The Daily Source of Urban Planning News

Will Columbia River Gorge Oil Train Derailment Be a 'Death Knell' for Bakken Crude-by-Rail?

After a long night fighting a fire that erupted when a 96-car oil train carrying Bakken crude from North Dakota derailed on June 3 in Mosier, Oregon, the fire chief called for an end to shipping the volatile oil by rail.

June 6 - The Oregonian

Drunk People

Drinking Behind New Mexico's High Pedestrian Fatality Rate

New Mexico had the nation's highest pedestrian fatality rate in 2014. Alcohol was a factor in over half the pedestrian fatalities in New Mexico, while nationally it's a third. According to the Albuquerque PD, drunk pedestrians are primarily to blame.

June 5 - Albuquerque Journal

New Jersey

New Jersey Governor: Reduce General Fund Spending to Pay for Roads

Rather than supporting an increase in gas taxes and vehicle registration fees like many states are doing to fund transportation spending, Gov. Chris Christie asks the legislature to find funds by making cuts within the general fund.

June 5 - Politico New Jersey

A New Bus Rapid Transit Route for Fresno

Construction is set to begin on a $28 million, 15.7-mile bus rapid transit route in the city of Fresno.

June 5 - The Fresno Bee

E-470 Toll

Denver Area's Expensive Toll Road More Popular Than Ever

E-470 marks its 25th anniversary with increasing traffic volumes, increasing revenues, and an expansion plan in the works.

June 5 - The Denver Post


Funding Awarded to Habitat Restoration Project in the Detroit River

Stony Island, located next to Grosse Ile in the Detroit River, is the location for an ongoing habitat restoration effort.

June 5 - Detroit Free Press

Downtown Cleveland

Watch the Documentary 'Cleveland: Confronting Decline in an American City'

In May, the documentary film "Cleveland: Confronting Decline in an American City" was made available in full on YouTube.

June 4 - Lincoln Institute of Land Policy


Subway Station

How Will Partiers Travel Safely With D.C. Metro's Late-Night Service on Hold?

With late-night weekend service on hold as the Metrorail service commences its SafeTrack maintenance program, will partiers stay home or simply find new ways to get around?

June 4 - WAMU

Amsterdam Electric Car 2

The Non-Environmental Reasons for a Massive Switch to Electric Cars

There are several practical reasons people will soon be switching to plugin electrical vehicles. Judging from past examples, the shift in consumer preference will be swift and decisive, catching car manufacturers by surprise.

June 4 - UrbDeZine

East Brother Light Station

Developer's Ballot Box Planning Would Allow Suburban Development at Ferry Terminal

A June 7 ballot measure in Richmond, California would permit 59 single family homes to be built on a 5-acre bayfront lot within walking distance to a future ferry landing for San Francisco service. The site is zoned for high-density housing.

June 4 - San Francisco Chronicle

Philadelphia Rowhouse

Real-Estate Site Locates Redevelopment Potential Across Philadelphia

A new map-based web tool created by a former city employee calculates the redevelopment potential of every parcel in Philadelphia.

June 4 - Philly Voice

Gateway Arch Rendering 2

Planetizen Week in Review: June 3, 2016

Planetizen Managing Editor James Brasuell shares some of the biggest news and announcements from the week in planning, land use, and related topics. All in two minutes and 30 seconds.

June 3 - Planetizen

New Orleans, Hurricane Katrina

New Flood Maps Downplay Risks in New Orleans

Recently released flood maps created by FEMA for the city of New Orleans are receiving criticism for being 'overly optimistic' when it comes to risks posed by hurricanes and rising sea levels.

June 3 - The New York Times

Self-Driving Car

Michigan Bill Would Be First to Allow Cars to Drive Without Humans

A state legislation package is aiming to clear hurdles obstructing the development of autonomous vehicles.

June 3 - GOV TECH - FUTURE STRUCTURE

Metro Bikes

L.A. Metro and City of Los Angeles to Launch Metro Bike Share on July 7

One thousand bikes will be available exclusively to Metro passholders who subscribe from July 7 to August 1, when the general public will be able to sign-up. Subscribers will use a single card to access both transit and Metro Bikes. Sponsor needed.

June 3 - The Source (Metro's blog)

Boise Idaho

Op Ed: 'What Would It Take to Get You to Ride The Bus?'

The shortcomings of American bus systems are not lost on transportation planners. The adage of "getting what you pay for" appears to be mostly true.

June 3 - The Idaho Statesman

San Francisco Bay Bridge

The 'Housing Development Dashboard' Promises a New Understanding of Housing Policy

A new set of tools from the U.C. Berkeley Terner Center for Housing Innovation offers insight into how projects fit into the policy landscape, as well as how changes to the policy landscape could impact development.

June 3 - Terner Center for Housing Innovation

Crosstown Study Map

Details of the District DOT's Multi-Modal Crosstown Makeover

A conceptual study released earlier this spring would add new options for alternative modes of transportation between the neighborhoods of Columbia Heights and Brookland in Washington, D.C.

June 3 - Greater Greater Washington

Paris Skyline

Paris to Begin Serious Car Restrictions on July 1

The carefree days of driving any-old-junker-they-please are over for Parisians, and they'll be even further obsolete when the calendar changes from June to July.

June 3 - CityLab

Crowd

How (and Why) to Start a Local Data Intermediary

A new guide helps communities set up groups that can help analyze their neighborhood data and put it to good use.

June 3 - Next City

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