The Daily Source of Urban Planning News
New Report: Measuring Pedestrian Safety in the U.S.
Transportation for America (TfA), a campaign to strengthen the nation’s transportation network, released an update to its “Dangerous by Design” report, an analysis of pedestrian safety in the design and use of American streets.
Johannesburg's BRT System Makes Good with Minibus Drivers
Minibus drivers in Johannesburg, South Africa, were not happy about plans to build a city-wide bus rapid transit system, worrying it would take their business away. After sometimes violent debates, the drivers have compromised with the city.
Maglev Approved for Tokyo-Osaka Line
After decades in development, Japan is ready to begin construction on their first commercial maglev train, which will eventually run between Tokyo and Osaka at speeds of up to 313 miles per hour.
Toledo's Docks Get Chinese Investment
Toledo, Ohio's local economy is ailing, but two developers recruited from China see significant opportunity in redeveloping the city's waterfront.
How to Get People to Ride Transit
With car companies spending billions to promote their products, transit advocates have a lot to compete with. A new report from EMBARQ looks at how transit can rebrand and be sexy.
Affordable Housing Gets Energy Retrofit in Boston
Castle Square Apartments in Boston is currently being retrofitted in what is said to be the largest energy savings project of its kind. The low-income housing towers are receiving $6.7 million from HUD's Recovery Act Green Retrofit Program.
Competition Rising Among Food Trucks
Is the food truck craze "over"? The instant urbanism of the street food phenomenon is still highly popular, despite the media coverage saying the trend is facing a bubble.
Revitalization Projects in South Central L.A.
Bank of America touts their lending programs that have funded redevelopment in South Central, particularly a mixed-use development at the corner of Adams and Central that includes a Fresh N' Easy market.
EPA, DOT Release New Fuel Economy Stickers for New Cars
The new stickers offer significantly more useful information for comparing a new vehicle's gas mileage to other cars, including how much a year's worth of gas will cost you and the impact of that car on the environment.
Absurd Safety in Playgrounds Causing Accidents
Planner Sharon Danks says that as playgrounds become less challenging due to concerns over liability, kids invent their own, far more dangerous uses for the equipment.
How to Give Your Main Street a Facelift
Larisa Ortiz Pu-Folkes gives some tips for creating an effective facade inprovement program, focusing on making it easier for building owners and merchants to access and take advantage of the funds.
Smell Flowers, Not Smoke in New York Public Parks
The NY Times sent an investigative reporter to Bryant Park to test the new city regulation banning smoking in parks and finds non-smoking park-goers incredibly tolerant toward smoking violations while smokers appear compliant with the regulation.
Political Housing Evolution In San Francisco
Prompted by the May 24 approval by the Board of Supervisors of the massive redevelopment of the Parkmerced garden apartments, The Examiner looks at the city's evolution from protecting city character at all costs to a more urbanist approach.
Tug-of-War Between Preservation and Progress
Rem Koolhaas laments the expansion of historic preservation, saying that inevitably "We will preserve things before they are even finished."
Why All the Fuss About Bikes?
Kasey Klimes says that the hype around bicycles isn't just sustainability, or health. It's that bicycles connect people to their neighborhoods and their communities in a more meaningful way.
LEED-ND For The Layperson
The Natural Resources Defense Council has prepared a 44-page 'Citizen's Guide' to the green building principles contained in the LEED-Neighborhood Development rating system for the layperson and organizations to apply in their own neighborhoods.
TOD Grows Hesitantly Around New L.A. Station
L.A.'s newest light-rail station, at the current end-of-the-line off La Cienega, has attracted one new office building so far. The developer saw the future transit station as an amenity. Will others join him?
Fanciful Bike Storage Mounts on Tall Buildings
Design firm Manifesto Architecture is proposing a unique vertical bike storage system that can take advantage of underused, slim spaces like alleys. Another neat aspect: the rack is powered by a stationery bike.
The Town That Hugged New Urbanism
Sharon McMillan explains how her town - Unionville, Ontario - gave New Urbanism "a great big hug" back in the 1970s, and has benefited ever since.
New Study: Sprawl Is Bad for Marriage Sustainability
According to a recent study in Sweden, long distance commutes (characteristic of sprawling suburbs) put a major strain on personal relationships and increase the chances of marriage ending in divorce.
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
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