The Daily Source of Urban Planning News
California Drying Up
Climate models show that California -- the source of one third of America's food supply -- is running out of its reliable water supply.
Toughest Recyclers In the West (Or Anywhere)?
The city of San Francisco approves a plan to require composting and recycling citywide by this fall, with fines kicking in within two years.
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VMT Reductions: An Excellent Idea When Correctly Evaluated
<strong><span style="font-size: small"><span style="font-family: Calibri">OK Bob – I’ll Take Your Challenge</span></span></strong> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt" class="MsoNormal"> <span style="font-size: small; font-family: Calibri">Last year, California, passed SB 375, which requires regional governments to develop smart growth-oriented land use and transportation plans aimed at reducing VMT.
Express Lanes And Transit Headed To LA Freeways
The largest recipient of the U.S. DOT 2008 Urban Partnership Agreement are two freeways in LA County where carpool lanes will be converted to Express Lanes with dynamic pricing with additional, clean fuel buses, all funded by the $210 million grant.
Horse Tracks Place Bets On Infill Redevelopment
Several horse racing tracks in California have suffered declining revenues and are being redeveloped, with speculation about more closures on the way.
Driving Less and Flying Less, Too
Figures from the U.S. Department of Transportation show that the number of nationwide air passengers has declined from the previous year.
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How walkable is it?
<p class="MsoNormal"> Recently, an acquaintance asked me how to measure the walkability of a place he was visiting.<span> </span> </p> <p class="MsoNormal"> I could have told him to just look at Walkscore (<a href="http://www.walkscore.com/">www.walkscore.com</a>). <span> </span>Walkscore assigns scores to places based on their proximity to a wide variety of destinations.<span> </span>So if a place has a high walkscore AND a walkable street design (e.g. narrow streets, a grid system, etc.) it is probably pretty walkable. </p>
In Detroit, Tiger Stadium Demolition Enters the Home Stretch
After a long battle by preservationists, what's left of the 97-year-old ballpark -- home of the Detroit Tigers from 1912-1999 -- is being demolished.
Transit Operating Aid in War Bill
House and Senate negotiators decided a $106 billion war bill, from which 10 percent would be granted to transit operating costs.
Fewer Cars for Better Cities
Cities are warming up to the idea that planning for the future means more car sharing programs and fewer parking spaces.
Commuter Buses Have Atlantans Fuming
Idling commuter buses in Atlanta cause air pollution and traffic congestion, and locals are getting fed up.
Regulating Stalled Construction Projects for Safety
New York City is considering new legislation that seeks to address problems brought by the national recession to stalled construction sites and New Yorkers endangered by them.
Hundreds of S.F. Transit Stops To Be Eliminated
Municipal Railway officials in San Francisco recently unveiled a proposal to remove a certain amount of bus and street car stops.
Economic Benefits of Urban Creek Cleaning
Restorationists and environmentalists are placing their focus on urban streams and creeks, which struggle with urban pollution. Working to clean them up is turning out to be a good way to create jobs and stimulate the local economy.
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Thunder and Excitement at CNU 17
<p> Reporting from CNU 17 in Denver, where the thundercracks shook the Sheraton at various points throughout the day. Somehow though I've managed to be outside only when the sun is out. </p>
Friday Funny: Elected to the House, But Abandoned Her Own
Congresswoman Laura Richardson has gotten on the nerves of her Sacramento neighbors, mainly because she's never around. As a result, her home has gone untended and turned into a blight on the neighborhood.
Are Red-Light Tickets Another Revenue Source?
The mayor of the southernmost city Key West, Morgan McPherson, says catching red-light runners is a good way to raise revenue during tough times.
Review for Floodplain Development is Required
Florence County Planning officials recently updated the county's land-use element of the comprehensive plan, which would require review of development taking place in floodplains.
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Civilization Planning?
<span>When we think of cities in antiquity, we don’t hesitate to think of them in association with their respective civilizations. After all, the words <em>civic</em> and <em>civilization</em> share the same root word in Latin, <em>civitas</em>. Similarly, we can now say that we live in a globalized civilization largely structured on what author Jeb Brugmann refers to in his new book <a href="http://www.amazon.ca/Welcome-Urban-Revolution-Cities-Changing/dp/1596915668/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1244824502&sr=1-1"><em>Welcome to the Urban Revolution</em></a> as the global City. </span> <p class="MsoNormal"> <span>However, in our focus as planners on addressing concerns with current development projects and other local issues we might be forgiven for sometimes losing touch with this larger picture: that the city is still the focal point and driver for those processes we refer to as civilization.</span>
Can The High Line Be Replicated?
David Brewster can image four possible locations in Seattle where a High Line-style blight-to-park revitalization could occur.
Yukon Government
Caltrans
New Jersey Institute of Technology
Mpact (founded as Rail~Volution)
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Norman, Oklahoma
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.
