The Daily Source of Urban Planning News

Will California's Road Charge Fix California's Transportation Funding Shortfall?
California began the Road Charge Pilot Program on July 1 to see how participants would respond to being charged by the mile driven rather than by gallons of fuel consumed. Participants may now have received their first 'mock' invoices.

A New Plan for Trees in the 'City of Trees'
The city of Sacramento, California, known as the City of Trees, is nearing the finish line on a heavily debated ordinance to create new regulations for the management of trees.

One Fourth of East Harlem Housing Set to Lose Affordability
The area could lose up to 500 units of affordable housing every year for the next 30 years if the city doesn't extend existing protections.

Sometimes Gender Neutral Bathrooms Have Nothing to Do With Gender Identity
There are several reasons that gender neutral bathrooms will soon replace separated men's and women's bathrooms, and they have nothing to do with gender identity, explains Jimmy Parker, event producer and former BID director.

Opinion: What It Will Take to Fix Los Angeles Metro
If Los Angeles residents approve the $120 billion sales tax measure in November, focusing on walkable communities and offering fast, frequent transit service will be critical to its success.
Put the Morals of Self-Driving Cars to the Test
Meet the Moral Machine, which echoes a standard many people hope self-driving cars can achieve.

D.C. Streetcar Reports First Six Months Better-Than-Expected Performance
It's been six months since the D.C. Streetcar finally opened after years of planning and delays. So far, so good for the performance of the line, and now District DOT has some decisions to make regarding the near future of the line.

Going For the Gold: When Town Planning Was an Olympic Competition
In the first half of the 20th century, the Olympic games actually had a medal competition for town planning.

BLOG POST
Simulating the City
Computer simulations show signs of a coming revolution with wide ranging impacts on many human endeavors, particularly cities and city planning.

Expansion Proposed for Brooklyn Bridge Pedestrian and Bike Path
A crowded and hurried scene is becoming more and more common on the pedestrian and bike path that spans the Brooklyn Bridge. So much so, that the city is ready to consider a new, wider path.

What Does Architecture for Security Look Like?
There's a difference between designing for safety and designing for fear.

Future of California's Climate Agenda in Peril
Legislation to reauthorize the California Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006 is in peril due to 'a powerful bloc of business-friendly Democrats' who are uneasy about its impact on businesses, particularly Big Oil, due to higher energy costs.

Will New Transportation Technologies Affect Lower Income Households?
Kevin Cashman, a Truthout researcher, asks in this op-ed if lower income people will not only be left out from the transportation technology revolution, e.g., EVs, AVs, car-hailing, but will they be hurt by it?

A Kayak Share Service Blossoms in Minneapolis
The National Park Service is bringing the sharing economy to the Mississippi River in Minnesota this month with a first of its kind kayak sharing service.

FEATURE
Twisting the Truth: The NIMBY Opposition to Second Units in L.A.
An op-ed by Daniel Freedman explains how a legal spat over an 850-square-foot "granny flat" affected hundreds of units around Los Angeles. The city's attempt to rectify the problems with its second unit ordinance has encountered more resistance.
Environmental Injustice and Police Violence Overlap Across the U.S.
Being a person of color in the United States means being physically vulnerable to both environmental hazards and police violence, two professors argue.

Help Transit Riders Improve Their Bus Stops
Riders in ten cities are raising money to spruce up their bus stops.

Planetizen Week in Review: August 8, 2016
It only takes two minutes to catch up on the biggest news stories of the week.

Where Have all the Great Urban Places Gone?
Newly built urban places leave a lot to be desired, according to this article in Governing.

Proposed California Law Could Fast Track CEQA Litigation for Large Developments
A bill moving through the California Legislature, SB 734, would extend the reach of legislation from 2011 that benefitted the defunct Farmers Field football stadium in downtown Los Angeles.
Pagination
Caltrans
City of Fort Worth
New Jersey Institute of Technology
Mpact (founded as Rail~Volution)
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Portland
City of Laramie
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.