The Daily Source of Urban Planning News
Explaining the Ups and Downs of U.S. Wind Power
A Vox post explains the fickle trends of wind power production in the United States.
Chicago Moving Forward with Residential High Rise Designed by Robert A.M. Stern
The Chicago Plan Commission approved a 67-story residential high rise earlier this month, as the latest evidence of the city's changing skyline.
Will Electric Vehicles Feel the Pinch from $2.30 Gasoline?
Having posted two environmental pluses from low oil prices, we look at a negative—the effect on sales of EVs would seem to be one of the more evident downsides. How will alternative-fueled vehicles compete in the marketplace when gas costs $2.30?

Is America's Best Bike Lane Overrated?
The SF Examiner reports on America's top-rated bike lane, as rated by People for Bikes. The protected contraflow lane runs from Market Street to Grove Street, all of two blocks; only one block in opposite direction is separated
'Self-Sufficiency Standard' Reveals Distressing Levels of Poverty
Most policies regarding poverty are driven by obsolete metrics. Another model, which measures the very basic needs for survival, reveals deep poverty in New York City.
Northern Avenue Bridge Shut Down in Boston
The Northern Avenue Bridge in Boston—a 100-year-old swing bridge used by pedestrians and cyclists—was closed abruptly due to structural defects.
Critical Support for New NBA Arena Proposal in San Francisco
After controversy derailed an earlier plan by the Golden State Warriors to build a new arena at Piers 30-32 along the Embarcadero in San Francisco, a new plan at a new location has made progress toward completion.

Prince Charles Lays Out a 10-Point Planning Agenda
The Prince of Wales took to the pages of The Architectural Review to share his vision for the future of architecture and planning.
Seattle Tenants Force Public Housing Not To Raise Rent
Seattle tenants win in rejecting public housing's proposal to quadruple rent.
Could Keystone XL Become the Next Casualty of Falling Oil Prices?
Recently we noted that Chevron had dropped their Arctic lease due to falling oil prices. With falling gasoline prices, Americans may no longer see the Keystone XL pipeline as urgent. In addition, President Obama appears likely to oppose the project.
Traffic 'Crisis' in the Birthplace of Jesus
If Jesus and Mary came to Bethlehem in 2014, they'd be frustrated by high levels of congestion before finding a place to settle down for the night.
Mapping America's Toy Manufacturing
All those toys under the Christmas tree came from somewhere.
Google Searches Reveal Christmas Lists for 24 U.S. Cities
The New York Times Upshot and Google team up to reveal the top three most-searched holiday gift items for U.S. cities, revealing local and regional trends.
Santa Claus for Digital Natives
The death of suburban malls at the hands of online shopping is well documented. It turns out Santa also has a cyber proxy rendering the old way of doing things obsolete.
Planning and Design: North Pole Edition
In the realm of supply chains and distribution logistics, Santa’s the guy. So you’d presumably be safe in assuming that the planning and design of his village at the North Pole would reflect a similar insistence on best practices. But is it so?

BLOG POST
2014 in Review—Music About Places
A list of personal favorites—music that expressed more than research or rhetoric can about the places where we live, work, and play.
Polls: New York Fracking Ban Has Wide Support
According to a Quinnipiac University Poll, New Yorkers upstate, downstate, Democrat, and Republican, all supported Gov. Andrew Cuomo's decision to ban fracking—only energy companies and some businesses and property owners expressed dismay.
Florida High Speed Rail to Remain Privately Funded
Apparently some in Florida were uncomfortable with the much touted "privately funded railroad" using a $1.6 billion Federal Railroad Administration loan, so All Aboard Florida applied for tax exempt bonds to supplement or replace the loan.
Los Angeles Lacking Data to Support Bike Infrastructure Investments
Los Angeles has added hundreds of miles of bike routes in recent years, but the local paper of record identifies a lack of data as contributing to ongoing discord from drivers who feel like they're being pinched by bike lanes.
Philadelphia Replacing 7 Bridges Above Vine Street Expressway
"A five-year, $82 million project to replace seven bridges over the Vine Street Expressway will also remodel the cultural spine of the city," reports Paul Nussbaum.
Pagination
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
Transportation Research & Education Center (TREC) at Portland State University
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
Municipality of Princeton (NJ)
Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada
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.