The Daily Source of Urban Planning News

Planners and parks officials in San Francisco are making moves to reimagine currently underused public space in the heart of the city as a new civic park and gathering place.

November 19 - San Francisco Chronicle

Since its completion, Boston's Big Dig freeway project has succeeded in reducing congestion downtown, but new figures show the congestion has merely moved out of the central city into suburban areas.

November 19 - The Boston Globe

The historic city of Venice has largely been free from outdoor advertising, but a new deal with the city allows billboards to be placed on scaffolding set up for building renovations. Locals are not very happy about the change.

November 19 - The Art Newspaper

FEATURE

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development has a plan to help the nation's hardest hit homeowners and neighborhoods. But by concentrating assistance in the most devastated areas, few places will be saved, writes Charles Buki.

November 19 - Charles Buki

Nicolai Ouroussoff tells the tale of Buffalo, a quintessential rust belt city that seems committed to preserving its architectural heritage but unsure about its future.

November 18 - The New York Times

Calgary is poised to make itself into a city that encourages density without sacrificing too much of the leg room currently offered by existing suburbs.

November 18 - Calgary Herald

Environmental groups aren't happy to hear that Yellowstone officials may be installing more cellphone towers and providing wireless internet in the near future, fearing that the technology will detract from and destroy the park's natural scenery.

November 18 - Los Angeles Times

Researchers in Asia are warning that unless governments start to make their urban planning policies more bicycle-friendly, bikes could virtually disappear from the urban environment within a decade.

November 18 - The Jakarta Post

The celeb narrates the PBS series e2, which tackles transportation in its third season.

November 18 - e2

Canada's first national museum to be built outside Ottawa may not be receiving as many visitors as originally planned.

November 18 - The Globe and Mail

In this commentary, it is noted that when the Sacramento transportation 1/2-cent sales tax measure was up for renewal in 2004, it was decided <em>not to include cycling improvements</em> after a poll showed it would detract from the measure's passing

November 18 - The Sacramento Bee

Repairing the nation's infrastructure is a good move on to-be President Obama's part, as it also creates jobs "that lead to the creation of still more jobs."

November 18 - The Baltimore Sun

Many of the planners who helped transform Vancouver into one of the world's most liveable cities have been lured to cities all over the planet to try to tap in to the brain power that made Vancouver a success. But it's not that easy.

November 18 - Vancouver Magazine

China is on a path to become an overwhelmingly urban country -- in sharp contrast to its largely rural recent past. Cities across the country are hoping to make the transition gracefully.

November 18 - Business Week

As the federal government prepares to bail out the flailing U.S. automotive industry, it should think about changing the face of the industry from carmaker to "transportmaker", according to Robert Goodman.

November 17 - The New York Times

Fewer and fewer malls are being built in the U.S., and as they fade from the American landscape, retailers feel the pain.

November 17 - Newsweek

Education, higher incomes and the availability of healthy food choices contribute to making Burlington, Vermont America's healthiest city.

November 17 - CNN

Now that General Motors is facing financial ruin and seeking a federal bailout, Harvey Wasserman argues that before it receives any help, GM must redress its participation in the conspiracy to destroy America's mass transit system.

November 17 - CommonDreams

BLOG POST

The election is behind us. A Democratic administration headed by President-elect Barack Obama and a heavily Democratic Congress will assume power next January. How will this influence the direction of federal surface transportation policy and programs? To gain some insight, we have solicited the views of a number of people, including some who are familiar with the thinking of President-elect Obama’s transition team. While the views expressed below are our own, they have been influenced by the observations and speculations expressed in these interviews. By common agreement, all conversations were held off the record and not for attribution in order to allow for the freest possible expression of views.<br /> <br />

November 17 - Kenneth Orski

Architect Stephen A. Mouzon illustrates one way to create solar power without making your home ugly, which he says is imperative to the future of green energy.

November 17 - The Original Green Blog