The Daily Source of Urban Planning News
Depaving Rural American Roads-Literally
Rather than being part of a car liberation or permeable pavement movement, poorly maintained county roads are having their asphalt ground into gravel as a cost-cutting measure to avoid costly road reconstruction. Lack of funding is the cause.
Sound Walls Made From Grass
The Ohio Department of Transportation is experimenting with "green noise walls" instead of the standard eyesore, using bags of soil sprouting greenery as an alternative to concrete.
Walkable Milwaukee
Andrew Knee calls Milwaukee a "walker's paradise," saying that the city has completely changed from a decade ago into a walkable network of neighborhoods.
"Library-Quiet" Train Cars For Commuters Who Want Peace
Northeast Corridor NJ Transit has announced that beginning in September they will feature "quiet cars" on their trains for passengers who prefer peace and quiet over cell phones and chatter.
Tiny Town Counting On Boom Courtesy of 007
Gensler has revealed the designs for The Museum of Bond Vehicles + Espionage, which will be located in Momence, Illinois. Momence, pop. 3000, is hoping the museum could jump start their economy and put them on the map.
Defusing The Population Bomb Myth
To mark "World Population Day", Grist published this commentary by environmental writer Fred Pearce who asks environmentalists not to fall in the Malthusian trap of blaming population, not consumption.
The New Urban Employment Landscape
Richard Florida believes "a new way of working and a new kind of workplace have evolved. Increasingly, places are supplanting plants — corporate headquarters and factories — as the principal social and economic organizing units of our time."
A 'No' Vote On Florida's 'Hometown Democracy' Amendment
The City Council of Zephyrhills, Florida is the latest public entity to come out against Amendment 4, a proposition that would require a public vote on any changes to local land use plans.
Playing with Ridership Numbers
Jarrett Walker argues that reports of the decline of public transportation ridership have been exaggerated.
Cities Shrinking to Survive
"More cities in the developed world shrank than grew in the last three decades. More than 40 of those cities were in the United States, according to City Mayors, an urban affairs think tank," writes Gordon Young.
Natural Gas Will Play Much Larger Energy Role
In this WSJ Opinion, MIT professor and former under secretary of Energy John Deutch explains how the BP gusher and discovery of vast supplies of unconventional natural gas will combine to increase natural gas energy usage by replacing coal, then oil.
Are Marijuana Dispensaries "Stores"?
In tiny Myrtletown, California, the Hummingbird Healing Center is arguing that it doesn't need a conditional use permit to sell weed. The county does not agree.
New Park to Bloom Under Bay Bridge
Where the Bay Bridge touches down in San Francisco, a new plan is in the works to turn a motley collection of underused spaces into a vibrant park.
Bendy Bike For Easy Lockup
Kevin Scott is a 21-year old designer and new graduate who has designed a bicycle that bends in the middle, giving the rider the ability to wrap it around a pole and lock both tires at once.
Utah Takes Possession of Half-Built Development
The State of Utah sold the development rights to for a new town to SunCor, a developer that had to bail on the project before it was half-completed. Utah bought the ailing, incomplete town from the developer and is hoping their gamble pays off.
Ten Most Terrifying Airports in The World
The Web Urbanist counts down the ten most hair raising airports. "Flying may be one of the safest methods of travel but it doesn't always look that way."
Friday Funny: Mooning Salute to Amtrak
A bet in the town of Laguna Nigel, CA lead to a 30-year tradition of dropping trou and letting it all hang out for passing Amtrak trains.
China Agrees to Finance New Argentinian Metro and Rail Construction
A $10 billion dollar spending spree will improve transit in Cordoba and Buenos Aires, but also between Argentina and neighboring Bolivia. "Funds come from the China Development Bank and will require a 15% match from the Argentinian government."
TOD: An Architect's View
The American Institute of Architects discovers that architects are finding work redesigning stations, and that a new focus on transit is driving development.
City of Boston Tours Downtown Crossing to Entice Retailers
In an effort to create a more diverse retail base and fill empty units retailers from an International Conference of Shopping Centers were guided through Downtown Crossing, The Rose Kennedy Greenway and South Boston Waterfront.
City of Moorpark
City of Tustin
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
Transportation Research & Education Center (TREC) at Portland State University
Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada
Toledo-Lucas County Plan Commissions
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Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
