The Daily Source of Urban Planning News

Seattle

Seattle Tackling Equity Challenges With Global Lens

Seattle is faced with an affordable housing crisis that has led the new Planning & Community Development Director Sam Assefa to look globally for solutions.

June 30 - The Planning Report

Workers Returning, Carefully, to the Scene of Epic Landslide on the California Coast

Engineers are searching for solid ground along the California coast at the scene of a massive landslide that wiped out California Highway 1 near San Luis Obispo.

June 30 - The Tribune

Glen Canyon Dam

Climate Change Is Shrinking the Colorado River

Documenting the effects of climate change on the West's most vital source of water.

June 30 - The Conversation

Turnstiles

Six Methods for Understanding Transit Users

SPUR has a created a toolbox of resources and ideas for how to figure out what transit users want, because not all transit users are the same.

June 30 - SPUR

Hotel California

Friday Funny: The Onion Deconstructs the 'Gig Economy'

Satirical news site The Onion lambastes (in familiar fashion) the gig economy—i.e., the euphemism applied to the side jobs and revenue sources offered by transportation network companies like Uber and short-term rental companies like Airbnb.

June 30 - The Onion


MARTA Green Line

Setting Aside Transit Sales Tax Revenue for Affordable Housing

With a new wave of transit and active transportation investment coming to Atlanta, thanks to two new sales taxes, advocates are mobilizing to ensure that the investments won't leave low-income residents behind. It's a concept worth considering.

June 29 - Streetsblog USA

New York Subway Station

New York Governor Declares Subway 'State of Emergency'

New York Governor Andrew Cuomo has been heavily criticized for neglecting New York City's subway system.

June 29 - The New York Times


Flint

Michigan Suing Flint to Force Long-Term Water Contract

The news from Michigan serves as a reminder that the Flint drinking water tragedy, which started in 2014, still has not been resolved. The health of Flint residents is still at risk.

June 29 - Associated Press via Chicago Tribune

Portland Transit

Portland's 'Enhanced Transit Corridors Plan' Gives Buses the Right of Way

The Portland Bureau of Transportation unveiled their plan for "Enhanced Transit Corridors" including dedicated bus lanes and coordinated signals.

June 29 - Bike Portland

New York Subway

Human Error, Not Crumbling Infrastructure, Caused NYC Subway Derailment

While the New York subway's need for infrastructure investment is well documented, it was an improperly placed rail that caused two subway cars to derail on a southbound A train on Tuesday morning in Harlem.

June 29 - The New York Times - N.Y. / Region

Millennium Park Fountain

Chicago's Black Residents Continuing to Leave the City

The Census shows that black residents are leaving Chicago and the surrounding areas. Many tie the trend to disinvestment in black neighborhoods, including the closings of schools.

June 29 - Chicago Tribune

Denver, Colorado

Denver to Fund Convention Center Expansion With a New 'Tourism Improvement District'

Denver has approved a new Tourism Improvement District to help cover the cost of the $233 million expansion project at the Colorado Convention Center in Denver.

June 29 - The Denver Post

Capitol Hill

Do Members of Congress Need a Housing Stipend?

The cost of living in Washington, D.C. might make it difficult for less wealthy members of Congress to pay rent or mortgages in their home state and the seat of power. Thus, a surprising voice has suggested housing assistance for Congress.

June 29 - The Hill

Chicago, Illinois

Bus Lane, Not Bike Lane, Should Be Chicago Avenue's Priority

Chicago Avenue bus is one of Chicago's busiest. It deserves a bus lane.

June 29 - Streetsblog Chicago

Automobile Owner

Is Car Ownership Coming to an End?

The Wall Street Journal sees the end for car ownership, it's been predicted before, but they see moves from the industry and predictions from consultants as proof that this time it's for real.

June 29 - The Wall Street Journal

Indoor Grow Room

BLOG POST

As Medical Cannabis Grows, So Does the Space Needed for It

Despite its medicinal benefits, cannabis will negatively impact the environment if we don’t plan accordingly.

June 28 - Kayla Matthews

Wilshire Grand

Los Angeles' New Tower and the Silly Rules That Govern Building Height

Los Angeles' new Wilshire Grand tower is tall and impressive. But, in reality, it's about 100 feet shorter and perhaps less impressive than the arbiters of skyscrapers say it is. Whatever the definition, it might be time to quit venerating height.

June 28 - California Planning & Development Report

Downtown Philadelphia

Union Strike Halts Construction in Philadelphia

Operators of cranes, bulldozers, hoists, and all kinds of other heavy equipment walked off construction sites around the Philadelphia region earlier this week.

June 28 - The Philadelphia Inquirer

Floyds Fork Louisville

Louisville's Sprawl Threatens One of its Last Clean-Running Streams

New subdivision planning and construction is expected to expand the footprint of the Louisville metropolitan area. The question is whether those new developments will protect or harm the beloved Floyds Fork.

June 28 - Courier-Journal

New York Subway

Transit's No Good, Very Bad Day

Transit commuters in New York and Washington, D.C. were understandably frustrated yesterday. One wonders when enough will be enough, and what happens then?

June 28 - The Wall Street Journal

Post News
Senior Planner

City of Thousand Oaks

Community Development Director

City of Wisconsin Rapids

Professor of Urban Planning

Harvard University Graduate School of Design

Top Books

An annual review of books related to planning.

Top Schools

The definitive ranking of graduate planning programs.

100 Most Influential Urbanists

The who's who of urbanism, according to Planetizen readers.

Urban Planning Creators You Should Know

A short list of voices on social, video, and podcasting platforms.

FREE Course: Walkable City 1: Why Walkability?

After describing his path towards focusing on walkability as the essence of good planning, Jeff Speck marches through his five principal reasons for making more walkable places.

Reinventing Malls: Planning Alchemy—Turning Gray Fields Into Gold

The course focuses on the opportunities and imperatives that shape reinvention of mall sites.