The Daily Source of Urban Planning News
Cities and States Large Borrowing Causes Concern
As the economic downturn has caused many states and municipalities to borrow large amounts of money, some worry there may be a glut of them going bankrupt.
City Revival Through the Arts
A suburb of Tel Aviv is trying to revive itself by becoming an arts destination.
Four Visions for Future Living
In the face of climate change and sea level rise, <em>Popular Science</em> offers four designs for urban lifestyles of the near future.
Replacing The Current Gas Tax With A Different Gas Tax
AASHTO is pitching a replacement of the current fed excise fuel taxes with sales taxes - initially revenue neutral, but would increase with inflation, unlike stagnant excise taxes last increased in 1993. In 6 years, might raise an extra $43 billion.
Incredible Swiss Tunnel Completed
Giant robot "worms" have been tunneling towards each other through opposite sides of the Gottard Massif for years. On Friday, they finally met, completing the 19-mile tunnel.
The "Circus Tent" of Beijing
Dense cities, argues Daniel Garst, are shaped like a pyramid, with the most density in the middle and sloping sides. Beijing, on the other hand, has developed more like a circus tent, with density at the sides but single-story homes in the middle.
County Sues State Over Railyard
The State of Virginia wants to put up 2/3rds of the cost of a new private railyard in Montgomery County. County officials say it doesn't fit the character of the rural area, and have sued to stop it from being built.
Designing Cities in an Age of Scarce Water
Freshwater is becoming increasingly scarce. Our cities will need to address these shortages with better design, according to author Steven Solomon.
Lack of Transit Intensifies Suburban Poverty
In the last ten years, more than two thirds of poverty growth has happened in suburban areas of American cities. According to Brookings', social services such as transit have failed to keep up in the face of decreasing tax revenue.
Talking Open Streets and Ciclovias
<em>Next American City</em> talks with urban designer and bicycle planner Mike Lydon about cycling, ciclovias, and open streets.
The Looming Era of VMT
The gas tax is becoming an increasingly outdated and unsustainable idea. This piece from <em>Miller McCune</em> looks at the prospect of replacing it with a tax based on vehicle miles traveled.
London's Bike Sharing Program Expects to Make Profit
London's 10-week old bike sharing program appears to be on its way to turning a profit, a rarity in the public transit world.
New Ruling Means Greater Access to California Coast
A ruling this week by the California Coastal Commission will allow a dozen new picnic areas and up to five new trailheads, in addition to camping areas for 280 people and new access to the Coastal Slope Trail. The camping will be the first in Malibu.
Are Large Discount Grocers the Answer to Food Deserts?
With suburban markets saturated, discount food chains are moving into urban food deserts. While this may be convenient for residents, some are concerned that such stores will do little for local economies.
Japan's New 'Smart' City
The city Yokohama could be Japan's next exportable good. officials there want it to be a low-emissions "smart" city -- a model they hope to be able to convince other cities to replicate.
If You Build It, They Won't Walk
Trails and walking paths are commonly built in suburban areas. But their mere presence doesn't automatically mean they'll be used, according to a new study.
Ghost Town Swallowed by Desert
A town built in the Namibian desert has been abandoned for decades. The sand has taken over.
A NYT Discussion On HSR - Will It Happen? How? Why Not?
The New York Times editors are wondering if high speed rail is a practical consideration for the U.S considering recent political developments where it has become popular to reject federal rail funds, so they asked six experts to present their views.
A New Plan for Chicago Fails to Stir Men's Blood
Blair Kamin looks at "Go to 2040", a new regional plan for the Chicago area that he says has few goals to get excited about and "reflects an era of scarce resources."
A Woonerf in Harvard Square
English architect Ben Hamilton-Baillie sees possibility in a section of Harvard Square that has all the qualities of a "woonerf"; mainly, that cars, bikes and pedestrians all share the street equally.
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.
