The Daily Source of Urban Planning News
Maryland Program Looks to Put Student Loan Debtors in Homes
A novel initiative called Maryland SmartBuy aims to help those with student loan debt buy homes.
Planners Experiment with Unmanned Aerial Systems to Improve Maine Towns
Maine planners are finding new ways to use aerial photos and drone technology to improve transportation and environmental planning.
New, Modern Regulations May Speed Trains
The Federal Railroad Administration will soon update regulations regarding U.S. trains, this could have major impact on the industry and train travel.
Quick Internet Delivery Services Clog City Streets with Delivery Trucks
Services like Amazon Prime and other quick delivery online retailers are creating more demand for short trip delivery, the result is streets jammed with vans. Bikes may offer an alternative.
Prime Minister Trudeau Approves Huge Expansion of Oil Sands Pipeline
The young prime minister's approval to almost triple the capacity of the Kinder Morgan pipeline comes as a surprise given Trudeau's concern for climate change. He approved another Alberta oil sands pipeline but rejected a third.
Chicago Elevated Train Funding Passes with Unanimous Support
The Chicago City Council has authorized a billion dollars in funding for upgrades and maintenance for the city's Red, Purple, and Brown Line trains; the city hopes to get additional federal funds before Obama leaves office.
Climate Changes Confront Alaska Villages with Wrenching Choices
Alaska is warming about twice as fast as the rest of the continental United States, and the state is heading for the warmest year on record. The government has identified at least 31 Alaska towns and cities at risk of destruction.
Friday Funny? Cards Against Humanity Crowdfunds a Hole in the Ground
"When you gaze long into an abyss, the abyss also gazes into you."
Mapping Los Angeles' Underutilized City-Owned Property
New data shows that the city of Los Angeles owns nearly 9,000 parcels throughout the region—and that it could be doing a lot more with them.
Bay Area Sends Mixed Message on BART Funding
BART won big on election night with the passage of Measure RR, a $3.5 billion infrastructure bond measure. But the San Francisco Chronicle observes that results from two other local ballot measures suggest a mixed message on the rapid transit system.
A New Urbanist Community, 15 Years Later
A look at how Baldwin Park has matured after 15 years of development.
Friday Eye Candy: Turning Gentrification Data Into Art
Herwig Scherabon is a graphic designer featured this week in The Guardian.
Which U.S. Cities Are Lowering Parking Minimums?
Based on crowdsourced data from across the country, this updated map shows which municipalities have eliminated, lowered, or discussed their parking minimum laws.
Developers Clash Over Newport Beach High-Rise Project
Developers and concerned residents tussle in Orange County, California, as a property meant to host an art museum moves toward redevelopment as high-rise luxury condos instead.
Disused Atlanta Industrial Site Slated for Historic Status
Currently owned by the state of Georgia, Atlanta's Pullman Yard may get a lot harder (but not impossible) to redevelop. Atlanta's Urban Design Commission is considering a proposal to grant protected status to the property.
Tougher Background Checks for Massachusetts Uber, Lyft Drivers
The companies' agreement with Governor Charlie Baker's administration requires a state-run check in addition to the usual check through an independent contractor. Fingerprinting, however, will not be required.
Making California Climate-Resilient
California is working on a plan to adapt infrastructure statewide to the future impacts of climate change.
Malign Neglect? Urban Policy in the Trump Era
How much do we have to fear from the president-elect's policy plans for urban America? We can hope that he will follow his party's playbook and largely ignore the cities, but potential changes to housing policy are more serious.
Alaska's Attempt at Clean Coal Technology Proves Costly, Problematic
An explosion on Nov. 2 forced GVEA to shut down the power plant earlier this month after struggling with a number of mishaps that have kept Golden Valley from bringing the Healy 2 plant online.
BLOG POST
White Voters and Polarization: Can We Span the Racial Divide by Emphasizing Shared Interests?
Dowell Myers reflects on an article from the Journal of Planning Education and Research in light of the recent presidential election.
City of Thousand Oaks
City of Wisconsin Rapids
Harvard University Graduate School of Design
The Architects Foundation
University of Cincinnati Online
Northern Illinois Transit Authority (NITA)
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.
