The Daily Source of Urban Planning News
The Tangibility and Viability of L.A.'s 30/10 Plan
The Brookings Institution's Robert Puentes reports back on a recent discussion about Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa's 30/10 plan -- the idea to cram 30 years worth of transit investments into 10.
Cities Scramble to Prepare for Electric Vehicles
Electric cars sap a lot of electricity out of the grid, and many vehicles charging at once can cause unprepared cities to blackout.
How Philistinism and Contempt For Urban Planning Scarred England's Crowded Cities
England is now the second most densely populated place in Europe, after Malta. New data shows the UK as a whole has roughly the same density as Germany. This indicates a concentration of population in particular places and underpopulation elsewhere.
Military's Newest Enemy: Wind Turbines
The U.S. Defense Department has become one of the largest hurdles for wind power projects, arguing that large wind turbines can cause interference with the military's communications technology.
Seeking That Neighborly Feeling
The new HafenCity district under construction in Hamburg, Germany, is one of the largest urban developments underway today. Some worry that its newness and bigness aren't prime conditions for harboring neighborliness.
Can This Desert Oasis Project Actually Be Green?
This piece from <em>Fast Company Design</em> looks at plans for an eco-conscious-yet-inappropriately lush desert development being planned in Oman, and wonders whether a project so out of place will actually work.
Potential Neighbor Threatens Empire State Building's Dominance
A proposed tower that would be just blocks from the Empire State Building in New York City has some historians and property owners on the defensive.
Replacing Bike Sharing Infrastructure with Smart Phones
Bike sharing systems have been huge successes in cities like Paris and Barcelona. But due to their extensive infrastructure requirements, they're expensive to build. One man suggests a system run primarily by smart phones.
Pictures of the World's Fastest-Growing City
<em>Wired</em> presents a slideshow of photography exploring the booming Chinese city of Chongqing -- the fastest growing urban center in the world.
With $46 Million Price Tag, MTA Turnstiles Remain Unlocked
As Los Angeles MTA's plan to fully implement its TAP card program stalls, so does the plan to lock the turnstiles that the agency had installed to deter riders from not paying.
Engineers Lacking As India's Infrastructure Crumbles
Aging infrastructure is limiting India's developmental ability. With few trained civic engineers in the country, crucial upgrades aren't happening.
The Best "Adventure Towns" in the U.S.
Outside Magazine compiles their top 25 U.S. towns for outdoor adventure. Considered alongside the availability of great kayaking and biking were stats like percentage of college graduates and cost of living.
Bridge's Congestion Pricing May Extend to Entire City
Peak period pricing on the Bay Bridge, enacted by the regional Bay Area Toll Authority on July 1, is the first application of congestion pricing for driving in the Bay Area. Officials in San Francisco feel the outcome is favorable for their project.
In Oregon, Students Seek Key to a Sustainable City
Roughly 600 University of Oregon students will take part in the university's Sustainable Cities Initiative, which pulls together students of architecture, planning, law, journalism and business to make a plan to fix downtown Salem.
Cairo's New Megacities
Overcrowding and pollution in Cairo have inspired planners to push out into the desert, raising two brand-new cities out of the sand.
Growth in Footprint Far Exceeded Growth in People
A new study shows that while development in the North Carolina mountains increased 568 percent between 1976 and 2006, the population only increased 48 percent. What happened?
County Stuck With Mall It Bought At Cusp of Recession
Chesterfield County, Virginia purchased the ailing Cloverleaf Mall two years ago with the idea of turning it into a mixed-use development. One recession later, the mall still stands and the city is stuck with an "expensive eyesore".
10 Minute Max
A "simple and powerful idea" is catching on with transit agencies around the world: the 10 Minute Max transit system, which was recently announced in Montréal.
HUD Announces Pilot Grants
Applicants have until November 22 to submit applications for a new round of HOPE VI funds.
America's "Forgotten Cities"
The website 24/7 Wall St. analyzes a number of sources of data to identify "dead cities" -- those which have lost their economic foundations.
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.
