The Daily Source of Urban Planning News

Toronto Transit

Toronto Transit Plans Take First Step Forward

The first phase of Toronto's 15-tear transit plan took a crucial step forward this week.

July 15 - Urban Toronto

Washington D.C. COnstruction

Review of D.C.'s 2005 Comprehensive Plan: Trying to Be All Things to All People

A look back at Washington, D.C.'s most recent Comprehensive Plan reveals lessons for how the city should plan for the future next time it undertakes a comprehensive planning process.

July 15 - Greater Greater Washington

Arguing the Merits of Protected Bike Lanes in Denver

The Denver Business Journal editor spoke out in opposition to a proposal to add bike lanes to Broadway in Denver. Streetsblog responded.

July 15 - Streetsblog Denver

Basket Building

Friday Funny: Picnic Basket Building for Sale

Is Yogi the Bear in the market for a commercial property?

July 15 - Houston Chronicle

Mexico City

Friday Eye Candy: A World Tour of Creative Crosswalks

Take a look at these creative crosswalks and add your own examples.

July 15 - The Guardian Cities


Road Rage

Survey: Nearly 8 out of 10 U.S. drivers engage in aggressive behavior

Majority of drivers in the United States admit to anger, aggression, or road rage at least once in the past year.

July 15 - WTOP

Gender Neutral

BLOG POST

Arbitrating Fairness: Potty Parity

Planners are often involved in social equity analysis. How issues are defined and measured can affect what seems fair and just. Consider, for example, the fairness of toilet access.

July 14 - Todd Litman


Costco

Bay Area Activists Mobilize to Ban Big-Box Stores

The latest front line of the battle to prevent the spread of big-box stores is the city of Pleasanton, California.

July 14 - East Bay Times

The Sharing Economy Comes to Urban Public Schools

How one firm is integrating sharing economy principles to bolster Chicago's public schools.

July 14 - Doggerel

Tech Shuttle

Better to Appease Irate Neighbors Than Decrease Car Commuting

A San Francisco Chronicle editorial supports the decision by the Municipal Transportation Agency to 'bow' to complaints from residents about the large tech buses by reducing their stops in their neighborhoods even if it means increasing car trips.

July 14 - San Francisco Chronicle

Seattle City Council

Seattle Mayor Proposes a More Inclusive Department of Neighborhoods

The leadership at the city of Seattle has noticed that the people representing neighborhoods on the city's district councils don't reflect the population of the city.

July 14 - Publicola

Black Lives Matter

Why it Matters When Protesters Shut Down Highways

Emily Badger, writing for The Washington Post's Wonkblog, doesn't let planners off the hook for the racist history of highway planning around the country.

July 14 - The Washington Post - Wonkblog

Tiny House Prefab

Clearing the Path for Tiny Houses

Clocking in at less than 500 square feet, tiny houses are in greater and greater demand. They've been touted as a means to address affordability, inequality, homelessness, and environmental concerns. But regulatory issues are holding them back.

July 14 - Pew Charitable Trusts

Speed Limit

Changing This Law Could Reduce Traffic Deaths

In California and much of the rest of the country, says Andrew Said, the laws governing speed limits and enforcement are dangerously outdated, especially where pedestrians and cyclists are concerned. What could we change?

July 14 - Streetsblog LA

Gas and Bikes

Charting the Precise Relationship Between Gas Prices and Transit Ridership

When gas prices fall, discretionary transit riders also spend less on transit according to an analysis of credit and debit card bills by the JP Morgan Chase Institute.

July 14 - Marketplace

Brewery

Bloomington Allows Artisanal Production in Retail Zones

Craft beer aficionados take note. Bloomington, Illinois now allows businesses selling artisanal products to manufacture their goods on-site. The ruling blurs a distinction between industrial and commercial zoning.

July 14 - Pantagraph

Homeless

'Housing First' Program Reduces Homelessness by 70 Percent in Milwaukee County

The "housing first" approach to homelessness is building a track record of success in Milwaukee.

July 13 - Urban Milwaukee

Concrete Stormwater

Study Considers the End of Concrete in Houston's White Oak Bayou

The White Oak Bayou in Houston joins a growing list of urban watersheds that could be freed from its concrete shackles.

July 13 - Houston Chronicle

Horse and Buggy

The Latest Trend in Transportation Infrastructure: Un-Paving Roads

A recent study discovered that towns and cities around the country had removed the pavement on thousands of roads in the last five years.

July 13 - Wired

Bus Schedule

New Report Targets the Sacred Cows of Transit Planning

Next City introduces the key concepts included in TransitCenter's "Who's on Board" report.

July 13 - Next City

Post News

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.