The Daily Source of Urban Planning News

Los Angeles River

Gehry's Plans for Los Angeles River Restoration Gaining Clarity

Details are emerging in the controversial effort by Gehry Partners, LLP to plan a new vision for the Los Angeles River. So far, however, Gehry Partners seems to have been listening more than plotting or drawing.

June 20 - Los Angeles Times

Refugee Camp

Record Number of People Displaced Around the World in 2015

The United Nations is calling for action in the face of a record number of people were displaced—more than half of all refugees around the world came from Syria, Afghanistan, or Somalia.

June 20 - The Associated Press via The Denver Post

Highway

How Self-Driving Cars Could Lead to More Sprawl

Much of the focus on the potential of self-driving cars to effect change in the built environment has focused on dense, urban environments. But what is self-driving cars mostly enable continued outward expansion?

June 20 - The Wall Street Journal

img_7314

Solar Canopies Provide a Solution for New York Roofs

A design fix helps Brooklyn brownstones go green.

June 20 - Wired

Mexico City

'Native Plants' Won't Save Urban Biodiversity

Part literature review, part political appeal, this article makes the case for rethinking the concept of what makes plants native—especially in the face of climate change.

June 20 - UGEC Viewpoints


Tilikum Crossing

Portland Approves New Comprehensive Plan

The Portland City Council voted unanimously to approve a new Comprehensive Plan.

June 20 - The Oregonian

Downtown Phoenix Skyline

Phoenix Seeks an Urban Future

Phoenix, once described as 'the world’s least sustainable city' is focusing growth on its downtown and investing in light rail and bike share to attract high tech companies and workers.

June 20 - The New York Times


Shuttering of Illinois Nuke Plants Cause Enviro Groups to Rethink Opposition

The Wall Street Journal reports that the climate crisis is causing some mainstream environmental groups, including the largest, the Sierra Club, to rethink their long-standing opposition to the carbon-free power source.

June 20 - The Wall Street Journal

Mercator map

Map-Correcting App Shows 'The True Size Of' Places

Typical world maps badly misrepresent the size of countries; a new web app shows their true scale.

June 20 - Wired

Downtown Oakland

Oakland Gets a Department of Transportation

Oakland's new DOT will take a "complete streets" approach to transportation planning.

June 19 - Piedmont Patch

Nuclear Reactor Building

University of Washington Prevails in Preservation Battle Over its 'Nuclear Reactor Building'

It's a story of Goliath beating David in a preservationist fight in Seattle, but not before raising questions about how a university fits intot he city's regulatory environment.

June 19 - Crosscut

St. Louis Puts Renewed Effort Into Vacant Properties

St. Louis Public Radio explains the various efforts of the St. Louis Land Reutilization Authority.

June 19 - St. Louis Public Radio

Tampa Has a New Protected Bike Lane

The new Cass Street bike lane is the latest example of a city making unprecedented progress in bike infrastructure.

June 19 - Streetsblog USA

Cincinnati Streetcar

Cincinnati Streetcar Exempt from Open Records Law

The Cincinnati Business Courier reports on the local effect of a long-standing state law.

June 19 - Cincinnati Business Courier

30th Street Station District Plan

Plans Released for $6.5 Billion Development in Philadelphia

Planners have completed a two-year study of the area around the 30th Street Station in the University City neighborhood in Philadelphia.

June 18 - The Philadelphia Inquirer

Pittsburgh Suburb Rejects Zoning Change for Proposed Power Plant

A zoning controversy could continue into a legal appeal.

June 18 - Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Digital Billboards

A Lack of Action Despite Evidence of Safety Risks Posed by Digital Billboards

The Eno Center for Transportation lays out a clear appeal for action to regulate the time, place, and manner of digital billboards.

June 18 - Eno Center for Transportation

A Line

Denver's New Commuter Train to the Plane Achieves Record Ridership

Ridership on the electrified A Line, which opened to great fanfare on Earth Day, reached a weekday average of 16,910 as of June 5. The 23-mile line operates from Union Station to Denver International Airport. Not all is perfect though.

June 18 - The Denver Post

Staten Island Ferry

Details of New York's Ferry Service 'Gamble'

An ambitious and aggressive plan to launch new ferry service connecting all five boroughs in New York is scheduled to launch in January 2017.

June 18 - The New York Times

Bus Lane

San Francisco Transit-Only Lane Controversy Heating Up

Public opinion is split on the red transit-only lanes found around San Francisco. Next week, the public will get a chance to air their grievances, or defend their territory.

June 17 - Curbed SF

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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.

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.