The Daily Source of Urban Planning News
The Smoggy Side of Cleveland
A new government-sponsored 'HazeCam' provides a running feed of downtown air pollution, with the aim of prompting local residents to reconsider their commuting habits.
Footing the Bill for the Cancelled ARC Project
And the tab is substantial: $271 million. NJ Gov. Christie, who killed the trans-Hudson, $9 billion rail tunnel for financial reasons, is now left owing funds for work completed that his state would not be liable for had he not canceled the project.
Building Bike Lanes to Lure the Creative Class
As the debate over new bike lanes pits New Yorkers against each other, people should refocus on the economic benefits the lanes can provide, argues Richard Florida.
Listening for Landslides
Researchers have developed a new technology to sense the acoustic conditions that indicate oncoming landslides.
Wasted Oil, By Design
This episode of public radio program <em>99% Invisible</em> looks at oil, and how the way people move from work to home has been seemingly designed to waste fuel.
D.C. Takes Long-Range Transit Planning Online
Washington D.C.'s Metro is expecting a major increase in ridership over the next 30 years. To try to meet that demand, they're recruiting ideas from the public with a new outreach effort.
Burning Man a Dome Zone, But Not Beyond
Buckminster Fuller's geodesic dome housing design is a popular form of housing at the temporary festival Burning Man. But why hasn't a good idea caught on in the mainstream?
Reforesting the Vietnamese Warzone
Jungles blasted clear during the Vietnam war four decades ago are now at the center of a debate in the country about how forests should be recovered.
Would People Obey Speed Limits If They Were - Fun?
Kevin Richardson came up with a fanciful idea for rewarding good drivers while punishing bad ones: speed cameras could ticket speeders, the money would go into a pot, and good drivers would be selected randomly by the camera to win big money.
Property Taxes Discourage Density
Local property taxes are often levied disproportionately on multifamily developers, resulting in higher taxes for apartment-dwellers, says Stephen Smith.
For Community Attachment, It's Love and Then Money
A new study shows that three qualities - social offerings, openness, and beauty - strengthen residents' level of community attachment more than other urban variables, and that passion for place may be a leading indicator of local economic growth.
For Sale: Organic Farm Included
Developers are building more and more residential communities around organic farms, banking on increased resident demand for locally grown food, outdoor recreation space, and small-town charm.
Bus-Only Lane Proposal Meets Opposition in L.A.
Officials in Los Angeles are considering a plan to install a bus-only lane on the region's most used commuter route. But neighbors along a small segment of the road are fighting the proposal.
The State of Development in Abu Dhabi and Doha
Nicolai Ouroussoff, architecture critic for <em>The New York Times</em>, offers this lengthy look at the state of development and design in Abu Dhabi and Doha.
A Very High Density Future for Cities
Architect Peter Weingarten discusses the importance of high-rise buildings, and why the future of cities will be very high density.
Madison May Be Left Out of Midwest High Speed Rail Plans
The fate of a proposed high speed rail corridor between Chicago and Milwaukee remains uncertain, but if plans do go ahead, Madison may be left out.
Meeting Slum Sanitation Needs Sustainably
With a collective population of more than 10 million, Kenya's slums face major sanitation issues. A new project offers a sustainable solution.
BLOG POST
Neighborhood Change
<p>It is often - and very inaccurately - said that people hate change. When people get married - they are overjoyed. When they hold the winning lottery ticket, or have children or get a raise or a promotion or a new car, they are thrilled. These are forms of change that illustrate the point that change is not what people hate; what people have trouble with is certain forms of change. This becomes especially relevant to planners and designers and community developers who are part of processes - shaping, facilitating, leading, participating in, or otherwise advocating for one form of change or another.</p>
Streetcar Revival on its Way to Atlanta
Atlanta's $72 million streetcar plan is taking shape, with lines expected to open in 2013. But not everyone in the city thinks the project is worth the cost.
China Gets Serious About Sustainability
Warren Karlenzig is back from two recent visits to China, and says the Chinese government is preparing to release a hugely ambitious agenda for getting greener.
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
Transportation Research & Education Center (TREC) at Portland State 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.
