The Daily Source of Urban Planning News

St. Petersburg's Pier Has a New Look
A $50 million project will replace the now demolished inverted pyramid pier off the coast of St. Petersburg.
New York Development to Combine Manufacturing and Residential Once Again
The city of New York has made zoning change to allow an "experiment" on the Queens waterfront that mixes residential and manufacturing uses on the same site.

Earth Day Special: First Electrified Commuter Rail Lines Opens in Over a Century
The new University of Colorado A-Line service opened as scheduled. Free rides were offered Friday and Saturday to thousands of happy children of all ages to enjoy the 23-mile, 37-minute trip from Union Station to Denver International Airport.

Chronic Homelessness Persists at New York City Transit Hubs and Airports
Two train stations, two airports, and one bus terminal double as homeless shelters in New York City. When some close for the night, the subways fill in.
Expected Budget Cuts Hurt Port Modernization Prospects in Anchorage
The Alaska Legislature snubbed the Port of Anchorage due to a huge state budget shortfall. The port handles 90 percent of the state's freight and is a vital national security facility.
Paris Climate Agreement Signed, but Troubles Loom in the U.S.
On Earth Day, NPR looked at the intersection of the Paris Climate Agreement, which Secretary of State John Kerry signed at the U.N. on Friday, and President Obama's Clean Power Plan which has been given a pause by the Supreme Court.

A New Guide for Siting Bikeshare Stations
The National Association of City Transportation Officials (NACTO) is on a multi-modal roll, releasing two guides to non-automobile forms of transportation in recent weeks. The most recent offers guidance on why, where, and how to site bikeshare.

New Jersey Democrats Propose Hiking Gas Tax in Tradeoff for Estate Tax Reduction
The estate tax reduction, plus increasing the retirement income tax exemption, would be traded for an unspecified hike in the gas tax to keep the Transportation Trust Fund solvent. But the $400 million in tax cuts won't satisfy Gov. Chris Christie.

Oakland Approves 90-Day Moratorium on Evictions
Taking steps to prevent Oakland from becoming the next San Francisco, the East Bay city passed a 90-day moratorium on certain kinds of evictions.

Treasury Department Announces $1 Billion for 'Hardest Hit Fund'
A $1 billion funding allocation from the Treasury Department to the Hardest Hit Fund is the fifth since 2010.
How Bay Area Cities Are Dealing with the Housing Crunch
A booming-once-again tech sector and a rapidly increasing population in the Bay Area are aggravating a historically tight housing market. Preservation architect Jerri Holan looks at how Bay Area cities are dealing with the housing crunch.

Latest Budget Shortfall Hits Highway Projects in Kansas
In an effort to curb spending by $300 million in the next 15 months, the state of Kansas is considering spending cuts that could hit highway projects and universities. This is the fourth time in two years the state's revenues have fallen short of pro
How Cities Are Responding to Rising Commercial Rents
A new report examines how high rents are shuttering businesses and stunting entrepreneurship, exploring six strategies used by cities to create an affordable built environment, where local businesses can thrive.

Sound Transit Breaks Ground Today on the $3.7 Billion Light Rail Extension
Sound Transit begins construction on the East Link light rail extension. Next stop: 2023, when the line is expected to serve 50,000 riders a day.
One Million Solar Panels and Counting
The United States reached a milestone in solar panel installation earlier this year, after 40 years of the industry attempting to gain a foothold. Now the industry is preparing for "warp speed."

Friday Eye Candy: Where U.S. Roads Correct the Grid
Anyone who has traveled long country roads is familiar with the moment when a road makes a sharp turn to deviate from a direct path. Such "grid corrections" provide the subject for a photography project by Gerco de Ruijter.

Plans for World's Largest Methanol Plant Die in Tacoma
The massive and controversial Tideflats methanol plant proposal will no longer trouble environmentalists in the Pacific Northwest.

New Community Plan to Remake Canada's Capital of Sprawl
Abbotsford is the fifth-largest city in British Columbia by population but the largest by land size. The city's most recent community plan is designed to accommodate new growth without sprawling any farther.
Artists Plan a Mini Golf Course to Teach About Zoning and Gentrification
An art installation called "The Back 9" is planned for Los Angeles' Skid Row to tackle the issues of gentrification, zoning, and back room deals for development rights.
A Special Place for Ugly Buildings
A paradoxical encomium of sorts for the benefits of ugly buildings to the experience of cities.
Pagination
City of Moorpark
City of Tustin
Tyler Technologies
City of Astoria
Transportation Research & Education Center (TREC) at Portland State University
Chaddick Institute at DePaul University
Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada
Toledo-Lucas County Plan Commissions
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.