The Daily Source of Urban Planning News

California planning expert Bill Fulton discusses a long-awaited proposal from the Governor's Office of Planning and Research that would shift the state's traffic impact assessments away from their current focus on traffic congestion.

August 10 - California Planning and Development Report

San Francisco's Department of Environment will soon begin enforcing the city's mandatory commuter benefits program for the first time since the law's inception in 2009. Fines up to $500 may be levied for noncompliance after warning notices are sent.

August 10 - San Francisco Examiner

The limitations (and inaccuracies) of traditional data sources like the U.S. Census are well known, so researchers are looking social media to gather the data necessary to draw conclusions about societal movements.

August 10 - Forbes

Owners of a 173-acre office campus in Simsbury, Connecticut are hoping that by adopting a form-based code as a guide for potential redevelopment of the site, potential buyers have more reason to pull the trigger on a deal.

August 10 - Hartford Business Journal

The neighborhood of Greenmount West provides a case study of neighborhoods exposed to the risks of gentrification as a result of cultural changes and pointed policy measures meant to reverse the status quo in crime and poverty ridden neighborhoods.

August 9 - Next City

An article by Steven Snell summarizes the drawbacks of building vertical cities.

August 9 - Fast Forward Weekly

Preventing gas tax and vehicle registration fee revenues from being used for non-transportation purposes is seen as key to increasing transportation revenue, be it through raising gas taxes or approving new revenue options, in Maryland and Wisconsin.

August 9 - Transport Topics

Few cities have such a passionate love affair with their NFL franchise as does Buffalo with its Bills. Given the current questions about ownership and the age of its current stadium, could a new stadium help revitalize the city?

August 9 - ArtVoice

Steve Cuozzo absolutely eviscerates the under-construction World Trade Center Transportation Hub in New York City, designed by Santiago Calatrava.

August 9 - New York Post

Can outdoor concerts transform a neglected place into a beloved city center? "Creative placemaking" is trendy now, but Levitt Pavilions, a national non-profit, has been making places vibrant by building outdoor concert venues for seven years now.

August 8 - Site Specific

Many users of Instagram have recognized its potential to build awareness about the beauty of urban environments. If you're still unfamiliar, consider the example of an Instagramming duo in Philadelphia.

August 8 - Philadelphia Inquirer

In the wake of the decisive rejection of a ballot measure on August 5 to raise the state sales tax by .75% for a package of transportation improvements, how will the Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT) meet the state's transportation needs?

August 8 - KMOX

The Great Recession spiked the amount of young adults (aged 25-34) living in multi-generational housing, which has now surpassed the share of oldest adults (age 85+) living in these types of household structures.

August 8 - Pew Research Center

Can municipal governments adopt cutting-edge technology—and the culture that goes with it?

August 8 - The Planning Report

Led by the Walton Family Foundation, Northwest Arkansas officials look to "sense of place" and walkable urban solutions for future economic growth and attraction of talent.

August 8 - Better Cities & Towns

The State of California has shifted from measuring "Level of Service," a grade based on how many cars pass through an intersection in a given time, to assessing overall Vehicle Miles Traveled (VMT) in its Environmental Quality laws.

August 8 - LA Streetsblog

Brookings illuminates which states rely heaviest on infrastructure for employment as local policymakers are struggling with reliable federal funding throughout the peak of construction season.

August 8 - Brookings Institute

Chuck Wolfe revisits five instances of how we can learn from the urbanism we already have.

August 8 - The Huffington Post

Hint: the answer is 21, but there's a descriptive way to add that up.

August 8 - Coffee with an Architect

Following a close call on his bike, a writer questions the perverted logic of safety campaign slogans that share, equally, the onus for traffic safety between cars and bikes.

August 7 - The Invisible Visible Man