The Daily Source of Urban Planning News

Amid Growth, the Colorado River is Running Dry

Freshwater resources are running out and being overused -- a global crisis that can be seen in the declining flows of the Colorado River.

September 22 - Smithsonian Magazine

Irrigation Project Spurs Protests in Peru

A proposed irrigation project near the Incan citadel of Machu Picchu in Peru that would divert water away from small villages has sparked violent protests.

September 22 - Guardian

Forward Thinking and Backward Practices

Transportation authorities are working with tools that no longer fit the challenges of modern travel or environmental necessity, says David Kooris, vice president of the Regional Plan Association.

September 22 - New Urban Network

A Museum-Based Charrette on Riverfront Revitalization

A new museum exhibit in Vermont invites visitors to review various proposals for updating the riverfront in Brattleboro -- and allows them to submit their own ideas.

September 22 - Change Observer

The Unplanned City

David Knight and Finn Williams ask, "what can we build without planning?" Turns out that a lot of things get built without process, from building extensions to temporary structures.

September 21 - BLDGBLG


Rappin' About Urbanism

Finnish architect Tuomas Toivonen has just released an album of urbanism- and architecture-themed rap songs.

September 21 - City Of Sound

PARK(ing) Day: Laid Back and Literal

Without a word of protest, San Francisco's Rebar Group leads the 5th annual worldwide event which highlights the need for public green space.

September 21 - New Urban Network


Fighting Traffic With Smarter Traffic Lights

Do traffic signals need to be predictable? Researchers are experimenting with giving traffic lights a mind of their own, with the power to change with the flow of traffic, sensing when it would be most advantageous to be red or green.

September 21 - Popular Science

Livability And Breathability

Hong Kong and Singapore are two thriving, rival Asian cities. But when evaluated in terms of livability, Hong Kong was rated #71 while Singapore scored #28. Singapore's cleaner air was considered a major factor. Hong Kong is making changes.

September 21 - Bloomberg News

Light at End of Tunnel for Southern States' Water Fight

The tri-state fight over water in Alabama, Georgia and Florida is still raging, but some believe a negotiated settlement is not far off. However, there is potential for the fight to go all the way to the Supreme Court.

September 21 - The Economist

PRT (podcars) ready for prime time

San Jose hosts the 4th Podcar Conference, Oct 27-29, part of San Jose's Green Vision.

September 21 - New York Times

'Self-Regulating' Traffic Lights Reduce Waiting Time

Researchers in Europe are experimenting with a new kind of traffic light that better responds to traffic by monitoring the actual amount of cars on the road and estimating how long lights should stay green.

September 21 - Gizmag

Ownership Undecided on California Naval Base Redevelopment

A decommissioned naval base in Concord, California, is moving steadily towards redevelopment as a mixed use community. But who will own the redeveloped base is still undecided.

September 21 - The San Jose Mercury News

Rental Housing Market Still Recovering in New Orleans

A new report from the Department of Housing and Urban Development finds that the median price of rental housing in New Orleans has risen from $662 in 2004 to $882 today.

September 21 - Next American City

Why the Infrastructure Bank is Right On

Columnist Neal Peirce throws his weight behind the Obama Infrastructure Bank proposal.

September 21 - Citiwire

Indianapolis Plans Street Redesign Ahead of Super Bowl Hosting

The city of Indianapolis is using its hosting duties for the 2012 Super Bowl to rework one of its main streets into a new public space.

September 21 - The Architect's Newspaper

How could Ventura transform?

A short documentary exploring the development challenges that the City of Ventura faces.

September 20 - The OpenSpace: News For Central Coast Planners

Does the New Orleans Experience Reveal the "Trouble with Planning"?

In this review of the new book "The Trouble with City Planning", Joe Berridge finds that maybe the great thing about planning is its ability to deal with all its contradictions.

September 20 - The Globe and Mail

Bikers Behaving Badly: Is Street Design to Blame?

Cyclists who disobey traffic laws are the No. 1 police complaint among residents of Manhattan's Upper East Side. Could the built environment be the real culprit?

September 20 - New Urban Network

Community Says 'No' to In-N-Out

Locals in Walnut Creek are up in arms over a proposed In-N-Out Burger. Columnist Tom Barnidge says that while "provincialism often is the catalyst for complaint," there is reason to protest in this case.

September 20 - Contra Costa Times

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Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.