The Daily Source of Urban Planning News

Experimental Transportation Projects Get $33 Million in Bay Area

Federal grants worth $33 million have been approved in the San Francisco Bay Area for experimental programs like electric taxis and mobile bike repair services.

October 29 - San Francisco Chronicle

Bike Sharing Spreads, But Will It Last?

More and more European cities are following the lead of cities like Paris and installing bike sharing systems. This article from <em>Der Spiegel</em> wonders if they'll last.

October 29 - Der Spiegel

With ARC Truly Dead, What’s Next for Jersey?

Yonah Freemark looks at how to increase rail ridership without adding trains.

October 29 - the transport politic

Atlanta Goes Green

Mayor Kasim Reed unveiled a plan on Mondayto make Atlanta one of the "greenest" cities in the U.S.

October 29 - Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Feds Award $160 Million For Higher Speed Trains In Michigan

Funds will be used to purchase and restore a 135-mile stretch of tracks between Kalamazoo and Dearborn so trains can operate at 79mph and then 110 mph. It is part of the Pontiac to Chicago high-speed corridor, currently operated by Amtrak.

October 29 - Detroit Free Press


A Park to Fit the Arch

New designs for the surrounding park offer a chance at a brighter future for the Eero Saarinen-designed Gateway Arch in St. Louis.

October 28 - Architectural Record

D.C. Streetcars In the Works

The District Department of Transportation recently released detailed plans for the new system, which has been in the making for more than 14 years.

October 28 - The Washington Post


ARC Tunnel Scrapped - Absolutely, States NJ Governor

Time will tell whether this was a shrewd political move, saving the state billions of dollars, or a monumental failure of judgment. NJ must now repay the federal government $270 million; he forfeits $6 billion in transit, but prevents overrun costs.

October 28 - Bloomberg News via Crain's New York Business

Is the U.S. Neglecting Its Water?

Bob Herbert warns that the country is allowing its water systems to deteriorate despite a widely evidenced need for upgrades.

October 28 - The New York Times

A New City and Business Hub for South Korea

New Songdo City is rising in South Korea, part of an effort to lure foreign investment and business that will help revitalize the struggling economy.

October 28 - Architectural Record

A Library for Bikes

The University of California, Los Angeles has begun operations on a new kind of library -- one that rents bikes out to students.

October 28 - KPCC

'Livable' Sounds Great, But What is it?

<em>Grist</em> talks with Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood about just what exactly "livable communities" are and how the government is planning to create them.

October 28 - Grist

Preserving Detroiters' Way of Life

<em>Forbes</em> talks with Detroit Mayor Dave Bing about reshaping the city and how those plans will and won't impact long-time residents who may be opposed to change.

October 28 - Forbes

Small Counties on Edge Over Metro Atlanta Transit Debate

Suggestions of a county seceding from the Atlanta Regional Commission could threaten transportation funding in the region and hurt those towns looking to bow out, according to this column.

October 28 - The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Urban Homestead Sectors, Naturescapes, and Green Venture Zones

A group called The Community Development Advocates of Detroit (CDAD) released a report this week that breaks the city down into 11 different district types, each with their own character and policy recommendations.

October 27 - New Urban News Network

Bike Sharing Becomes Part of Transportation Picture

Erik Weber of non-profit EMBARQ argues that bike sharing systems combine the benefits of cycling and public transit and is a sustainable solution for cities.

October 27 - TheCityFix

Bigger and Faster in China

The opening of a new 220-mph high speed train and the peak energy production at the Three Gorges Dam shows that China's been able to successfully launch major infrastructure project faster than the rest of the world.

October 27 - MSNBC

New Toronto Mayor Backs Away From Anti-Streetcar Sentiment

Toronto's mayor-elect had campaigned on a platform that included plans to ditch the city's streetcar system. Now he seems to be backing away from that stance.

October 27 - The Toronto Star

EcoDistricts to Rise in Portland

Portland has five "eco-district" pilot projects in the works. The first two are expected to begin implementation over the next year, and organizers are hoping they lead to more sustainability efforts throughout the city.

October 27 - Sustainable Business Oregon

Defending The Livable Communities Bill

After Metropolis Magazine took a swipe at Sen. Dodd's Livable Communities Act of 2009, or S.1619, for being "All Carrot, No Stick" or worse, Grist comes to its defense as a necessary bill that would sustain Obama's current smart growth effort.

October 27 - Grist

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