Infrastructure

Toronto Waterfront

Sidewalk Labs' 'Smart Cities' Experiment in Toronto Scaled Way Back

From 190 acres to 12 acres, that's the reduction in scale announced this week by representatives of Sidewalk Labs of its plan for Quayside on the waterfront in Toronto.

October 31, 2019 - The Guardian

Sound Audio Waves

When Noise Is a Matter of Life and Death

The world is noisier than ever, and the long-term effects of exposure are serious. Still, noise pollution isn’t considered a legitimate environmental hazard.

October 31, 2019 - The Atlantic

LAX Cars

New Ride-Hailing Area at LAX, Called 'LAX-it,' Has Rough Opening Day

The central terminal area at Los Angeles International Airport experienced a sudden onset of calm this Tuesday—the nearby LAX-it waiting area for ride-hailing pick-ups and drop-offs, not so much.

October 31, 2019 - Los Angeles Times

Lower Manhattan and the Hudson River

Mapping the Geography of Jobs and Around New York City

The geography of work in New York City must include an analysis of the larger region, according to a new report from the New York City Department of City Planning.

October 31, 2019 - NYC Planning

Minneapolis Arterial

Traffic Fatalities Compel New Standards for Road Diets

In the Twin Cities, traffic engineers are reconsidering traffic congestion on four-lane arterials in the face of unrelenting tragedy on these car-centric corridors. Road diets, designed for safety, are now a more tenable proposition.

October 30, 2019 - MinnPost

Senior Mobility

Report: Urban Planning and Design Neglecting the Needs of Seniors

Many cities aren't planning and designing for their aging residents, despite a world full of examples to model from, according to a new report from the Milliken Institute.

October 30, 2019 - Smart Cities Dive

Smart Infrastructure

It's Time to Map and Share Data on Underground Infrastructure

A call for cities like New York to accurately map, model, and share information on underground water and utility infrastructure for public benefit.

October 30, 2019 - Crain's New York Business

Indianapolis Bus Rapid Transit

Indianapolis Going Big on Transit Planning

The IndyGo transit system is wrapping up a period of free fares for its new Red Line bus rapid transit line before another big launch scheduled for spring 2020.

October 29, 2019 - Indianapolis Star

New York Bike Lane

After Compromise, 'Streets Master Plan' Headed for Approval in New York City

The New York City Council is expected to pass a "Streets Master Plan" this week that City Council Speaker Corey Johnson describes as designed to "break the car culture."

October 29, 2019 - Gothamist

Charlotte Light Rail

A New 26-Mile Light Rail Line Considered for Charlotte

The Charlotte Area Transit System (CATS) would like to add an ambitious, expensive project to its capital investment plans, but funding the project is more daunting than the last time the system expanded.

October 28, 2019 - The Charlotte Observer

Mayo Clinic

Bus Rapid Transit Chosen for Big Mayo Clinic-Adjacent Economic Development Program

Rochester, the third-most-populous city in Minnesota and birthplace of the Mayo Clinic, has approved a plan to build bus rapid transit.

October 28, 2019 - KTTC

NJ Transit

Post-Christie, NJ Transit Finding a New Way Forward

This opinion piece celebrates the new era of transit funding and planning currently underway in the state, but also calls for more: progress, action, and work.

October 28, 2019 - NorthJersey.com

Missori

City to Resident: You Can Tear Your House Down But You Can't Build a New One

The curious case of Cynthia Dunne in Ladue, Missouri, who was permitted by the city to tear down her house, and then subsequently informed that a lack of water pressure prohibited building a new one.

October 28, 2019 - St. Louis Post-Dispatch

California Central Valley

Trump Administration Finds a Way to Divert California Water to Farmers

A new federal program will clear the way for more water to be delivered to the state of California's agriculture industry, overruling environmental safeguards that protected fish.

October 27, 2019 - NPR

San Francisco Internation Airport

An Enticement to Ride BART to the Airport: A Shorter Security Line

Airport and transit planners in the Bay Area are considering adding a perk for transit ridership for travelers to and from San Francisco International Airport.

October 27, 2019 - San Francisco Chronicle

Union Station

Plan Would Shift High-Speed Rail Funds to Burbank-Anaheim Commuter Corridor

Improvements to the commuter rail connections between Los Angeles and Orange counties are among the possibilities for the future of rail planning in California as uncertainty about high-speed rail continues.

October 26, 2019 - Los Angeles Times

Long Beach to Los Angeles

Busy Section of L.A. Rail Transit Had Quicker Service in 1916

Over a century ago, the Pacific Electric Railway operated a line between downtown Los Angeles and Long Beach that competed its journey ten minutes faster than LA Metro's Blue Line does. What gives?

October 25, 2019 - Long Beach Post

Parking Lot SOlar

Bipartisan Coalition of Mayors Support Tax Credits for Solar Power

One issue has solidly bipartisan support at the local level: tax credits for investments that build new solar power capacity.

October 25, 2019 - Smart Cities Dive

Zoning Map

Seattle Suburbs Prepare for Light Rail With Zoning for Transit-Oriented Development

Mountlake Terrace is the latest Seattle suburb to make substantial space for new development in anticipation of a forthcoming Link light rail line extending north of Seattle.

October 25, 2019 - The Urbanist

Atlanta to Charlotte Passenger Rail Corridor Investment Plan

High-Speed Rail Connecting Atlanta to Charlotte Studied

The Georgia Department of Transportation and the Federal Railroad Administration recently released a draft study of a plan to link Atlanta and Charlotte via high-speed rail.

October 25, 2019 - The Atlanta Journal Constitution

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.

Top Books

An annual review of books related to planning.

Top Schools

The definitive ranking of graduate planning programs.

100 Most Influential Urbanists

The who's who of urbanism, according to Planetizen readers.

Urban Planning Creators You Should Know

A short list of voices on social, video, and podcasting platforms.