The Daily Source of Urban Planning News

Metro Los Angeles Light Rail

Los Angeles Needs New Funding Sources to Meet Public Transit Ambitions

With an aggressive plan to build out numerous public transit lines in time for the 2028 Olympics, local officials are scrambling to fill funding gaps as prices continue to rise and catch planners and officials by surprise.

January 5 - Los Angeles Times

American Dream Meadowlands

American Dream—The Mall Isn’t Dead, It’s Just Transforming

An indoor ski hill, roller coasters, and a water park are all part of the New Jersey mall that reflects the shift from material consumerism to the consumption of experiences.

January 5 - The New York Times

Amazon Fulfillment Center

When Amazon Brings Both Economic Optimism and Disappointment

A Kentucky town welcomed Amazon’s arrival, but the economic outcomes over the last two decades have been lackluster.

January 5 - The New York Times

Highway Expansion Project Damages Flood Control Systems in Cincinnati

The Ohio Department of Transportation has prioritize the expansion of Interstate 71 in the neighborhood of Madisonville, in Cincinnati, over flood protection for property owners in the city, according to a recent city memo.

January 3 - Cincinnati Business Courier

Dilworth park

Empowering Architects to Reduce Carbon Emissions

Stephanie Carlisle, a principal at Philadelphia architecture firm KieranTimberlake, discusses the need for a toolkit of decarbonization strategies that designers can use for all design efforts, "not just the fancy projects or the unique projects."

January 3 - The Architectural League of New York


Nighttime Skyline

LEDs, Downward Lights Changing the Night in Chicago

The nighttime illumination of Chicago is almost finished with a complete overhaul of its streetlights, producing a dramatic effect in the nighttime environment of the city.

January 3 - Chicago Tribune

Renewable Energy

Global Cost of Transitioning to 100 Percent Renewable Energy: $73 Trillion

A report by researchers from Stanford University says the cost of transitioning the world to entirely renewable energy production would pay for itself in seven years and add a net positive amount of jobs measured in the millions.

January 3 - Yale Environment 360


Public Comment

What the Academic Literature Says About Civic Engagement

A literature review notes three big themes and challenges to emerge from a year's worth of intellectual investigation of civic engagement.

January 2 - Data-Smart City Solutions

Northern California Toll Lane

More Toll Lanes Coming to California Freeways

Solo drivers in the Golden State will have more options to escape traffic congestion on busy freeways – for a price, as transportation agencies increasing decide to convert existing carpool lanes to high-occupancy toll lanes and add new ones.

January 2 - Los Angeles Times

Electric Car Charging Station

Los Angles Considering Electric Vehicle Requirement for Ride-Hailing Vehicles

Ambitious talk from the mayor of Los Angeles.

January 2 - Financial Times via Inside Climate News

Sacramento

Why Is It Taking So Long for California's Population to Reach 40 Million?

It was thought that California's population would reach 40 million two summers ago, but growth continues to slow, setting records. Net migration, which includes domestic and international movement, was negative for the first time since 2010.

January 2 - Los Angeles Times

Golden Colorado Foothills

Keeping Colorado Land from Development Could Cost $5 Million

In Golden, Colorado, residents want to keep a parcel of land as open space, but it could come with a hefty price tag.

January 2 - The Denver Post

Globe Life Park in Arlington

Arlington Greenlights $810 Million Hotel and Convention Center Project

The public-private partnership is a massive expansion of the city’s entertainment district.

January 2 - The Dallas Morning News

Mario M. Cuomo Bridge

$4 Billion Later, the New Tappan Bridge More Crowded Than Ever

Traffic data shows more and more cars and trucks using the new Tappan Zee Bridge in 2019, in what looks like an obvious case of induced demand.

January 2 - Times Herald-Record

Sprawl

Modest Densification, a Strategy to Alleviate the Housing Crisis?

Incremental changes to density on single-family parcels could boost the nation’s housing stock without dramatic impacts at the neighborhood level.

January 2 - Curbed

Accessory Dwelling Unit

New California Accessory Dwelling Unit Laws Take Effect Today

New state legislation will kick in at the start of the new year easing restrictions on ADUs.

January 1 - La Cañada Valley Sun

Pennsylvania

Smart Phones and Urban Change in the 2010s

According to the architecture critic for the Philadelphia Inquirer, smart phone technology enabled the most profound changes in Philadelphia during the 2010s.

January 1 - The Philadelphia Inquirer

2010s

New Decade Eye Candy: The Decade in Photographs

National Geographic shared a list of 15 of its best images captured during the 2010s.

January 1 - National Geographic

Marijuana

It's Easier to Consume Marijuana in Public in Colorado, Starting Today

This article pitches Colorado's new commercial marijuana regulations, including making more space for public consumption, as a way for the state to keep up with California.

January 1 - The Know

Copernicus Sentinel Data

Satellite Imagery of a Decade's Transformation

Trends in land use and development are made obvious with satellite imagery tracking changes during the 2010s.

January 1 - The New York Times

Post News
Senior Planner

City of Thousand Oaks

Community Development Director

City of Wisconsin Rapids

Professor of Urban Planning

Harvard University Graduate School of Design

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.