The Daily Source of Urban Planning News

In considering the daunting task of building high-speed rail in the midst of an economic crisis, CBS Sunday Morning looks back and finds that the Transcontinental Railroad was built during similarly tough times.

August 24 - CBS Sunday Morning

Think "Leaving Las Vegas" starring Nicholas Cage, except the 'actors' here are the real thing - 'chronic inebriates' costing the city about $13 million annually in ambulance costs alone. It's not necessarily a 'homelessness' problem.

August 24 - San Francisco Chronicle

The city of Honolulu is $500 million short of what it will need to fund the $5.3 billion commuter rail system voters approved last fall.

August 24 - The Honolulu Advertiser

This article from <em>Triple Canopy</em> looks at the unrealized urban planning ideas of former New York City Mayor John Lindsay, which were somewhere in between Jane Jacobs and Robert Moses.

August 24 - Triple Canopy

Denver is seeking to revise its zoning, shifting to a form-based code that more precisely dictates what type of buildings go where and what they should look like.

August 24 - Architectural Record

Neal Peirce looks at a few examples where regions have pooled their powers to utilize ARRA stimulus funds to create programs and jumpstart regional efforts.

August 24 - Citiwire

Stunning many even outside Seattle, the two-term incumbent mayor came in third in a 'top two' primary despite outspending his six competitors. Voters will choose between two political newcomers, including an activist who goes by "Mike Bikes".

August 24 - Seattle PI

FEATURE

August 24 - Fanis Grammenos

The U.S. Military's Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency is investing in a program that looks to create 3D imagery of urban areas and the common spaces and objects that could pose threats or provide advantages to military operations.

August 24 - CNET

In this Q&A, <em>The Wall Street Journal</em> talks with landscape architect Adriaan Geuze, whose work has had a big impact on the field, especially in its combination of landscape design, architecture and planning.

August 23 - The Wall Street Journal

Scheduled for completion in 2036, a 12.5 mile extension of Los Angeles' subway is progressing too slowly for some officials. That includes the city's mayor, who is hoping to pick up the pace.

August 23 - Los Angeles Times

Despite strong opposition from taxi driver associations, a new bus rapid transit system is set to open later this month in Johannesburg, South Africa.

August 23 - AllAfrica

U.S. News and World Report looks at crime rates, schools, number of children and green spaces to compile this list of the 10 Best Places to Grow Up.

August 23 - U.S. News And World Report

When Lafayette, Louisiana set out to build a high-speed fiber optic data network, legal challenges caused major delays. Other cities are likely to experience the same issues as they try to expand their information infrastructure.

August 23 - Governing

While high speed rail and smart grid technology were used to sell the idea of the economic stimulus package, the majority of stimulus money in California is being spent on routine projects, according to new figures.

August 22 - Los Angeles Times

From the increase of city living to the decrease in vehicle miles traveled, a "new American Dream" is developing, according to Carol Coletta. But without cohesion, the benefits of these developments aren't likely to make a big impact.

August 22 - Good

A revival of small, neighborhood retailers could be an important strategy for countering climate change, enticing people to run errands without driving their cars.

August 22 - Grist Magazine

It didn't last long: one month to be precise. The American public ate through the $3 billion stimulus program for purchasing new, efficient cars and trucks as fast as they could qualify their older gas guzzlers for the $3,500 and $4,500 credits.

August 22 - AP via ABC News

The City of Vancouver, B.C. is shifting its focus away from skyscrapers and condos and into more "hidden" and "invisible" ways of creating density like laneway housing.

August 22 - Granville Online

The Department of Transportation has released a new report urging drivers to combat traffic congestion by honking -- a method estimated to relieve 90% of traffic.

August 21 - The Onion