The Daily Source of Urban Planning News
Rendell on the Future of America's Infrastructure
Pennsylvania Governor Ed Rendell has been one of the loudest voices championing the importance of infrastructure investment in recent years. In this interview, he talks about where things are heading and what work remains.
A Think Tank for an Urban Garden
With new fast food restaurants temporarily banned in South L.A. and few new sources of food coming into the area, one local architecture professor set his students loose to work on ideas for a small urban farm.
TIGER Funding Spurs Transit Plaza and Park in Philadelphia
Flush with federal grants, a new transit plaza and park is set to pop up in Philadelphia.
Permanent Infrastructure in a Temporary City
Millions have been in the tent city of Mina in Mecca for the annual Hajj pilgrimage. Though the crowds are temporary, the infrastructure built to handle them is permanent.
A Traffic Engineer Questions His Profession
Charles Marohn is a traffic engineer. Despite years of training and millenia of precedents, Marohn now feels that the common practice of traffic engineering is creating bad and even unsafe streets.
Effort to Streamline Development Process Underway in L.A.
Officials in Los Angeles are trying to streamline the process of getting projects permitted and approved -- an effort that could rapidly increase the amount of time it takes to develop in the city.
Looking at Urban Design Through a Public Health Lens
New York City's Health Commissioner has urban design in his sights as he seeks to improve public health in the city.
Counting the Costs of California's Prop. 26
In California, passage of Proposition 26 has raised the question of whether fees used for public services will be jeopardized at the local level. Some argue most fees will be unaffected, but others could take a hit.
Local Governments Struggle Even As Private Sector Recovers
Though private sector employment shows signs of recovery, the National League of American Cities predicts 500,000 municipal workers will lose their jobs over the current and coming fiscal years. The Economist considers solutions.
Greening an Urban Highway
New York City presents three options for transforming the six-lane Brooklyn-Queens Expressway by covering it with vegetation and making streetscape improvements.
San Francisco Finds Way to Fund Central Subway
Things looked grim for the Central Subway project last week, as SF officials were facing an impending deadline to come up with $137 million to match federal funds. This week, Mayor Newsom and MTC seem to have found a way.
Cameras Aim to Keep Only Buses in Dedicated Lane
The city of New York is hoping a new set of cameras will help to catch car drivers using bus-only lanes.
Bike Lanes' Growth in New York Brings Backlash
Even as New York has pushed forward with 250 miles of new bike lanes, the city is actually removing one 2.35 mile stretch after complaints from motorists.
Streetcar Fever Spreads Across US
With a growing belief in the streetcars' ability to catalyze redevelopment, cities are jockeying for federal and local funds to build retro transit systems in their downtowns.
Tea Partiers Target Smart Growth "Conspiracy"
Mother Jones magazine reports on how tea party hostility towards "big government" is now being levelled at Agenda 21 and other smart growth initiatives, in the belief that they are part of an international conspiracy.
Emission Enforcement Idles While the City Chokes
Lax enforcement of standards created to limit exhaust from idling diesel-powered vehicles and buses shows that there is still work to be done in Mayor Richard Daley's quest to position Chicago atop the list of the nation's greenest cities.
Not All Want NYC Bike Infrastructure to Pedal Forward
The surge in city investment in bicycle lanes and the recent passing of various pro-bicycle laws has greatly irked many residents. Complaints have been leveled at everything from vehicle flow disruption to "extraordinarily ugly" lane paint choices.
Grassroots Planning Transforming Waterfront in Corpus Christi, TX
A group of citizens calling themselves Destination Bayfront have led the charge to turn their underused waterfront into a destination hotspot.
Residents vs. Opera-Singing Waiters
Colloseo, a restaurant in San Francisco's North Beach, wants to feature Luca, their opera-singing waiter, as part of the ambience. The Telegraph Hill Dwellers, an influential neighborhood situation, says no.
FEATURE
Top 10 Books - 2011
Planetizen is pleased to release its ninth annual list of the ten best books in urban planning, design and development published in 2010. This year's selection includes some big names, some big ideas -- and a book called "Toilet."
Caltrans
City of Fort Worth
Mpact (founded as Rail~Volution)
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
City of Portland
City of Laramie
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.
