The Daily Source of Urban Planning News

The U.S. Census Bureau had been without an approved director since May 2017. The Senate unanimously approved Steven Dillingham to the position with about a year to spare before the 2020 Census begins.

January 8 - NPR

The consequences of allowing the public free access to national parks without any supervision or maintenance operations are to great a risk, according to a former director of the National Park Service.

January 7 - The Guardian

There's been a lot of talk about the Green New Deal, but not that much is known about it. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.), who is promoting it, explained the program on 60 Minutes on January 6.

January 7 - Politico

A proposed waterfront plan has secured the necessary funding to move forward in Seattle, pending City Council approval.

January 7 - Crosscut

East Coast transit systems used to be the envy of other cities, but now the West Coast is taking big steps to expand their networks.

January 7 - The New York Times

FEATURE

While the debate continues unabated on the influence of the physical and land use characteristics of a city on crime, a critical aspect is left out: resident transience. Jacobs took notice and feared its negative influence. Was she right?

January 7 - Fanis Grammenos

Metro will close several stretches of the Blue and Green lines as it completes $350 million worth of upgrades and opens the new Crenshaw Line. More than 100,000 daily riders may be inconvenienced.

January 7 - Long Beach Press-Telegram

BLOG POST

Transportation planning is undergoing a paradigm shift. The new paradigm is more multi-modal and comprehensive, and so can better respond to changing travel demands and emerging community needs.

January 7 - Todd Litman

The agency hopes that allowing more bikes on trains will boost ridership for both.

January 7 - Streetsblog USA

The Massachusetts Legislature approved a tax on short-term rentals in July 2018 only to have Governor Charlie Baker amend the bill. The amendments proved only a temporary setback.

January 7 - Mass Live

After the initial shock of Governor Andrew Cuomo's cancellation of the planned L Train closure subsided, analysis and commentary rolled in.

January 7 - New York Daily News

Housing measures fared well in the 2018 election, and it's likely that Democratic contenders for the presidency in 2020 have taken notice and will boost those issues in their campaigns.

January 6 - Curbed

The plan for the Gold Line Extension to Montclair in San Bernardino County has changed quickly. Now some want to throw out the idea completely.

January 6 - San Gabriel Valley Tribune

Cities use the studies to inform decisions about inclusionary housing programs. But a closer look shows that there is great variation in the methods and metrics, with no one correct approach for every situation.

January 6 - Terner Center for Housing Innovation

The program aims to address infant mortality by improving transportation access so women can more easily get prenatal care and other services.

January 6 - CityLab

With the threat of sea level rise, homes on higher ground in Miami are becoming increasingly desirable. But they are located in low-income communities of color, and residents are facing rising housing costs and displacement.

January 6 - Slate

A new earthquake warning system is in place in the city of Los Angeles.

January 5 - Associated Press via The Mercury News

So far.

January 5 - Mississippi Today

A plan to save money on highway megaprojects is likely to backfire, experts warn.

January 5 - Urban Milwaukee

The commute costs Atlanta residents more than in any other city, according to new analysis by Educated Driver.

January 5 - Atlanta Journal Constitution