The Daily Source of Urban Planning News

How the U.S. Could End Traffic Fatalities by 2050
Taking Vision Zero beyond the local level.

Before and After: Behind a Minneapolis Redevelopment Project
In 1997, Milwaukee Road Depot in central Minneapolis was filled with parking lots and little else. Today, it's a mix of shops, housing, offices, and entertainment venues.

Time for a Tesla Turnaround?
The Tesla Model 3 is now America's best-selling electric vehicle. The news follows a spate of bad news for the Silicon Valley-based electric vehicle manufacturer.

Confronting the Eviction Epidemic
An ongoing exhibit at the National Building Museum is designed to make visitors lose sleep over the scope of evictions in the United States, as well as the experience of evictions at the personal level.

BLOG POST
Can 'Ocean Cities' Become the Societies of the Future?
Futuristic, eco-friendly cities can be greener and more eco-friendly, thanks to better use of natural resources.

A New Wave of Reservoir Construction Set to Begin in California
Two massive water storage projects have been awarded $2.6 billion in funding from Proposition 1.
A Call for Bus Rapid Transit in a Miami Suburb
The Miami suburb of Pinecrest, Florida would benefit greatly from a Bus Rapid Transit line on U.S. 1, argues City Councilmember James McDonald

FEATURE
Los Angeles: Focus on Urban Design (Not Just Urban Planning)
By embracing timeless principles of urban placemaking, we can create walkable transit villages and make room for housing at every socioeconomic level. First we have to re-invigorate high quality urban design.

How Social Physics Explains About the World
Big data has ushered in a new era of Social Physics.

Effective Mobility Taxes Need Better Data
The District of Columbia is attempting to build a data-based model for the mix of public and "shared" transportation modes on its streets, but is still finding holes in the data necessary to build new policies.

Charlotte Takes a Step Forward on Affordable Housing Promises
The city of Charlotte has a funding gap to make up if it wants to keep its promises about how much affordable housing to build or maintain in the short term.

Newly Installed Bollards Shooting Water at Jaywalkers in China
Lasers, water vapor, shouting bollards, and facial recognition have all been deployed in the city of Daye in China to control traffic and pedestrians.

California Has 8 of the 10 Most Polluted Cities in the U.S.
Despite ever-stricter air-quality regulations and dropping emissions, the American Lung Association once again finds the state to have some of the worst air in the nation.

Growth Centers on Philadelphia's Downtown, But Poverty Persists Elsewhere
An opinion piece points out the inequities of growth in contemporary Philadelphia.

$1 Billion Mass Pike Redesign Offers a Second Chance for Urban Design
MassDOT has a $1 billion opportunity to redesign the Massachusetts Turnpike (I-90) through Allston. One columnist says it's a rare second chance to correct one of history's mistakes along the Charles River.
Oakland Slow in Keeping Its Promise to Help Small Businesses Deal With Transit Changes
Oakland created a fund of $4 million dollars to aid small businesses affected by the construction of a new BRT line on International Blvd. So far, none of that money has been spent, though some of the funding was supposed to be spent by 2017.

'Unprecedented' Sale of Public Land Concerns 'Even Some Republicans'
As the Department of the Interior auctions off 'vast swaths' of American wilderness to oil and gas companies, fiscal conservatives and conservationists alike wonder if it’s the right thing at the right time.

Four Interest Groups Contributed to the California Transit-Housing Bill's Defeat
Two journalists discuss what led to the defeat of the SB 827, the controversial bill which garnered national attention and lots of in-state opposition from groups that one would think would support the effort to address the state's housing crisis.
Another Use of Motor Vehicle as a Weapon Leaves 10 Dead, 16 Injured in Toronto
A van driver apparently deliberately mowed down pedestrians on sidewalks and intersections in the North York area of Toronto on Monday. The suspect is in custody. The incident is reminiscent of a similar scene last May in Times Square, Manhattan.

And the Parking Crater Award Goes To…
One of the biggest days of the year on the urbanism calendar took place on April 20. No, not marijuana day—the awarding of the Golden Crater award to the winner of Streetsblog's annual Parking Madness competition.
Pagination
City of Moorpark
City of Tustin
Tyler Technologies
City of Astoria
Transportation Research & Education Center (TREC) at Portland State University
Chaddick Institute at DePaul University
Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada
Toledo-Lucas County Plan Commissions
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.