The Daily Source of Urban Planning News

Assessing Feasibility Studies for Inclusionary Zoning
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.

Columbus Program Will Help Pregnant Women With Transportation
The program aims to address infant mortality by improving transportation access so women can more easily get prenatal care and other services.

Climate Gentrification in Miami
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.

Want an Earthquake Warning? There's an App for That
A new earthquake warning system is in place in the city of Los Angeles.

Wisconsin Law Could Delay Major Highway Projects
A plan to save money on highway megaprojects is likely to backfire, experts warn.

Atlanta Commuters Outspend the Rest of the Country
The commute costs Atlanta residents more than in any other city, according to new analysis by Educated Driver.

Meeting the Challenge of Feeding 10 Billion People Sustainably in 2050
With world population to grow by about 2 billion by 2050, and with more people eating higher on the food chain as nations develop economically, can world agriculture reduce its carbon footprint? A new World Resources Institute report shows how.

New York City Polystyrene Ban Took Effect New Year's Day
Thanks to two recent New York State court rulings, disposable food and beverage containers will no longer be made from polystyrene in the nation's largest city. The ban was originally proposed by Mayor Michael Bloomberg in February 2013.

Master Plan Strives for a 'Seamless' Chattahoochee River for the Atlanta Region
A comprehensive study to revitalize the Atlanta regional waterfront, dubbed the Chattahoochee RiverLands project, is now underway.

End of Seattle Freeway and Tunnel Is a Green Opportunity
A community initiative says demolition of the Alaskan Way Viaduct and closure of the Battery Street Tunnel offer a chance to turn a series of green infrastructure ideas into reality.

Affordable Housing Cap-and-Trade Idea Resurfaces
In New Jersey, a cap-and-trade system existed for two decades and appeared to just perpetuate housing and social inequities. But now legislators and researchers are considering it again.

Washington State Budget Makes Puget Sound Orcas a Priority
Southern Resident orca numbers are distressingly low. The proposed budget would fund a number of measures to help the whales.

Friday Funny: Imagining Taco Bell-Oriented Rail Transit
A Reddit user created a transit map of the San Francisco Bay Area that connects Taco Bell locations, which, unlike rail public transit, have reached every corner of the region.

Downtown Seattle Corridor Gets Visioning Treatment
A stakeholder group hopes to create a pedestrian- and business-friendly streetscape in Downtown Seattle.

Minneapolis Plan Could Finally Complete Grand Rounds Trail Extension
Linking up the last part of the Grand Rounds trail would create a continuous pedestrian and biking loop around the city.

Ontario May Strip Protections from Toronto Greenbelt
A proposed bill would open nearly 2 million acres of protected land to commercial and industrial development.

EPA Targets Co-Benefits in Rulemaking—Public Health to Suffer
The Environmental Protection Agency proposed a critical change in the cost-benefit analysis used in the mercury rule that applies to coal-fired power plants. By eliminating the principle of co-benefits, public health impacts would be severe.

LA Times: Poor Planning Sealed Paradise's Fate
The planning history of Paradise, California is blamed for the destruction of the city in the Camp Fire. Can planners find new models for both limiting carbon emissions and preparing for the effects of climate change?
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