The Daily Source of Urban Planning News

Mapping the Morning Commute

What time did you leave for work this morning? What time should you have left for work this morning?

February 5 - FlowingData

Residents Sue Over the 'Lawless Skid Row' of Venice Beach

Venice Beach, one of the most popular tourist destinations and recognizable public spaces in Los Angeles, has long been the site of regulation battles. Now a neighborhood group is suing the city over what it perceives as rampant lawlessness.

February 4 - CBS Los Angeles

Special Tax District Proposed for Cleveland Riverfront Development

The developers of a high profile, $421 million development in Cleveland are requesting a special tax district that could raise $30 million over three decades.

February 4 - Cleveland.com

Parks—or Playgrounds for Billionaires?

New York may be the most famous example of the parks becoming the most conspicuous signifiers of neighborhoods for the haves, versus the have-nots, but Inga Saffron hopes that cities everywhere can find ways to even the playing fields.

February 4 - The New Republic

Metro-North Train Slams into SUV at Railroad Crossing; Six Dead

The commuter train had left Grand Central Terminal on Tuesday evening and hit the Jeep at a grade crossing in Valhalla, Westchester County at 6:30 pm. Five passengers died in the lead car of the train which was engulfed in flames from the impact.

February 4 - Transportation Nation


Editorial: Florida Legislators should 'Stick to the Mission' on Conservation

A Miami Herald editorial expresses concern for a growing movement in the state legislature to raid the funding pool made possible by the recently approved Amendment 1, a statewide environmental-conservation funding measure.

February 4 - Miami Herald

Poll: San Francisco Loves the Tech Industry

San Francisco Mayor Ed lee is so far running unopposed for re-election next Fall, which means that voters won't be offered a chance for a referendum on his support for the tech industry.

February 4 - San Francisco


Gas Tax vs. Carbon Charge Debate Looms in Washington State

The Republican chair of the Senate Transportation Committee is considering an 11.5-cent gas tax increase, setting up a potential conflict with Gov. Jay Inslee's preference to apply a carbon charge to industrial emissions to fund transportation.

February 4 - KUOW

A Survey of Recent Research in 'Urban Regeneration'

Journalist's Resource provides a one-stop shop for research on the subject of policies to regenerate urban areas once in decline.

February 4 - Journalist's Resource

Vancouver Protected Bike Lane

An Inventory of Protected Bike Lanes

Cities around the United States have built nearly as many protected bike lanes in the past two years as they did in the previous 140.

February 4 - Green Lane Project

Mayor de Blasio Stresses Affordable Housing in State of the City Address

In his State of the City Address on Feb. 3, the New York City mayor made it clear that his overriding priority is affordable housing. He targeted six neighborhoods in all five boroughs where development will be required to include affordable housing.

February 4 - New York Observer

Trees and People

Trees are Good for People—and Vice Versa

Sarah Laskow reports on recent research on the surprisingly two-way connection between the happiness of urban trees and the happiness of urban humans.

February 3 - Next City

Brooklyn Bridge

A Map of Every Bridge in the United States

Mapping the nation's 600,000 bridges reveals a remarkably fine-grained map of…the nation.

February 3 - The Washington Post - Wonkblog

Atlanta Suburb Pitches Gaming Resort for Economic Development

An Atlanta suburb is moving forward with a plan to create a gaming report, unprecedented in the state, to invigorate a languishing part of town.

February 3 - The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Uber's Newest Competitor: Google

Big news on the automated vehicle front yesterday, as Google and Uber now seem destined to become competitors in the battle for the future of transportation.

February 3 - Bloomberg

Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker Drops Gas Tax Hike in Favor of Bond Financing

Walker had supported increasing the gas tax and user fees last November, but now that he's being taken as a serious contender for the Republican nomination for president, he's changed his transportation funding preference to increased bonding.

February 3 - Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

DC's New Environment Agency Head Discusses Parks and Agriculture

"One hundred years ago, urban areas were viewed as the place for economic opportunity, but they were unhealthy, congested places. Now cities can be very healthy," says the new director of Washington, D.C.'s department of the environment.

February 3 - Elevation DC

As Solar Energy Scales Up—How Soon until it's Ubiquitous?

As solar power approaches and even surpasses fossil fuels in cost, the next goal is to make the source of renewable energy ubiquitous.

February 3 - CleanTechnica

Unlikely Duo Propose Alternative to Obama's Tax to Fund Infrastructure

A few days before President Obama announced his 14 percent offshore corporate profits tax, Sens. Rand Paul and Barbara Boxer teamed-up to announce they would be offering a repatriation tax, somewhat similar to Obama's tax. Both fund infrastructure.

February 3 - The Bond Buyer

A New Future Proposed for Georgetown

After announcing its Georgetown 2028 Plan last year, the Georgetown Business Improvement District is continuing its ambitious efforts to bring new facilities and amenities online in Georgetown.

February 3 - The Washington Post

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.