The Daily Source of Urban Planning News

The Importance of Quality Streetscapes

This piece from <em>Next American City</em> looks at plans to dramatically rework streetscapes in Boston, and cheers the effort.

January 19 - Next American City

North Carolina Hopes to Lure Extra Rail Money

As states return money aimed at high speed rail projects, officials from North Carolina are hoping to scramble up some of this newly available funding to augment existing projects.

January 19 - News and Observer

Injecting Art into the Vacant Lots of Salt Lake City

An art competition in Salt Lake City has resulted in a new installation to be built in one of the city's vacant lots.

January 19 - The Salt Lake Tribune

America's 'Modest' Transportation Revolution

Writing for <em>Metropolis</em>, Karrie Jacobs bemoans America's slow pace of growth in transportation infrastructure, and blasts efforts as being too "incremental".

January 18 - Metropolis

The Other Reasons He Cancelled the Tunnel

With political pressure from both sides of the aisle palpable, Gov. Christie discusses how he analyzed and justified the ARC tunnel's cancellation.

January 18 - The Wall Street Journal


"Don't Sleep In The Subway, Darling"....or else

No, this is not a video of Petula Clark, but do take her message to heart. Rats are not just on the subway tracks - occasionally they hop a ride too, so riders beware - stay awake! Caught on tape...

January 18 - NY1/You-Tube

Detroit Considers Massive School Closures

The city of Detroit is considering a plan to close nearly half of its public schools and greatly increase its class sizes.

January 18 - The Detroit News


Romans Worry About Impact of 'Tourist Tax'

Rome has instituted a new tax on tourists aimed at building a fund to restore its crumbling infrastructure. But some worry it will drive tourists away.

January 18 - Der Spiegel

Schools as Agents of Revival in New Orleans

The City of New Orleans is about to undertake a massive reconstruction effort that will reshape and rebuild its entire school system.

January 18 - Metropolis

Pittsburgh's First Comprehensive Plan, 252 Years Later

The city of Pittsburgh is making progress on its first comprehensive plan. <em>Next American City</em> talks with Director of City Planning Noor Ismail about its process and potential impact.

January 18 - Next American City

The Unfortunate and Persistent Reality of Sprawl in Toronto

Sprawl is seen as an unfortunate reality in Toronto, and one that some fear it's too late to unwrite.

January 18 - The Toronto Star

Is A London 'Tech City' Viable?

British Prime Minister David Cameron wants to build a Silicon Valley-like "tech city" at the site of the 2012 Summer Olympics. But some question whether his plan can work.

January 18 - Wired UK

Abandonment and Opportunity in Rural Areas

As the world's population urbanizes, rural areas are being abandoned. But they don't have to sit empty and unused, according to this piece from <em>GOOD</em>.

January 18 - Good

BLOG POST

How Would MLK, Jesus or Che Plan?

<p style="margin-top: 6pt" class="MsoNormal">I spent last week at the <a href="http://www.adb.org/">Asian Development Bank</a> (ADB) headquarters in Manila, in the Philippines, where we are starting on an exciting but humbling project: developing a more comprehensive framework for transport project evaluation. Among other factors, this project will develop better methods for incorporating <a href="http://www.vtpi.org/equity.pdf">social equity</a> impacts into transport planning. This is important in any community, and particularly in developing countries where many people are extremely poor. What transport policies and planning practices respond to their needs?</p>

January 17 - Todd Litman

BLOG POST

Internet Presence for Job Candidates

<p><span><span style="font-size: small"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'">The internet has great potential as a means of professional marketing for many soon-to-be and recent graduates. Not everyone in planning, however, uses it well. The following tips aim to help you realize its potential and avoid its pitfalls.</span></span></span><span><span style="font-size: small; font-family: 'Times New Roman'"> </span></span> </p>

January 17 - Ann Forsyth

Fake Park, Real Impact

An art gallery in New York City currently has an installation called Park Here, which is an indoor parkspace made up of fake grass, trees and sunlight.

January 17 - The New York Times

Hybrid Batteries for Boats and Ferries in the Works

Hybrid technology for marine transportation is a growing industry, as startup business in New Brunswick, Canada attests.

January 17 - New Brunswick Business Journal

Delhi Expands Metro System

A new 20-km metro line has just been completed in Delhi, India.

January 17 - Railway Gazette International

The 'Encyclodictionary" of Planning

The Language of Towns & Cities: A Visual Dictionary, by Dhiru A. Thadani is a doorstopper of a book. Philip Langdon looks at this giant guide to New Urbanist ideas.

January 17 - New Urban Network

FEATURE

A Night At Arcosanti

January 17 - George Haugh

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Top Books

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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.