The Daily Source of Urban Planning News

Paris RER

To Improve U.S. Transit, Follow the Lead of Other Countries

The common refrain is that transit is just better in other countries. However, the reasons why are more complex than initial impressions allow, providing important lessons for the United States.

October 19 - CityLab

Multi-Modalism in New Orleans

Bike Registration No Longer Mandatory in New Orleans

After a local musician was hit with $1,000 in bike-related fines, advocates were able to achieve some changes in how the city regulates bike use.

October 19 - The New Orleans Times-Picayune

Alliance, Nebraska

'Nebraska: It’s not for everyone.'

Nebraska has a new tourism campaign, and it's unlikely to be unequivocally popular.

October 19 - Associated Press via USA Today

Marilyn Monroe Statue

A Cautionary Tale of Mega-Project Planning

"There’s a dramatic difference, Cityfront Center shows, between real estate success and building a great city."

October 18 - Chicago Tribune

Vancouver

Op-Ed: Treat Vancouver Election as a Referendum on Zoning Decisions

The decision to rezone most of Vancouver to allow for duplexes could have consequences in this weekend's municipal election.

October 18 - The Vancouver Sun


Tacoma Washington

Tacoma Setting Land Use Barriers for Fossil Fuel

Even with a year-long halt on new projects, the city is grappling with plans for industrial land use.

October 18 - Sightline Institute

Central Waterfront Toronto

Toronto's Quayside Will Be Plugged In, But the Risks for Residents Are Unclear

Technology will be part of everyday life in a new Toronto neighborhood, planned by Sidewalk Labs. But looking to the future is also raising a host of privacy concerns.

October 18 - The Star


California State Capital

More States Preempting Local Regulations in the Name of Housing

California gets most of the attention, but states all over the country are removing some of the vestiges of local control to help spur housing development, require affordable housing, and control the skyrocketing cost of housing.

October 18 - Pew Stateline

Missoula

New 'Design Excellence Overlay' Aims to Inspire New Development in Missoula

The city of Missoula professes a strategy of "focusing inward" when it comes to growth and development. A new 'Design Excellence Overlay' will help achieve more goals toward that strategy in the city's downtown.

October 18 - Missoula Current

Back Bay

Boston-Area Mayors Announce Ambitious Housing Target

Mayors from 15 cities in the Boston region want to add 185,000 new units by 2030 in response to the housing shortage driving up prices in the region.

October 18 - Metropolitan Area Planning Council

Granny Flats Legalized Citywide in St. Paul

The Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) movement has take hold in the Twin Cities. Now ADUs are allowed all over the city of St. Paul.

October 18 - Pioneer Press

Detroit Riverfront

Massive Private Gift to Fund Parks and Trails in Detroit, Buffalo

The gift is especially notable for its contributions toward efforts to redevelop Detroit's West Riverfront.

October 18 - The Detroit Free Press

Boston T

MBTA Could Save $250 Million on Long-Debated Connector

A missing link in Boston's subway system could be built for a lower price and on an accelerated timeline.

October 18 - Boston Globe

Manhattan, New York City

FEATURE

The View from Hudson Street—With Thoughts on Science and Orthodoxy

Anecdotal evidence isn't enough to make claims about the connection between density and crime, but the planning orthodoxy does so anyway.

October 17 - Fanis Grammenos

Electric Car Charging

Electric Vehicles See Progress at Local Level but Setbacks in Washington

The new IPCC report calls for decarbonization of transportation. While many cities are attempting to do their part, two recent federal developments in trade policy and tax legislation threaten to will make progress more difficult.

October 17 - CityLab

Lake Powell

Utah's Campaign to Deregulate Public Lands

Newly obtained documents reveal the extent of the state's efforts to strip protections from federal lands around the United States.

October 17 - Pacific Standard

Washington DC Metro

Automatic Train Control Returning to D.C. Metro

The computer-driven trains will start up again next year with the goal of improving riders’ experiences.

October 17 - The Washington Post

Arizona Powerball

BLOG POST

How State Lotteries Impact Local Infrastructure

The upsides and downsides of state lottery programs.

October 17 - Kayla Matthews

Driving

The 'Save Driving' Resistance

For all the concern about the "War on Cars," some car lovers perceive self-driving cars as the real threat to the driving experience and the car culture that comes with it.

October 17 - The Detroit Free Press

Southwest LRT

Contractors in Limbo While Southwest LRT Waits for Federal Funding Promise

More evidence that the Federal Transit Administration under the Trump Administration isn't interested in capital investments.

October 17 - Star Tribune

Post News
Senior Manager Operations, Urban Planning

New York City School Construction Authority

Building Inspector

Village of Glen Ellyn

Manager of Model Development

Central Transportation Planning Staff/Boston Region MPO

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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.

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Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.