The Daily Source of Urban Planning News

The High Line Is Captivating

Revitalizing New York's formerly abandoned, elevated freight-train viaduct called "The High Line" seems to have captured the imagination of everyone. Why?

December 31 - New York Metro

Can Hybrid Owners Use Carpool Lanes?

Despite a California law allowing hybrid vehicle owners to use carpool lanes, Congress has yet to approve the state legislation.

December 31 - The San Francisco Chronicle

Are Megacities Good?

We have entered the first 'urban century', and emerging megacities emphasize the divides between the wealthy and impoverished like never before.

December 31 - Yale Center For The Study Of Globalization

New Game In Vegas: Mixed Use

Instead of building a new megahotel MGM is spending $3 billion to transform 66 acres on the Las Vegas Strip into a mini-Manhattan.

December 30 - The New York Times

Micro-car Gaining Popularity In The U.S.

The Smart, built by DaimlerChrysler, retails for $11,000, can park in half a regular space, and gets 60MPG.

December 30 - The Washington Post


Most Expensive Places To Do Business

A new report ranks states according to the relative cost of doing business, including key economic and social indicators.

December 30 - The Public Policy Institute Of New York State

NYC's Planning Director Profiled

Being New York City's planning director is a balancing act for Amanda M. Burden.

December 30 - The New York Times


The Eventual Atlantic Mega-Tsunami

Scientists have long predicted an eventual "mega-tsunami" that will sweep across the Atlantic and be 60 to 150-feet high when it hits the U.S. Eastern seaboard.

December 30 - Gwynne Dyer

Experiments In Cutting Port Pollution

Faced with massive pollution, the Los Angeles Port is experimenting with innovative pollution-cutting strategies -- at a cost of billions.

December 29 - The Los Angeles Times

Ecological Suicide

Societies don't die by accident - they commit ecological suicide. David Shi reviews a new book: Collapse: How Societies Choose to Fail or Succeed, by Jared Diamond.

December 29 - The Christian Science Monitor

Wal-Mart Is Moving Downtown

A new era in American retailing has arrived: Wal-Mart stores are now desired mall tenants along with specialty shops and department stores.

December 29 - The Sacramento Bee

Buying Your Way Into HOV Lanes

Allowing drivers to buy their way into carpool lanes without the requisite number of passengers has become one of the hottest trends in transportation.

December 29 - The San Francisco Chronicle

The Future Of Transport Planning Isn't What It Used To Be

A new paper by VTPI examines various demographic, economic and market trends that affect travel demand, and their implications for transport planning during the next century.

December 29 - Victoria Transport Policy Institute

The Microneighborhood

How do the hip decide where to go now that Manhattan and Brooklyn have gentrified? By creating zones of hipness as small as a single block.

December 28 - New York Metro

Downtowners Still Love Their Cars

Residents are moving into downtown Los Angeles -- but this LA, after all, and only 7% of these transplants are using public transit.

December 28 - The Los Angeles Times

Linking Smart Growth To Funding

Massachusetts' strategy to support afforable housing by linking smart growth with state financial aid is greeted cooly.

December 28 - The Boston Globe

Las Vegas Monorail Reopens After 107 Days

The four-mile monorail reopens Christmas Eve, ending a 107-day shutdown because of mechanical problems.

December 28 - Las Vegas Review Journal

Rebuilding After The Tsunami

Rebuilding popular resorts will take months, but analysts expect only short-term losses.

December 28 - The Christian Science Monitor

Los Angeles: A Ruined Paradise?

D.J. Waldie explains why he loves the "Lethal, Stinkin' Town" called Los Angeles.

December 27 - The Los Angeles Times

Are Farm Subsidies Good Economic Development?

Farmers had a record year for sales and profits in 2004. Yet government subsidies are up 40%. Is this good policy?

December 27 - The New York Times

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Top Books

An annual review of books related to planning.

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

Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools

This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.

Planning for Universal Design

Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.