The Daily Source of Urban Planning News

<p>While American drivers are burning record amounts of gas to feed their motoring habits, a weird thing is happening in the freeway state – Californians continue to consume less gasoline. Sustained high gas prices may play a role by changing behavior.</p>

August 4 - The Oakland Tribune

<p>The collapsed Interstate 35W bridge in Minneapolis was deemed 'structurally deficient' as early as 1990, as are 77,000 other bridges in the U.S.</p>

August 4 - The New York Times

<p>Jan Gehl, the renowned Danish urban designer, is in New York City this week where, sources say, he has been hired as a consultant for Mayor Michael Bloomberg's Long-Term Planning and Sustainability initiative.</p>

August 4 - Streetsblog

<p>In New Zealand, its not so much people, but methane-producing livestock that's the problem. A revived government proposal would tax farmers for their animal's gas emissions.</p>

August 3 - Stuff.co.nz

<p>Architecture for Humanity is a group of volunteer architects helping in the reconstruction of the Gulf Coast communities hit by Hurricane Katrina.</p>

August 3 - The New York Times

<p>Even as more and more businesses adopt environmentally-friendly policies, Joel Makower explains why he believes the green business trend has not yet reached critical mass.</p>

August 3 - Joel Makower

<p>Boston architect Peter Kuttner's philosophy is increasingly rare in architecture circles these days. He thinks architecture should serve people.</p>

August 3 - The Boston Globe

BLOG POST

After spending more than two decades in local government before my eight years as Governor of Maryland, I came to realize how the state was contributing to the spread of sprawl by funding infrastructure improvements, school construction, and transportation investments, among many other things. When we began to utilize the entire state budget as a tool for smarter growth, we found ourselves in uncharted territory. Leading the way is certainly an adventure, but it also comes with the unenviable task of not having someone who has gone before to help navigate the journey.<br />

August 3 - Anonymous

BLOG POST

<p>In an <a href="http://www.popularmechanics.com/technology/transportation/4219981.html" target="_blank">editorial</a> posted yesterday in <em>Popular Mechanics</em>, national security expert Stephen Flynn argues that Americans are relying on decades-old infrastructure intended for a much smaller passenger and vehicle load. </p>

August 3 - Diana DeRubertis

<p>The collapse of the 35W bridge in Minneapolis is likely to be representative of the kinds of new disasters we experience in the US as the county's infrastructure ages, and little new investment is made by government.</p>

August 3 - The New York Times

<p>City officials moved to protect 33 acres of the Old Sixth Ward -- a historic mark for the city in its own right.</p>

August 3 - The Houston Chronicle

BLOG POST

<p>The collapse of the I-35W bridge in Minneapolis puts the spotlight on the unsexy topic of infrastructure maintenance. But a smart growth policy, &quot;Fix it First,&quot; has been focused in the area for some time. The policy, in place in Pennsylvania, Michigan, and for the last four years in Massachusetts, states that no new highways or bridges can be built until all existing infrastructure is in a state of good repair. Generally this meant stuff that was in and around existing cities; thus it&#39;s a smart growth policy, as the makeovers make cities and older suburbs more liveable and functional, while sprawl-enabling highway construction is limited. </p>

August 3 - Anthony Flint

<p>In Marin County and other wealthy, liberal enclaves, many residents are vocally supportive of affordable housing and other causes -- unless its in their neighborhood.</p>

August 3 - Mother Jones

<p>A fun new website that attempts to quantify the pedestrian-friendliness of a neighborhood is getting some buzz in the blogosphere.</p>

August 3 - Streetsblog

<p>San Francisco and San Diego are the No. 1 downtowns in California, according to California Planning &amp; Development Report. L.A. is #4, behind Long Beach. Last? Fresno, Fresno, Fresno.</p>

August 3 - California Planning & Development Report

<p>As roads become more congested, one congestion mitigation proposal would encourage state workers to telecommute.</p>

August 3 - The Idaho Statesman

<p>Rooftop gardens bloom in New Jersey.</p>

August 2 - The New York Times

<p>California State Senator Darrell Steinberg tackles the connections between land use and greenhouse gas emissions with SB 375. Can California continue its leadership on climate change legislation?</p>

August 2 - The Planning Report

<p>An exploration of the architectural ego, the reasons for its existence, and whether it could be any other way.</p>

August 2 - The Sydney Morning Herald

<p>The Board of Supervisors approved a ballot measure that would increase funding the city's maligned transit agency and head off another measure aimed at repealing the city's parking limits.</p>

August 2 - The San Francisco Chronicle