The Daily Source of Urban Planning News

A group of 200 volunteers with GPS devices will walk the streets of Atlanta this weekend to create a community-owned map of the city and its intricate details.

October 16 - BBC

This article reviews the lengths Rio and Chicago went to show the Olympic Committee their green ambitions. Hint: both planted trees.

October 16 - Fast Company

A proposal to create a new outdoor advertising district in San Francisco has some locals anticipating a retail revival, while others dread the possible billboard blight.

October 16 - San Francisco Chronicle

MillionTreesNYC says they're on track to reach their goal by 2017. Trees provide shade and allay problems of air pollution. They've planted hundreds of thousands of trees already... and received some complaints.

October 16 - Los Angeles Times

Speaking to the Detroit Economic Club recently, Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood addressed high-speed rail, Detroit's bus crisis, and the economic future of the area.

October 16 - Crain's Detroit Business

Following the success of programs in L.A. and San Francisco, more cities in California are making the switch to LED lights to save on energy costs and provide more sustainable street lighting.

October 16 - SF Streetsblog

U.S. cities added 5,000 new acres of parkland over the past year, according to a new study by the Trust for Public Land.

October 16 - Sustainable Cities Collective

With barely a third of its metro stations in operation, there is some doubt over whether Dubai's metro will be a success.

October 16 - The Christian Science Monitor

Despite the NYC Mayor's progress in preserving or creating affordable housing, overall the city has seen net losses.

October 15 - The New York Times

The California State Senate has approved a bill that grants a proposed stadium project in the City of Industry an exemption from the CEQA process.

October 15 - Pasadena Star-News

While other nations work to fight climate change and cut oil consumption, Saudi Arabia thinks they should be guaranteed compensation for the fall in revenue.

October 15 - The New York Times

Developers of Sterling Ranch, a proposed master-planned community in Colorado, want its future residents to curb their water use. One way they're ensuring this is by nixing traditional, lush lawns from their plans.

October 15 - The Wall Street Journal

BLOG POST

<p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt" class="MsoNormal"> <span style="font-size: small; font-family: Calibri">A few days ago I posted a </span><a href="/node/41097"><span style="font-size: small; font-family: Calibri">blog</span></a><span style="font-size: small; font-family: Calibri"> that discussed the concept of </span><a href="http://www.vtpi.org/tdm/tdm69.htm"><span style="font-size: small; font-family: Calibri">Universal Design</span></a><span style="font-size: small; font-family: Calibri"> (transportation facilities designed to accommodate all possible users, including those with disabilities and other special needs) and the value it provides to individuals and communities. One way to approach this issue is to define the <em>design vehicle </em>for pedestrian facilities.</span> </p>

October 15 - Todd Litman

Since Denver Metro voters passed FasTracks in 2004, transit ridership has almost doubled. Warren Karlenzig looks at how they did it.

October 15 - Common Current

FEATURE

New communication and interaction technologies are dramatically changing the way the public understands and participates in government. The emerging openness of data and information at the city level is broadening the urban policy conversation, but challenges and questions lie ahead as the open city develops.

October 15 - Nate Berg

Some excellent video illustrations of how including an element of fun can change people's behavior, including the 'World's Deepest' Trashcan.

October 15 - thefuntheory.com

As demand for parking at transit nodes has increased, developers have looked for ways to make their garages more 'green'.

October 15 - USA Today

Legislators in California are forming a special session to try to tackle the state's crippling water woes. Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger is hoping they can hammer out a deal within the week.

October 15 - The New York Times

Portland, Oregon is half-way through its ten-year plan to address homelessness. The city's seen improvements, but many challenges lie ahead, according to this report.

October 15 - Oregon Public Broadcasting

The U.S. Military are on the verge of releasing its new air fighter, the F-35, and about 200 U.S. bases are under consideration to house them. The new planes are three to 12 times louder than existing planes, which has some base neighbors on edge.

October 15 - NPR