The Daily Source of Urban Planning News

Silicon Valley Preparing for Switch to a High Frequency Bus Grid
A Silicon Valley columnist debates the tough political questions inherent to the process of redesigning local bus service.

Invest STL's Community Development Efforts Have Regional Scope
The St. Louis region now has its first community economic development system. Invest STL, as its called, will work to create "a pipeline of place-based, neighborhood-led development projects."

Early Review of the U.S. DOT's New Performance Measurement Rule
An initial review by City Observatory's Joe Cortright doesn't find much to indicate that the new U.S. DOT 's performance measurement rule for transportation systems will set a new transportation policy agenda.
Business Groups Sue Portland Over Homeless 'Safe Sleep Policy'
The Safe Sleep Policy, enacted by the mayor in February without City Council approval, allows homeless people to sleep in tents in select public areas and on sidewalks. Now a coalition of business groups says the policy was an overreach of power.

Governor Who Vetoed Gas Tax Increase Happy to Use New Revenue for Road Construction
Among the ten state legislatures, mostly Republican controlled, which passed gas tax increases last year, the one that stood out the most was Nebraska's because it had to override Gov. Pete Ricketts (R) veto of the six-cent gas tax hike bill.

Houston's Floods a Reminder of the Importance of Wetlands Protection
The executive director of the Bayou Land Conservancy takes to the pages of the Houston Chronicle to describe the conservationist and landscape-focused efforts that can prevent floods like those that struck Houston this week.

Looking for Housing Solutions? Look to the Past
The development of Portland during the early decades of the 1900s reveals ideas for how to lessen the pressure on housing prices in the 2010s.

Now Arriving in the D.C. Area: Bus Rapid Transit
The newly opened section of the Metroway—already D.C. Metro's "premium bus service"—includes the region's first stretch of bus rapid transit.

BLOG POST
Primaries vs. Caucuses from a Planner's Perspective
In the middle of presidential primary season, the debate about the caucus vs. primary processes is hot with criticisms being leveled on both sides. What can planners learn about this debate to help improve community engagement for planning?

New York MTA Departs the American Public Transportation Association
Could the cancellation the New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority's membership in the American Public Transportation Association be the wakeup call the transit industry needs?
From Ideas to Action: Cheaply, Quickly, Fairly
Applying ideas of Lean Urbanism to the charrette process can establish an agreement about values and rules for planning in ways that make it renewable.

Anatomy of a San Francisco YIMBY
The New York Times provides an in-depth exploration of the politics and personalities behind the YIMBY organization known as the SF Bay Area Renters' Federation (BARF).

New York Subway Stumps Both New York Democratic Candidates
Bernie Sanders may have retained his Brooklyn accent, but his knowledge of the subway seems to have stopped 13 years ago. And Chappaqua resident Hillary Clinton obviously hasn't ridden the subway in ages (if at all) based on her 'swiping' technique.

New York Museum of Modern Art Closing its Architecture and Design Galleries
The first museum to have a "sustained department of architecture and design" is closing down its architecture and design galleries.
Many Benefits Expected for Changes to Rockaway Community
Officials see chance to move residents out of flood zone, improving access to beach, and deliver affordable housing and infrastructure.

BLOG POST
Inside the Planetizen Redesign
Planetizen Managing Editor James Brasuell describes some of the recent changes to the Planetizen site.

Illinois Considering a Vehicle Miles Traveled Tax
Illinois State Senate President John Cullerton released a infrastructure funding plan earlier this month that includes a proposal for a vehicle miles traveled tax.

The New Trend in Britain: Re-Opening Old Rail Lines
What's old is new in Britain, where clogged roads have many communities around the country looking to the past for the future of transportation.

All Jokes Aside: Do Oil Companies Avoid Wealthy Areas?
Environmental justice alarms sounded when an oil industry executive made public remarks about how drilling sites get selected.

New Tool Scores Transit Access and Service
A new tool called AllTransit offers a new way of scoring transit access and service available for any corner of the United States.
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.