The Daily Source of Urban Planning News

Global Call for Ideas Reveals Promising Resilience Solutions

Superstorm Sandy spurred the New York City Economic Development Corporation to form the RISE:NYC program, a global competition for innovative solutions to post-disaster resiliency. Arup's Sarah Wesseler spoke with them to learn more.

August 27 - Doggerel

California Strategic Growth Council Revising Guidelines for Cap-and-Trade Grants

California recently awarded more than $1.2 million in cap-and-trade revenue to projects that not only reduce GHG emissions, but also promote affordable housing or transit options.

August 27 - The Planning Report

Interviewed: Jerry Wray, Director of the Ohio Department of Transportation

Excerpts of an interview with Ohio Department of Transportation Director Jerry Wray, who spoke candidly about the state's role in maintaining and building transportation projects in Cincinnati and around the state of Ohio.

August 27 - Cincinnati Enquirer

More Criticism of Texas Transportation Institute's Congestion Report

The Texas Transportation Institute's latest Urban Mobility Scorecard claims, that "TRAFFIC GRIDLOCK SETS NEW RECORDS FOR TRAVELER MISERY." This critique by the Frontier Group puts their hyperbole into perspective. No need to panic!

August 27 - Frontier Group

SEPTA Cycle-Transit Plan a Model for Multi-Modal Commuting

As ridership grows on the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA) rail system, system planners are looking to a novel approach to relieve crunched station parking: bikes.

August 27 - Next City


Phoenix Transportation Sales Tax Measure Wins On Tuesday's Ballot

Phoenix voters, by 55 percent according to preliminary results, chose to increase their sales tax from .4 to .7 percent on Tuesday, continuing until 2051 to pay for $17 billion in transportation improvements.

August 27 - AZ Central

Uptown Oakland

FEATURE

What Is a 'Great' Neighborhood? An Analysis of APA's Top-Rated Places

A study recently published in the Journal of the American Planning Association finds that the APA's definition of "great neighborhoods" might be leaving low-income and minority populations behind.

August 27 - Emily Talen


California Transportation Bill Would Increase Taxes on Gas, Diesel

Sen. Jim Beall's transportation funding bill has been renumbered for the special session and was amended on July 14 to include a 12 cents per gallon, or 40 percent, increase in the gas tax and a 22 cents, or 169 percent, increase in the diesel tax.

August 26 - Planetizen

Congestion versus mobility

BLOG POST

2015 Urban Mobility Scorecard: Still Measuring Urban Travel Conditions Incorrectly

The new Urban Mobility Scorecard measures traffic congestion with greater precision, but incorrectly. As with previous editions, it exaggerates congestion costs and undervalues the congestion reduction benefits of alternative modes and Smart Growth.

August 26 - Todd Litman

C-Tran Vine

First Bus Rapid Transit Comes to Portland Metro Region

But not to Portland, nor even in Oregon for that matter. The Vine will service downtown Vancouver, Washington and be operated by Vancouver's public transit agency, C-TRAN. It broke ground in downtown Vancouver on Monday.

August 26 - Oregon Public Broadcasting

Capital Bikeshare

Study: Capital Bikeshare Reduces Congestion

A new study finds evidence of a causal link between bikeshare and congestion in Washington, D.C.

August 26 - Resources for the Future

Lawsuit Over Contract Planning Work Embroils Paterson, New Jersey

The city of Paterson, New Jersey, is suing the City-Council-appointed Board of Adjustment in a dispute over using in-house planners versus contract planners.

August 26 - Paterson Press

Pricetag for MBTA's Green Line Extension Jumps $1 Billion

The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority is scrambling to resolve a major cost overrun for the planned Green Line extension—in peril is potential rail service to one of the most densely populated cities in the country.

August 26 - The Boston Globe

Academy of Art University in San Francisco

Despite Violations, San Francisco's Academy of Art Continues Acquiring Properties

Planning Commission hearings related to the SF-based real estate empire of the Stephens family shed light on a history of land use violations in a land-scarce city.

August 26 - Forbes

Planning the Future of Buffalo's Outer Harbor Waterfront

A plan to revitalize Buffalo's Outer Harbor as an expansive, fully programmed park was sunk by a housing component. A new draft is expected soon.

August 26 - The Buffalo News

Questioning 'Drive Baby, Drive' Federal Policies

Americans are driving more, again. Streetsblog dares to challenges the Federal Highway Administration on whether that's data worth celebrating.

August 26 - Streetsblog USA

Security Issues Raised for U.S. Commuter and Intercity Trains

Friday's foiled attempt by an alleged terrorist to massacre civilians on a Paris-bound, high-speed Thalys train has raised fears that a similar attack could be launched on one of America's lesser-speed trains. Are current security measures adequate?

August 26 - The New York Times - U.S.

The National Park Service Turns 99 Today

The big birthday means admission is free to national parks today as well.

August 25 - The Oregonian

Community Ties in the Era of Isolation

Connectivity may form the bedrock of what we call "resilience" but we're just not all that neighborly these days. Can we become more competitive and lasting by restitching our threadbare community fabric?

August 25 - PlaceShakers

Does it Matter if We Call Crashes 'Accidents'?

Safety experts, like NHTSA, and safety advocates, like bicycle and pedestrian organizations, have replaced the commonly used "accident" with "crash" or similar nouns. Kevin Drum of Mother Jones asks if it really makes a difference.

August 25 - Mother Jones

Post News

Top Books

An annual review of books related to planning.

Top Schools

The definitive ranking of graduate planning programs.

100 Most Influential Urbanists

The who's who of urbanism, according to Planetizen readers.

Urban Planning Creators You Should Know

A short list of voices on social, video, and podcasting platforms.

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.