The Daily Source of Urban Planning News

London Peaking in Population Again (For the First Time Since 1939)

The city of London has completed a long and remarkable comeback to the population level set as its standard back in 1939.

January 7 - Citymetric

Who Will End the Transportation Funding Insanity?

Charles Marohn starts off the year strong by throwing down the gauntlet on the perpetual transportation funding debate.

January 7 - Strong Towns

Washington D.C. Hires a New Director of Planning

Washington D.C. made a high-profile hire to run its Office of Planning: the former director of community and economic development of Salt Lake City, Eric Shaw.

January 7 - Greater Greater Washington

The Wørd: Placemaking Edition

What's new for placemaking advocacy in 2015? In short, being an effective communicator is in. Being self-concerned and oblivious is out.

January 6 - PlaceShakers

Glenwood Green Acres, Philadelphia

10 of the Best Urban Agriculture Projects

Urban Land surveys ten of the best recent examples of development projects that incorporate agricultural facilities—from New York to new Orleans.

January 6 - Urban Land


Gas and Bikes

California's 'Hidden Gas Tax' Arrives, Goes Unnoticed

The oil industry was predicting motorist outrage and an increase in gas prices of around 70-cents due to the carbon charge effective in the state on January 1. Some prices increased 10-cents, but went largely unnoticed.

January 6 - San Diego Union-Tribune

Would Building in Hot Markets Help Housing Affordability?

As people move back into the cities, and rental housing demand goes up, it's been an interesting time for people wrestling with the problems of highly unaffordable areas to live.

January 6 - Rooflines


California High Speed Rail Breaks Ground Today in Fresno

The long-beleaguered California High Speed Rail project will have a historic moment today, January 6. The media's coverage of the event indicates the yet-to-be-determined future of the project.

January 6 - Los Angeles Times

Bill Fulton Charts a Path for San Diego's Urban Evolution

William Fulton pens a column for the U-T San Diego assessing the city of San Diego's transition from suburban to urban after 18 months on the job as planning director.

January 6 - U-T San Diego

Massachusetts Approves Initial Regulations for Transportation Network Companies

Transportation network companies like Uber and Lyft took a major step toward legal recognition in Massachusetts.

January 6 - The Boston Globe

New York's Luxury Condo Market Suddenly Struggling

New York City's luxury housing market has, rather suddenly, hit the brakes. Crain's New York Business surveys the landscape.

January 6 - Crain's New York Business

Meet the New Federal Leadership on Transportation

New leadership on transportation issues steps to center stage as the result of Republicans taking control of both houses of Congress for the first time since 2006.

January 6 - The Hill

Seattle Light Rail Construction

Transit Projects to Watch in 2015

The Transport Politic provides its seventh annual list of major transit investments, finding an enormous amount of effort and funds going into improving transportation systems around North America.

January 6 - the transport politic

Upheaval at New York State Thruway Authority

The New York State authority with responsibility for the Thruway system, including the Tappan Zee Bridge as the most famous of its 809 bridges, is weathering leadership changes and a dismal budget shortfall.

January 5 - WNYC

Key Senate Republican Opens Door to Gas Tax Increase

Senator John Thune (R-S.D.), current ranking member and incoming chairman of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation surprised the media when he announced on a Sunday morning talk show that a gas tax increase is possible.

January 5 - National Monitor

Op-Ed: Lower Houston Speed Limits

A planner makes the case for lower its speed limits in an unlikely city.

January 5 - Houston Chronicle

Streetsblog Presents 'Streetsie Awards' for the Best and Worst of Transportation

Tanya Snyder writes of the results of the 2014 "Streetsies Awards," based on the votes of Streetsblog readers.

January 5 - Streetsblog USA

Vintage Taxi

BLOG POST

Uber and Lyft Are Dragging Traditional Taxi Companies Into the 21st Century

Rideshares like Uber and Lyft have been under attack for their brash approach to local regulations and laissez-faire pricing schemes, but they've also pushed traditional taxis to dramatically improve their service in a very short span of time.

January 5 - Shane Phillips

Car Bike Lane

Oklahoma City Considering 3-Foot Passing Law for Bikers (Not Drivers)

A new ordinance to be considered by Oklahoma City in January puts the onus to pass with three feet of space on bikers, rather than drivers. Critics argue that the low will further marginalize bikers on city streets.

January 5 - Bike OKC

Sign of the Times: Trulia Partnering with Uber

A new technology partnership between Trulia and Uber will allow house hunters to easily access a ride from Uber when they find a home they want to visit.

January 5 - Uber Developer Blog

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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.