The Daily Source of Urban Planning News

California State Water project

California Studies Standards for Recycled Drinking Water

California is considering piping recycled potable water directly into people's homes.

July 27 - Water Deeply

Akron Bus

Akron Putting Finishing Touches on Bus System Overhaul

Akron Metro RTA recently announced the details of an overhaul of its bus system—the reorganization will affect every one of the system's 36 fixed bus routes.

July 27 - Akron Beacon Journal

Denver's B Line to Westminster Now Open for Service

After Monday's celebrations at the new, electrified commuter rail line's only two stations, Union Station and Westminster Station, commuters now have the option of taking an 11-minute, six-mile ride to Denver, costing $2.60.

July 27 - The Denver Post

$760 Million in Transportation Grants Coming Soon; South Side Chicago Projects Not Included

Illinois, Cook County, and city of Chicago officials were disappointed in their first effort to attract FASTLANE funding authorized by the U.S Department Transportation

July 27 - Chicago Tribune

Niagara Falls

The 'Place Cells' in the Brain That Connect Memory to Location

New research in mice finds that the brain has two levels of memory connected to place—one for the task of creating mental maps, and another for recalling locations of emotional significance.

July 27 - New Scientist


Transit Fail

D.C. Metro to Consider Reduced Rail Service Hours After SafeTrack Concludes

What was thought to be a temporary end to late night weekend service could become a permanent reality on the tracks of Metrorail.

July 27 - Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority

Weaverville, CA

Google Maps Adds New 'Areas of Interest' Overlay

A new Google Maps redesign hopes to help make it easier to explore your surroundings. As with everything based on a mobile phone, the potential exists that it might also help ignore your surroundings.

July 26 - Google Maps


Colosseo in Rome as seen from Via dei Fori Imperiali on a Sunday when traffic is cut off.

Walkability Reaches a Tipping Point

With the rise of globalization, and urbanization, people are rethinking how cities should be structured in terms of transportation and mobility. Is it possible to reconfigure auto-centric cities into pedestrian-friendly spaces?

July 26 - Doggerel

Akron-Cleveland Covered Bridge

Pondering the Continued Existence of the 'Rust Belt'

A recent spate of articles has pondered the concepts and planning strategies at work in the region of the country described as the Rust Belt.

July 26 - Notes from the Underground

Trump Tower

BLOG POST

Trump to Cities: You're Dead to Me

Donald Trump invokes the darkest days of urban decay and crime to appeal to his base. The facts speak to an urban triumph that has led to greater national prosperity and higher standards of living for tens of millions of Americans.

July 26 - Josh Stephens

Innovations in Street Furniture Reflect New Approach to Public Space

After a tour of Los Angeles street furniture, Alissa Walker offers her reflections on cities' changing approach to public space.

July 26 - Curbed

Chicago Transit

Does Planning Around Commutes Overvalue Men's Needs?

A UK blogger argues that transportation infrastructure planning is informed too heavily by the kinds of trips men tend to make.

July 26 - Streetsblog USA

Vancouver Skyline Bikes

Vancouver to Tax Foreign Real Estate Investments

Big news has emerged from British Columbia, where the government has been criticized for not doing more to address the housing affordability crisis.

July 26 - Vancouver Sun

Tesla

Debating Elon Musk's Second 'Master Plan'

When Elon Musk talks, lots of people listen. Some also respond.

July 26 - Tesla

Effort Underway to Halt Pennsylvania's Gas Tax Increase

Pennsylvania has the nation's highest state gas and diesel taxes, 51.4 cents per gallon and 65.1 cents per gallon, respectively. Both are scheduled to increase up to 10 cents on Jan 1. A bill has been introduced to halt all future fuel tax increases.

July 26 - Land Line

Philadelphia DNC

Talking Points for an Urban Agenda at the Democratic National Convention

Next City has released what it's calling an "urbanist's guide" to the Democratic National Convention.

July 26 - Next City

New York City Zoning Map

100 Years Ago Today: The City of New York Adopts its First Zoning Code

On July 25, 1916, New York adopted its first Zoning Resolution, for the first time regulating the height, size and arrangement of buildings in the city.

July 25 - The New York Times

New York Subway

New York's L Train Will Be Closed for 18 Months

The New York MTA has chosen the "remove-the-band-aid-quickly" strategy for its plans to repair the L Train line from Brooklyn to Manhattan.

July 25 - The New York Times

Lightning Strike Partially Collapses Blue Line Platform in Chicago

Anyone in Chicago or with their eyes on social media this weekend couldn't have avoided the scary sights produced by an afternoon storm.

July 25 - DNAinfo Chicago

Algae Bloom

Algae Blooms: There's More Where That Came From

Some are calling it the summer of Algae—from Utah to Florida to Australia, the world is encountering massive amounts of the stinky, dangerous sludge.

July 25 - Grist

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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.