The Daily Source of Urban Planning News

Durham City Council members may be ready to take on new debt to fund a list of big-ticket parks and transportation projects which would help keep pace with growth and enhance the community.

February 26 - The Durham News

While all four passenger cars derailed in Tuesday morning's crash with a pickup truck, three on their sides, experts indicate that the new cars likely prevented far greater damage. Also covered is the locomotive push-pull issue and grade separations.

February 26 - Los Angeles Times

Downtown Seattle is doing something right to get drivers out of cars: a recent survey reveals that fewer and fewer commuters are driving alone, and the fastest growing modes for commuters are of the non-motorized variety.

February 26 - The Urbanist

It's been another dry season in California, and the concerns of the state's many water users are not going away. An editorial by one of the state's largest newspapers favors ecosystem protection over the agriculture industry for the year ahead.

February 26 - San Jose Mercury News

Los Angeles offers many free or affordable alternatives to private gyms for exercise. Clement Lau, a Los Angeles County parks and recreation planner, goes on to review these resources in Los Angeles' public fitness infrastructure.

February 26 - UrbDeZine

The cities of the Rust Belt don't get much good news these days as they suffer the effects of de-industrialization. But things may be turning around in Cincinnati, where a major investment by General Electric may herald a downtown revival.

February 26 - New York Times

Experiments with shared (also called "naked") streets in Auckland, New Zealand show that mixing motorized and non-motorized modes can be safe, friendly, and economically successful.

February 26 - Shared Spaces Website

FEATURE

The following interview, as published in the 4th Edition of the Planetizen Guide to Graduate Urban Planning Programs, features Jason Neville, senior planner for the New Orleans Redevelopment Authority.

February 26 - Jason Neville

BLOG POST

Contrary to the prevailing narrative about decreasing vehicle miles traveled runs a constant decline in the number of carpools. Very little is known about why Americans are carpooling so much less, so can mobile apps hope to reverse the the trend?

February 25 - Steven Polzin

A Philadelphia City Council committee approved a controversial proposal to allow "Urban Experiential Displays" (i.e., large, 3D digital advertisements) in Center City.

February 25 - PlanPhilly

Lines between public and private blur as Flats East Bank takes on the mantle of a special tax district. If the measure goes through to completion, revenue will be used to fund public improvements.

February 25 - Cleveland Plain Dealer

Within hours of receiving the bipartisan bill on Tuesday to authorize the Keystone XL pipeline, President Obama made good on his promise to veto it. The legislation would have short-circuited the approval process, which upset the president.

February 25 - The Hill

Urban planning can be an exciting and rewarding profession. It can also be extremely political and sometimes downright boring.

February 25 - Civicly

City residents don't need a car if they have good travel options. One condominium offers buyers one year of unlimited Uber rides instead of a parking space.

February 25 - SF Gate: ON THE BLOCK

If Republican Governor Terry Branstad signs the bi-partisan bill as signs indicate, the increase will be the most significant state transportation funding legislation since Republican Gov. Matt Mead of Wyoming signed a 10-cent increase two years ago.

February 25 - KCCI Des Moines

Housing supply is offering up something that looks very different than what today's households want to buy.

February 25 - PlaceShakers

All four cars* of a Metrolink train derailed sending 28 people to the hospital, four with critical injuries. The southbound Ventura line train was headed to Union Station Los Angeles when it hit the produce truck at 5:45 AM.

February 25 - NBC Los Angeles

Two major rail lines provide crude oil shipments to refineries and terminals in the Philadelphia metropolitan area. A surprising number of residents would face evacuation in the event of a fire on the route.

February 25 - Philadelphia Inquirer

For half a century, suburbs surpassed city centers in population and job growth. These economic and demographic trends appear to be reversing. America's cities have grown faster than outlying areas and new research that jobs are coming with them.

February 24 - Surging City Center Job Growth

A three-year pilot program of market-pricing for parking in the university town of Berkeley, California is already revealing surprising realities about parking demand in the city.

February 24 - Systematic Failure