The Daily Source of Urban Planning News
Why Design Matters in Transportation Infrastructure Design
New Jersey School of Architecture Director Darius Sollohub writes that transportation planners and engineers should consider what their infrastructure designs will say to today's users and future generations in an essay in InTransition magazine.
Can Boston Change its 'Wink and Nod' Development Process?
A reborn plan to raze the Winthrop Square parking garage and replace it with the tallest building in Boston will provide a test for new Boston Mayor Martin J. Walsh.
'eHighway' Pilot to Deliver Clean Air for Southern California Ports
Nate Berg details the "eHighway" road design project that will move goods away from the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach.
Why Smart Cities Must be Sharing Cities
Julian Agyeman and Duncan McLaren make the case that the only smart city is a shareable city.
State Funding Sends Divvy Bikeshare to the Suburbs
Divvy—Chicago's popular bikeshare system—is expanding to farther flung areas of the metropolitan area, thanks to state funding approved by the governor.
Whatever Happened to Peak Oil?
The Wall Street Journal re-examines the doomsday scenarios of Peak Oil now that fracking has pushed oil production to record levels.
Security Perimeters Conquering Public Spaces in the Nation's Capital
A recent security breach at the White House is prompting calls from the Secret Service for more security measures in the vicinity of 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue. According to a recent editorial, such measures would go to far in restricting access.
A Day at the Beach in Downtown Detroit
Inspired by the Paris Plages temporary urban beach along the Seine, a temporary beach in a park in Downtown Detroit is inspiring the Motor City to rethink its public spaces.
Speaker Boehner: Highway Bill is 'Doable'
On a Sunday talk show, Speaker John Boehner called a long-term highway bill "in the realm of doable," though he didn't give a time frame other than "in the last two years" of President Obama's term. The current short term funding expires May 31.
Bloomberg Donates $125 Million for Urban Transportation
In his second global transportation donation meant to reduce death and injury from transportation, the former NYC mayor will take a decidedly urban focus by directing his foundation to select ten cities to receive $125 million, he announced Monday.
A Call to Protect Cultural Institutions from Urban Renewal
While considering plans for a large urban renewal project in Hollywood, Los Angeles struggles to avoid throwing out the baby with the bathwater—that is, saving a place for small cultural institutions when redeveloping neighborhoods.
Report: Cities Segregating by Employment Type—Not Just Income Level
New analysis from Richard Florida and the Martin Prosperity Institute maps segregation by employment type, finding the darker effects of the creative class.
Madrid to Expand Non-Residential Vehicle Restrictions
Madrid, Spain is taking the next steps in restricting vehicular access to its urban core in the hopes of completely pedestrianizing central Madrid by 2020.
Great Debate: Transit Ridership vs Transit Coverage
While so many cities struggle to overcome irrational and uninformed opinions in debates about transportation systems, Edmonton is in the midst of a conversation with good questions and no right or wrong answers.
Critic's Review: Los Angeles Union Station Master Plan
Christopher Hawthorne details the finalized master plan for Los Angeles' remodel of its historic Union Station, saying the master plan positions the station to be a hub of activity in a remade city.
New Grim Population Projection: 11 Billion People
So much for the conventional wisdom that world population would peak at 9 billion by 2050 and then decline. A new analysis shatters it, concluding population will rise to 11 or 12 billion by 2100, and possibly continue growing.
BLOG POST
Learning From Kansas City
Kansas City is losing families to suburbia because of its allegedly subpar schools. How can families be lured back to city schools?.
New Philadelphia Department of Planning and Development Proposed
Philadelphia City Council President Darrell Clarke will release the details of a proposal to consolidate planning and development approval authority into a new, cabinet-level city department.
BLOG POST
Reform Transport Engineering: Expand Beyond Just Roadway Level of Service (LOS) Ratings
Transportation engineers currently evaluate urban transport system performance using roadway level of service (LOS) ratings. Here are six good reasons to change.
Mobile Apps to Inspire Walking
Bill Lindeke examines a few examples of mobile technology that encourage citizens to ditch their cars and walk. Could these technologies inspire the cultural side of the equation needed for widespread adoption of walkability?
Pagination
City of Thousand Oaks
City of Wisconsin Rapids
Harvard University Graduate School of Design
The Architects Foundation
University of Cincinnati Online
The Pocatello Development Authority
The Urban Renewal Agency of the City of Pocatello
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.