate Suggests Repurposing City Golf Courses

Former chief planner Jennifer Keesmaat wants to transform three failing golf courses into free public spaces.

October 9, 2018 - The Toronto Star

Detroit Vacant Properties

Why Canadian Cities Avoided Detroit's Fate

Simply put, this scholar says, it comes down to race. With far fewer non-white urban residents, Canadian cities didn't fall prey to the redlining, white flight, and incarceration problems that so heavily impacted cities like Detroit.

October 5, 2018 - The Detroit Free Press

Tar Sands Oil Just Lost Another Outlet, For Now

It was viewed as a "David vs. Goliath" pipeline fight: the city of South Portland, Maine against a pipeline company backed by Big Oil. The city had passed a zoning ordinance preventing the export of oil which would have impacted public health.

August 29, 2018 - InsideClimate News

News

The Local Journalists Who Keep City Planning in the News

Planetizen's 2018 "Top Twitter" list focuses on the local journalists who work hard to keep planning projects and processes in the public eye.

August 29, 2018 - James Brasuell

Toronto Subway

Celebrity Voices to Remind You to Keep Your Feet Off the Seats

From Judi Dench to Queen Latifah, CityLab writers match transit systems with the personalities they think would make the best announcements.

August 27, 2018 - CityLab

Intercity Buses

Independent Operators Expected to Replace Lost Greyhound Service in British Columbia

Transportation officials and companies are still working out how to respond to the decision by Greyhound to discontinue its intercity routes in Western Canada.

August 23, 2018 - The Star Vancouver

Kingston, Ontario

Kingston, Canada: Transit Model

By increasing the amount of service and updating its scheduling and routes, the city of Kingston was able to induce demand for buses.

August 3, 2018 - TVO

Detroit Bridge

An Appeal to Patriotism in the Hopes of Blocking a Canadian Bridge to Detroit

Border controversies now have a northern front, too.

July 5, 2018 - The Detroit Free Press

Fort McMurray Fire

Wildfire Damage Could Quadruple in Canada by 2100

Several years of catastrophic wildfires in Canada doesn't mean the risk has lessened. Experts predict much worse in the future.

June 22, 2018 - The Star Vancouver

egislative Assembly of Ontario

Doug Ford, Elected Ontario Premier, Promises End of Cap and Trade

The brother of former Toronto Mayor Rob Ford decisively won the election on June 7 to be the next premier of Ontario, ousting current Premier Kathleen Wynne. His first order of business: end the province's emissions trading program.

June 20, 2018 - Toronto Sun

Subway Turnstiles

Means-Based, Transit-Fare Discounts Take a Leap Forward in the Big Apple

The 2019 New York City budget includes $106 million to subsidize half the transit fare for qualified residents for six months. The city joins the ranks of Seattle, Toronto, and the Bay Area that offer income-based discounts for transit fares.

June 13, 2018 - The New York Times

Seair coastal passenger plane

As Canadian Cities Grow, Survey Finds Happiest Canadians are in Smaller Communities

The happiest people in Canada, according to a survey of life satisfaction, tend to live in significantly less dense communities than the least happy.

June 12, 2018 - Daily Hive

Canada

20 Finalists Announced in the 'Canada Smart Cities Challenge'

The winner of the Grand Prize for the Canada Smart Cities Challenge will receive $50 million CAD ($38.5 million USD).

June 4, 2018 - Smart Cities Dive

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HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research

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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.