The Daily Source of Urban Planning News

Other Species Value Transit, Too

In Seattle, a four-legged denizen uses the city's public transit system on her own to get to and from her favorite place.

January 14 - CNN.com

The First-Ever 'Ecological Land Units' Map of the World

A new web-based tool by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) and Esri allows users to "explore the ecological tapestry of the world."

January 14 - ASLA The Dirt

Transportation Secretary Foxx Lays Policy Groundwork at TRB's Annual Meeting

The annual meeting of the Transportation Research Board provided an opportunity for Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx to begin to address the changing needs of the nation's transportation system.

January 14 - The Washington Post

Bikeshare in Eugene Looking Like a Winner for 'ConnectOregon' Grants

Bike Portland reports that a state committee recommended a Eugene bikeshare system as a top priority for a new round of "ConnectOregon" grants.

January 14 - Bike Portland

Will the Supreme Court Kill Fair Housing?

A Supreme Court hearings less than two weeks away could destroy fair housing as we know it.

January 14 - Rooflines


Transportation Journalism Suffers Losses in 2015

Transportation readers who prefer reading a less auto-centric perspective of issues will see losses this year, as budgetary constraints at Streetsblog caused the layoff of Tanya Snyder of Streetsblog USA and the temporary loss of Streetsblog Chicago.

January 14 - StreetsBlog NYC

Los Angeles Smog

A History of Non-Planning (and its Contemporary Effects)

An article by Woodbury University Professor Anthony Fontenot examines the effects of a history of opposition to planning as a centralized arm of the state, and proposes a way forward.

January 13 - Places Journal


New Guide Provides Advice for Successful Regional Planning

Transportation for America has released "The Innovative MPO"—a guidebook of sorts that provides lessons in successful regional planning.

January 13 - Streetsblog USA

Boston transit station

Study: For Transit Proximity, Think Beyond a Half-Mile

A recent study suggests that people consider transit proximity to be more flexible than planners often allow.

January 13 - CityLab

East River

Never Built: The 1912 Plan to Expand Manhattan, Fill the East River

The blogosphere caught wind of a plan from 1912 that would have completely altered the geography of New York City as we know it. Make no little plans, indeed.

January 13 - Gothamist

Report: 2014 the 'Tallest Year Ever' for New Skyscrapers

The heights of the building envelope saw unprecedented expansion in 2014.

January 13 - Dezeen

Farming Impacts on Drinking Water Litigated in Iowa

A lawsuit by the Des Moines water utility could change the way the farming industry mitigates its environmental impacts.

January 13 - Grist

First New U.S. Waste-to-Energy Plant in 20 Years to Open in Florida

Waste-to-energy plants, or incinerators, are classified as renewable power plants by the EPA. A controversial Baltimore plant is under construction as well. More common in Europe, they may be catching on stateside due to low recycling rates.

January 13 - The New York Times

Los Angeles Lacks Plan to Address Affordable Housing

The Los Angeles media has recently turned their attention to housing, in a city ranked by some measures as the least affordable market in the country.

January 13 - KPCC

Two-Mile Freeway Cap to Cover the Autobahn in Hamburg

After deciding to widen the Autobahn 7 through Hamburg, Germany, local planners also decided cover the highway with parks. The benefits of the plan will include reconnected neighborhoods and noise reduction.

January 13 - Fast Co.Exist

University of Chicago

BLOG POST

What Makes a Great Planning Program?

Ann Forsyth, professor of urban planning at the Harvard Graduate School of Design, shares insight into common traits of the best educational programs in planning.

January 13 - Ann Forsyth

Bipartisan

Talkin' Right, Leanin' Left: The 'New Consurbanism'?

If we remove our ideological blinders, we might notice that the traditional city serves the interests of both the Left and the Right. Common ground, literally and figuratively. Ben Brown explores.

January 12 - PlaceShakers

Study Shows How Useful Twitter Data Can Be for Planners

The atlantalarry blog shares news of a study in the Engineering Applications of Artificial Intelligence journal that used gelocalized tweets to map out nightlife areas in Madrid, London, and Manhattan.

January 12 - atlantalarry

Palo Alto Electeds Oppose Dedicated Lanes for El Camino BRT

As the Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) considers the environmental analysis for a proposed bus rapid transit lane in Palo Alto, local officials are opposing the version of the plan that would remove parking for a dedicated bus lane.

January 12 - Palo Alto Online

In Support of the Trinity Toll Road in Dallas

The Trinity Toll Road project in Dallas is one of the most controversial ongoing infrastructure and highway projects in the country. A Dallas Morning News columnist suggests the project's opponents should act like adults.

January 12 - The Dallas Morning News

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.