The Daily Source of Urban Planning News

Buffalo

Cars Credited with a Comeback on Main Street

Once only accessible to pedestrians and Metro Rail, Main Street in Buffalo is seeing automobile traffic and business investment again.

June 6 - The Buffalo News

Bus

Another Outcome of Public Transit: Lessons in Virtue

An editorial for Strong Towns voices an idea perhaps thought, but rarely spoken: taking public transit can help you become a better person.

June 6 - Strong Towns

Columbus Ohio

The Story of Columbus' Success

The New York Times has given the city of Columbus an unequivocal stamp of approval, and without condescending to do it.

June 6 - The New York Times

Drivers Not Ready to Give Full Control to Autonomous Cars

Consumers are interested in advanced safety technologies that assist the driver in reacting to potential collisions, but only 40% of drivers in the 25 to 34 year old age bracket are interested in full autonomy, a study by MIT's AgeLab found.

June 6 - Cities of the Future

Tunnel Lights

Study: Street Lights Don't Reduce Crime

Pacific Standard shares news of a study that debunks a long-held assumption of public safety.

June 6 - Pacific Standard


Expo Line LA Skyline

Light Rail Successes Draw Attention to L.A. Metro's Rail Problems

Two new light rail extensions opened in Los Angeles within two and a half months. Ridership is soaring on the Gold Line extension and preliminary reports look good for the Expo Line, but new riders experience problems familiar to long-time riders.

June 6 - Planetizen

Homelessness

Cities Facing Lawsuits Over New Homeless Crackdowns

As more cities attempt to crackdown on homelessness, legal fights have broken out as advocates for the homeless fight back against the criminalization of panhandling and camping in public.

June 6 - The Washington Post


Abu Dhabi

Planning for an Eco-Friendly City in the Desert

Building a new eco-friendly city in the middle of a country so reliant on fossil fuels is no easy task, but development is well underway for Masdr City to rise in the UAE

June 6 - Public Square

Will Columbia River Gorge Oil Train Derailment Be a 'Death Knell' for Bakken Crude-by-Rail?

After a long night fighting a fire that erupted when a 96-car oil train carrying Bakken crude from North Dakota derailed on June 3 in Mosier, Oregon, the fire chief called for an end to shipping the volatile oil by rail.

June 6 - The Oregonian

Drunk People

Drinking Behind New Mexico's High Pedestrian Fatality Rate

New Mexico had the nation's highest pedestrian fatality rate in 2014. Alcohol was a factor in over half the pedestrian fatalities in New Mexico, while nationally it's a third. According to the Albuquerque PD, drunk pedestrians are primarily to blame.

June 5 - Albuquerque Journal

New Jersey

New Jersey Governor: Reduce General Fund Spending to Pay for Roads

Rather than supporting an increase in gas taxes and vehicle registration fees like many states are doing to fund transportation spending, Gov. Chris Christie asks the legislature to find funds by making cuts within the general fund.

June 5 - Politico New Jersey

A New Bus Rapid Transit Route for Fresno

Construction is set to begin on a $28 million, 15.7-mile bus rapid transit route in the city of Fresno.

June 5 - The Fresno Bee

E-470 Toll

Denver Area's Expensive Toll Road More Popular Than Ever

E-470 marks its 25th anniversary with increasing traffic volumes, increasing revenues, and an expansion plan in the works.

June 5 - The Denver Post

Funding Awarded to Habitat Restoration Project in the Detroit River

Stony Island, located next to Grosse Ile in the Detroit River, is the location for an ongoing habitat restoration effort.

June 5 - Detroit Free Press

Downtown Cleveland

Watch the Documentary 'Cleveland: Confronting Decline in an American City'

In May, the documentary film "Cleveland: Confronting Decline in an American City" was made available in full on YouTube.

June 4 - Lincoln Institute of Land Policy

Subway Station

How Will Partiers Travel Safely With D.C. Metro's Late-Night Service on Hold?

With late-night weekend service on hold as the Metrorail service commences its SafeTrack maintenance program, will partiers stay home or simply find new ways to get around?

June 4 - WAMU

Amsterdam Electric Car 2

The Non-Environmental Reasons for a Massive Switch to Electric Cars

There are several practical reasons people will soon be switching to plugin electrical vehicles. Judging from past examples, the shift in consumer preference will be swift and decisive, catching car manufacturers by surprise.

June 4 - UrbDeZine

East Brother Light Station

Developer's Ballot Box Planning Would Allow Suburban Development at Ferry Terminal

A June 7 ballot measure in Richmond, California would permit 59 single family homes to be built on a 5-acre bayfront lot within walking distance to a future ferry landing for San Francisco service. The site is zoned for high-density housing.

June 4 - San Francisco Chronicle

Philadelphia Rowhouse

Real-Estate Site Locates Redevelopment Potential Across Philadelphia

A new map-based web tool created by a former city employee calculates the redevelopment potential of every parcel in Philadelphia.

June 4 - Philly Voice

Gateway Arch Rendering 2

Planetizen Week in Review: June 3, 2016

Planetizen Managing Editor James Brasuell shares some of the biggest news and announcements from the week in planning, land use, and related topics. All in two minutes and 30 seconds.

June 3 - Planetizen

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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.