The Daily Source of Urban Planning News
Time for Toll Lanes in L.A.
<p>Los Angeles needs to change its carpool lanes to high-occupancy toll lanes, according to this editorial.</p>
Birth of the 'Cool Spot'
<p>A new regional planning idea is looking to reduce energy use and greenhouse emissions.</p>
Who Will Sort the 'Trash-Outs'?
<p>Amid the many negative impacts from the fallout of the subprime crisis is an emerging and disturbing trend: foreclosed homeowners are trashing their properties on their way out the door.</p>
Prince Charles Says Skyscrapers Ruin Historic Cities
<p>A new speech by the Prince of Wales this week warns of a "rash" of "carbuncles" destroying tourism assets.</p>
The Suburban Home: an Asset or a Liability?
<p>This article from <em>The Atlantic</em> looks at the rising troubles experienced in the nation's suburbs since the foreclosure explosion.</p>
Smaller Cities Make Plans for Sustainability
<p>Sustainability is catching on in more cities than New York, Los Angeles, and Chicago. Ventura City Manager Rick Cole explains how his city's land use practice can impact California's climate change efforts.</p>
BLOG POST
Singing the City Sterile: Urbanism and New Wave
<p>I've always hated songs about cities, particularly mawkish anthems like "New York, New York," "I Left My Heart in San Francisco," and the ghastly "I Love L.A." Lyricists seem to dream them up when there's nothing else to sing about. Indeed, cities are the setting for life, not the object of it. Singing about them is like performing a play about a theater. </p>
Largest Low Emission Zone Opens
<p>The world's largest low emission zone will come into effect next week in London.</p>
The Goo Earth
<p>As a part of its special series of reports on the Alberta tar sands, the Globe & Mail outlines the extreme environmental impacts of the development.</p>
The 'Myth-Conceptions' About Urban Design
<p>London, Ontario's new urban designer describes and debunks some common misconceptions about urban design.</p>
Transportation Needs An Economist's Mind, Not An Engineer's
<p><em>Reason</em>'s Robert Poole responds to the report from the National Surface Transportation Policy and Revenue Study Commission and argues that despite its many good ideas, the engineer's perspective should be replaced with that of an economist.</p>
Smart Growth in Utah and the West
<p>How do Utah & the West support population growth without sacrificing living standards?</p>
Friday Funny: Homemade Crosswalk Lands Man In Jail
<p>A grad student in Muncie, Indiana has taken citizen involvement in traffic calming to a whole new level. He was jailed 10 hours for painting a crosswalk near his home. Now free from jail, he plans to complete the three other crosswalks.</p>
The Most Miserable Cities in the U.S.
<p><em>Forbes</em> has released its list of the most miserable cities in America. Detroit is at the top.</p>
A Comparison of Cities' Climate Leadership
<p>Los Angeles, Portland, and New York City provide interesting case studies into the ways that city governments are building a more sustainable life for their residents.</p>
Government Plan for Parisian Suburbs Panned
<p>A group of French academics have written an open letter decrying the latest in a long string of plans to deal with the working-class Parisian suburbs, which saw riots in 2005.</p>
Congestion Pricing Plan Receives Preliminary Approval in New York
<p>New York's Traffic Congestion Mitigation Commission has approved the city's congestion pricing plans. It will head to the City Council next.</p>
Growing and Greening
<p>A recent report argues that for developing countries, improving environmental health is dependent on improving economic health. But proper governing is crucial in meeting these ends.</p>
Walking Again?
<p>This article from <em>Governing</em> looks at the resurgence in popularity experienced by walkable urban areas and wonders is walking is truly making a major comeback in the United States.</p>
Recycling Center Stirs Controversy In Changing Neighborhood
<p>The long-standing recycling center adjacent to Kezar Stadium at the edge of Golden Gate Park is seen by many neighbors to be an attraction for the homeless who raid their recycling bins.</p>
planning NEXT
City of Thousand Oaks
City of Wisconsin Rapids
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.
