The Daily Source of Urban Planning News

Cupertino, California

Silicon Valley City to Approve Massive Vallco Development, Like it or Not

A new state law meant to overcome local barriers to development is having its first big test run in Cupertino, California.

September 19 - The Mercury News

Hurricane Florence Causes Coal Ash Spill at Former Coal Power Plant

The breach of the coal ash landfill by a former coal-burning power plant in Wilmington, North Carolina serves as a reminder that even after coal plants are shuttered, the by-products of the world's most polluting fossil fuel can still cause harm.

September 19 - Utility Dive

Alaskan Way Viaduct

Another, Final(?) Delay for Alaskan Way Viaduct Replacement

The Washington Department of Transportation announced that Seattle's Alaskan Way Viaduct will close permanently in January 2019, with service switching over the tunnel Bertha built. The previous plan expected the switch to occur in the Fall.

September 19 - Associated Press via Tri City Herald

Pioneer Square, Seattle

Matching Urban Infill With Tree Infill

Seattle shows how new buildings and new trees can be added to a city simultaneously—in fact, neighborhoods adding new buildings are maintaining its urban tree canopy while static single-family neighborhoods are losing trees.

September 19 - Sightline Institute

Las Vegas and Environs

Brightline, Florida's High-Speed Rail Company, Goes All in on Vegas

Shocking news from the high-speed rail industry, as Brightline announced its purchase of XpressWest, which is underway with plans to link Las Vegas to Victorville, California and eventually to Los Angeles.

September 19 - Las Vegas Review-Journal


Photo of google sign outside of google cafeteria

New Google Search Engines Opens Open Data

Finding the right data in an ocean of open data takes some Googling.

September 19 - Government Technology

RTA Bus

New Orleans RTA Buses Taking a New, Regional Approach

New Orleans transit planners are working to extend the bus network deeper into the surrounding region, as was always intended.

September 19 - The New Orleans Advocate


Traffic

Study Reveals the Futility of Building Out of Congestion

Even if widening highways enough to relieve all congestion were possible, it would only benefit a very small number of commuters, according to new research.

September 19 - Streetsblog USA

New York Bike Delivery

BLOG POST

5 Ways Tech Is Changing U.S. Cities

A new era of civic-minded, urbanism-focused technology is here.

September 18 - Kayla Matthews

Chicago River Industrial Area

Editorial: Save Space for Parks in Chicago's Next Big Mega-Development

The 760-acre North Branch Industrial Corridor could be a game changer for the North Side, but the Chicago Tribune wants to make sure that quality of life is considered along visions of economic development.

September 18 - The Chicago Tribune

Small cell antenna

Not All Municipalities Are Excited About the Arrival of 5G. But They May Not Have a Choice.

Pennsylvania legislation would make it harder for communities to regulate the new wireless network infrastructure.

September 18 - PlanPhilly

Electric Car Charging Station

Phasing Out the Internal Combustion Engine No Easy Task

A report from the Global Climate Action Summit on a looming deadline set by the Paris climate agreement: ending sales of new gas and diesel-powered light-duty vehicles by 2035.

September 18 - Los Angeles Times

Kansas City skyline

Study of Evictions in Kansas City Provides Insight Into a National Problem

A new report on eviction data from Kansas City reveals systematic factors related to the housing crisis.

September 18 - How Housing Matters

South San Jose houses

Through Thick and Thin, Support for California’s Proposition 13 Hasn’t Waned

Since its passage 40 years ago, the controversial legislation has remained consistently popular with Californians.

September 18 - CALmatters

Potomac River

Low-Lying Alexandria Must Adjust to Rising Waters

Alexandria, Virginia's waterfront was built on landfill below the natural elevation of the Potomac River. City officials hope to build new seawalls to protect that area from floods.

September 18 - Greater Greater Washington

New York's Economy Is Going Strong. Can it Build Fast Enough to Keep Up?

If Brooklyn keeps up the pace of current growth, it could pass Chicago in population in the next few years.

September 18 - Curbed NY

Lougheed Highway in Pitt Meadows

An International 'Winner' for the Sorriest Bus Stop in America

Streetsblog readers have decided to cross the border in selecting this year's "Sorriest Bus Stop in America."

September 18 - Streetsblog USA

Atlanta, Georgia

$5 Billion Redevelopment Proposal Tabled in Atlanta

The redevelopment plan for the "Gulch" site could have created a potential Amazon headquarters location, but it's been tabled over concern about the return on the city's investment.

September 18 - The Atlanta-Journal Constitution

Proterra Electric Bus

How U.S. Cities Are Taking Climate Action

A new survey identified the top climate strategies favored by municipalities around the country.

September 17 - Smart Cities Dive

Metro Gold LIne

Los Angeles Aims for Zero-Emission Transportation

The region hopes to achieve widespread electrification of transportation ahead of the 2028 Olympics.

September 17 - Fast Company

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.