The Daily Source of Urban Planning News

Ultimate Tech Guide to Boston

Whether you're a lifelong resident of Boston, just moving there, or simply passing through, this guide has 18 apps and services for navigating and enjoying the city life to its fullest.

November 9 - Netted

Red and Blue States

BLOG POST

Where the Candidates Live

Some presidential candidates favor sprawl, but a surprising number live in cities or inner-ring suburbs.

November 9 - Michael Lewyn

Port

Ten Innovations for the Cities of the Near Future

The World Economic Forum offers a reminder of just how drastically things could change, and soon, in cities.

November 9 - Citiscope

Houston's downtown skyline

Dispelling Four Myths of Houston's Growth and Affordability

A researcher at Rice University finds that proclamations of Houston’s affordability, gentrification, and growth are just myths.

November 9 - The Urban Edge

Feds Award nearly $28 Million for Washington to Baltimore Maglev Project

The 105-year old Hudson River Rail Tunnels may desperately need replacement, but the Federal Railroad Administration also has an eye on the future, awarding $27.8 million to prepare a maglev application between Washington and Baltimore.

November 9 - The Washington Post


Barcelona Bikeshare

BLOG POST

Do Bikeshare Users Wear Helmets?

Bicycle sharing has exploded in popularity across the United States. Importantly, bikeshare users are likely to wear bicycle helmets while ride.

November 9 - Jennifer Evans-Cowley

Gas Station SUVs

Vehicle Miles Traveled Hits Record; Fuel Efficiency Decreasing Too

New figures from the Federal Highway Administration show no abatement in increasing vehicle miles traveled (VMT). While low oil prices have been beneficial for the environment on the production end, it is wreaking havoc on the consumption side.

November 8 - AASHTO Journal


How a Simple Shuttle Enables Campus Diversity

Access to campus is a primary obstacle for low-income, minority students to overcome in attending college. The College of Staten Island has found a simple solution that applies in less urban communities as well.

November 8 - Politico New York

More Cities Declaring a State of Emergency Over Homelessness

Seattle is the latest city to declare a state of emergency in response to homelessness in the city. Los Angeles, Portland, and Hawaii took similar steps in recent months.

November 8 - The Seattle Times

Central Park

BLOG POST

Rethinking the Definition of City

A city has always been understood and defined as a pattern of human settlement. This op-ed suggests that a city needs to be a product of its environment, rather than the environment simply being a product of it.

November 8 - Steven Snell

Mixed Election Results in Utah on Transportation Sales Tax Proposition

Prop. 1, a quarter-cent sales tax that would benefit public transit in Wasatch Range counties, passed in 10 counties but was defeated in seven, including the populous Salt Lake County where supporters have yet to concede due to the narrow loss.

November 8 - The Salt Lake Tribune

Empty Lot

Memphis Tells Residents: If You Mow It You Can Own It

Residents who put in the effort of maintaining vacant property will have their hard work rewarded and will be offered the opportunity to purchase the property.

November 7 - Route Fifty

Making Plans Deliver on Promises in the San Fernando Valley

The Warner Center 2035 Plan was designed to bring growth to Los Angeles’s San Fernando Valley. If the opening of a $350-million Westfield Village in September is any indication, it’s succeeding.

November 7 - The Planning Report

Northbound Amtrak

Louisiana, Gulf Coast Push for New Passenger Rail Service

A new passenger rail line between Baton Rouge and New Orleans is just one of the links being proposed along the Gulf Coast.

November 7 - The Advocate (Louisiana)

Mall Map

The Future of Mapping is Going Indoors

Cartographers have a new world to map, as technology opens up the interiors of malls, museums, and other large spaces to online exploration.

November 7 - Citymetric

Housing Market Recovery Still Lagging for Minority Borrowers

The recovery from the housing crisis of the Great Recession has proven uneven in more ways than one. One not insignificant feature: less lending to minority homebuyers.

November 7 - Urban Institute

A Robot to Go the 'Last Mile'

Contrary to one some urbanists believe, some of the advancements of the new economy might better serve less dense, even suburban, environments. Example: a delivery robot created by the co-founders of Skype.

November 6 - The New York Times

Breaking News: End of the Line for Keystone XL Pipeline

After TransCanada hit the "pause button," President Obama hit "reject." The seven-year saga has come to an end, announced President Obama in a noon White House statement to the press on Friday where he took no questions.

November 6 - The White House

Norfolk Midtown Tunnel

Virginia Shows How Not to Do Public-Private Partnerships

A public-private partnership to build a tunnel connecting Norfolk with the city of Portsmouth under the Elizabeth River in Virginia has gone awry, saddling the public with increasing costs and, likely, more expenses in the future.

November 6 - The Washington Post

Mapping U.S. Road Fatalities from 2003-2014

An intrepid mapmaker and data cruncher has created a map that illustrates the ubiquity of fatalities on U.S. roads and highways.

November 6 - Metrocosm

Post News

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.

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.