The Daily Source of Urban Planning News
The Short-Term Problem of the Stimulus Package
The short-term focus of the first year's worth of stimulus package spending could be creating long-term problem's for America's already troubled infrastructure, according to this review from the <em>Chicago Tribune</em>'s Blair Kamin.
Early Days of Johannesburg BRT Highlight Persistent Racial Tensions
The major cities in South Africa are busy building new bus rapid transit systems to improve the way their residents get around. But in Johannesburg, the new system is having a rocky start.
Sustainability Through Schools
Efforts to desegregate schools in the 1970s weakened neighborhood ties. Now, a return to school assignments based on where children live could make communities stronger.
Gunfire Detection System Aids Plane Crash Investigation
A gunfire detection tool used by the city of Palo Alto will be used in the investigation into a plane crash that killed three local auto executives.
BLOG POST
Raise My Taxes, Please! Financing High Quality Public Transit Service Saves Me Money Overall
<p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt" class="MsoNormal"> <span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small">Most North American cities offer only basic public transit service, with limited coverage and frequency, modest speeds, unattractive waiting areas, poor land use integration, and few amenities. Such service is used primarily by people who lack alternatives. In such communities, riders tend to abandon public transit as soon as feasible.</span> </p>
Dropping Bombs and Dropping Parking Lots
This post from <em>The Overhead Wire</em> looks at the impact of parking lot sprawl in American downtowns -- and finds a striking resemblance between those downtowns and bomb-ravaged cities from World War Two.
Chapter 9 Cities on the Rise
The economic recession is pushing many municipalities towards declaring bankruptcy.
Metro Areas Organizing Themselves Towards Regional Goals
Metropolitan officials in the Sun Corridor of Arizona are increasingly working together to form a self-organized super-region, according to this analysis.
Sustainable Urban Farming Through Aquaponics
Aquaponics offer urbanites a new way to farm sustainably in space- and resource-poor areas.
New Zoning for Design Stirs Controversy
In Anchorage, Alaska, planners are rolling out a substantial new version of their zoning code, which includes some design requirements like no blank walls. Business owners are up in arms over the proposed changes.
Guide To Charging For Parking
The Victoria Transport Policy Institute has released this report to guide municipalities to transition from 'free' parking (though author Todd Litman is quick to point out that it is never free) to charging for parking directly.
Infamous Watts Public Housing, Reimagined
The Jordan Downs public housing complex in Watts, California is a perfect example of the failed projects of built mid-century. A new proposal would tear down the towers in favor of a mix of building styles connecting to the surrounding area.
Metros Miss Out on Stimulus Funding
Metropolitan region's make up a major part of the U.S. in terms of population and economic activity. Accordingly, the Brookings Institution was surprised to see how little of the government's first year stimulus package went to those areas.
Google and the Company Town
Google and the city of Mountain View, California have a unique relationship. The city is home to the search giant's headquarters, but the company is much more than a quiet tenant, according to this article.
The Tent City Next Door to the Olympics
This post from <em>Next American City</em> looks at Vancouver's homelessness problem and the public outreach effort underway to bring attention and solutions to the problem.
Schwarzenegger Wants to Double Up
In an interview, Gov. Schwarzenegger revealed that the state is considering adding another layer of freeway on top of Los Angeles' 405.
Neighborhood Nuclear
Small-scale nuclear reactors could be a new, cheap way to provide power for neighborhoods. But their inherent controversy remains.
Mexico City Unveils Bike Sharing System
Mexico City has opened a citywide bike sharing system, similar to those in Paris and Barcelona.
Like LEED, But For Roads
The niversity of Washington and CH2M HILL have released a new sustainability rating system for roads.
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
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.
