The Daily Source of Urban Planning News
London's Olympian Traffic Headache
With the Olympic games, and millions of visitors, descending on London this summer, Sarah Lyall looks at how the capital city is hoping to spare users of its ancient road network and temperamental subway system from a transportation nightmare.
Why Car Sharing Won't Reduce Emissions
A new study by the RAND corporation highlights the various benefits of expanding car-sharing nationwide. It turns out, however, that significantly reducing carbon emissions isn't one of them, writes Brad Plumer.
Lamenting Toronto's Missing Middle
Christopher Hume surveys Toronto's "mid-rise crisis" and asks why the city has made it nearly impossible to build "the urban residential form par excellence."
Can Chicago Eliminate Traffic Deaths?
Sarah Goodyear reports on the Windy City's ambitious plan to eliminate all traffic fatalities in the city within 10 years.
D.C.'s Popularity Brings Growing Pains
Jonathan O’Connell looks at Washington's remarkable growth over the past decade, as the city has become a magnet for young professionals, and wonders if the city will be able to retain those residents as they become parents.
Talking Head Talks Bikes
Talking Heads founder and avid cyclist David Byrne pens an opinion piece in <em>The New York Times</em> regaling in the opportunities New York's new bike share program will provide to those who live and work in the city.
In Defense of the American Community Survey
Recently Congress voted in favor of a GOP measure to scrap the American Community Survey, on the basis of its alleged intrusiveness. Now a backlash is growing in defense of the survey, even among some conservatives, reports Matthew Yglesias.
How to Get Rural Transit Right
With nearly 40 percent of the United States’ transit-dependent population living in rural areas, it's imperative that rural transit agencies get the most out of their investments. A new report explores how some are getting it right.
Examining Zoning's Origins to Shed Light on Current Critiques
As traditional zoning comes under increasing criticism for its exclusionary practices, strict separation of uses, and controls on density, Daniel Nairn explores its genesis and the arguments of pioneering planner Edward Murray Bassett.
The Biggest Challenge Facing the Century of the City
Whether we've embarked on a new era of global urbanization is indisputable. The ability of architects to design attractive and humane high-rise towers to house the urban masses, however, is open to discussion, writes Sarah Williams Goldhagen.
Arctic Drilling: From Improbable To Inevitable
Shell Oil's seven-year, $4 billion investment has paid off. Awaiting final Interior Dept. permits, two drilling ships, moored in Seattle, are poised to travel to the Arctic to begin drilling test wells in 150 ft of water off northern Alaska in July.
How Well do You Know the World?
<em>The Atlantic</em> offers a brain teaser tailor made for the readers of Planetizen.
What Income Inequality Looks Like From Space
Tim De Chant compares satellite images of neighborhoods from cities around the world to see if inequality is manifest in the patterns of the landscape. The differences are striking.
Will a New Plan for Chicago's Union Station Stick?
20 years after its last makeover, and with successive grand renovation plans developed and abandoned in between, last week saw the release of a new master plan for America's third-busiest railroad terminal, reports Fran Spielman.
Can Nonprofits Tap Into the $17.5 billion Market in Distressed Mortgages?
The sale of distressed mortgages is far less publicized than talk of the market for foreclosed properties. But these loans are being actively traded—in 2011 this activity included 149,000 loans which translates to roughly $26 billion in trades.
Lights Out for Detroit
As Detroit struggles through major economic and population losses, the mayor plans to turn off approximately half of the city's streetlights, Chris Christoff reports.
Shoring up the Disappearing Public Realm
As libraries and and post offices are replaced by private development while streets and sidewalks lack funding, what can be done to enliven the public realm?
Urban Laboratory Makes School Cool for New Yorkers
Nate Berg profiles an innovative program being taught at a private school in the Bronx, or as he calls it: "The High School Curriculum Every Urban Planner Wishes They'd Had."
The Value of Walkability
In an opinion piece for <em>The New York Times</em>, Christopher B. Leinberger summarizes a new report he's co-authored for the Brookings Institution that demonstrates the correlation between walkability and real estate value.
Maximizing the Metro
Looking for a long read this long weekend? Check out Bruce Katz and Jennifer Bradley's article on the keys to creating collaborative metropolitan areas that can successfully compete in the global economy.
City of Moorpark
City of Tustin
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
Transportation Research & Education Center (TREC) at Portland State University
Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada
Toledo-Lucas County Plan Commissions
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.
