The Daily Source of Urban Planning News

Keeping Old Coal Plants Operating Just Became a Matter of National Security
The president hopes to revitalize the nation's sagging coal industry by forcing utilities to purchase power from aging coal and nuclear power plants in the name of national defense. The news is already paying dividends for coal companies.

California to Invest $1 Billion in Electric Trucks, Buses, Charging Infrastructure
The investment comes not from the state legislature but from two regulatory bodies, the Air Resources Board and the Public Utilities Commission, authorizing the expenditure of VW settlement funds and utility ratepayer funds, respectively.

300 Parking Spaces in New York City Now Saved for Car Share Companies
The city is implementing a pilot program that prioritizes shared cars.

20 Finalists Announced in the 'Canada Smart Cities Challenge'
The winner of the Grand Prize for the Canada Smart Cities Challenge will receive $50 million CAD ($38.5 million USD).

FEATURE
Seattle Planning Director Pursues Equity Amid a Pro-Growth Agenda
An interview with Seattle Planning Director Sam Assefa for the latest installment of the "Planners Across America" series.

Lyft to Buy Motivate, One of America's Largest Bike Share Providers
Motivate operates Ford Gobike in the Bay Area, Citi Bike in New York and Divvy in Chicago among other bike share fleets.

Study: Unbundle Parking for the Most Effective Transportation Demand Management
A new study by Mobility Lab makes a strong case for unbundling parking from rent to inspire more sustainable transportation choices.

Start Up Will Buy Your House and Let You Live There for the Rest of Your Life
A new service targeted at seniors buys homes, but lets the previous owner stay.
Houston Metro's Beacons Serve Visually-Impaired Population
A system of beacons will send signals to cell phones in Houston to help bus riders find stops and navigate public transit safely.

Austin Bus System Overhaul Goes Into Effect Today
Fifteen routes will be eliminated and 50 routes altered as part of Capital Metro's bus system redesign, called the "Cap Remap."

Sunday Fun: 'MTA Country' Video Game Recreates the New York Subway Commute
Spend your free time dealing with the frustrations of your commute, but in video game form.
Meet the 'Zero-Carbon' Natural Gas Power Plant
A new natural gas power plant promises a revolution in carbon capture.

Lack of Complete Streets Progress Sparks a Mass Resignation
Members of the Phoenix Complete Streets Advisory Board say the city isn't living up to the promises of its complete streets policy.

Dockless Bikeshare Pilot to Launch in New York City
Critics of Mayor Bill de Blasio's "Five-Borough Bikeshare" program argue that Citi Bike should be expanded instead.

When 160 Mayors Talk About the State of the City
An annual report aggregates the State of the City speeches of mayors all over the country.

BLOG POST
Don't Miss the Call for Proposals for the 2019 National Planning Conference
The 2019 National Planning Conference will introduce new tracks in Housing, Community and Economic Development; International, Comparative and Global Planning; Small Town and Rural Planning; and Academic and Professional Research.

A Wetter Midwest Challenges Planning and Infrastructure
FiveThirtyEight explores how planners in the Midwest are trying to get ahead of an intensifying climate.

Prominent St. Louis Developer Accused of Fraud
The local developer is accused of inflating property values and defrauding a program meant to spur investment in distressed areas.

Editorial Exposes Bay Area Housing Hypocrisy
Cities can't have it both ways on the housing crisis, asserts an SF Chronicle editorial. Case in point: Berkeley passes a resolution to declare homelessness a state of emergency while opposing legislation to allow BART to develop its parking lots.

A Flurry of Expansion Plans for Milwaukee Arts Institutions
Buoyed by a strong economy and robust fundraising, a wide variety of arts institutions in Milwaukee want to remodel or relocate to new buildings. Here's a look at some of their plans.
Pagination
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
Transportation Research & Education Center (TREC) at Portland State University
Municipality of Princeton (NJ)
Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada
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.