The Daily Source of Urban Planning News
Photographing a Decade of Difference in East Germany
After a trip through Eastern Germany in 1990 photographing blasted out buildings from World War Two, photographer Stefan Koppelkamm's second trip ten years later revealed vastly renovated places -- to his disappointment.
Operational Issues Keeping Residents Out of Olympic Housing in Vancouver
Housing created for the Olympic Village in Vancouver was intended to be reused after the 2010 event as affordable housing. But the province hasn't been able to find an operator. Now the city wants to move ahead without the province's help.
Counting Foot Traffic in Times Square
The <em>BBC</em> talks with some of the people involved with counting pedestrians in New York City's Times Square. Since being closed off to cars, foot traffic has greatly increased.
Small But Important Steps in Amtrak's High Speed Rail Plan
Amtrak has unveiled a $117 billion plan to build and increase high speed rail in the U.S.
Dubai Calms Down
After nearly collapsing under the pressure of a free-wheeling building boom, Dubai is on the rebound. A new internal accounting effort is trying to explore what went wrong and how to avoid those mistakes in the future.
Brooklyn Bridge Park's Evolving Role
As a new park near the Brooklyn Bridge gradually opens in New York, the role it plays in public life in the city is already evolving.
FEATURE
A New Urban Park for Dallas
New Urbanism = Bars Closing Early?
Coverage of a Jefferson Parish Council meeting about zoning changes to the Fat City neighborhood to make it a mixed-use community equate New Urbanism with earlier closing times for local bars.
Looking for Livability in Congress
<em>Grist</em> talks with Rep. Earl Blumenauer of Oregon about congressional efforts to integrate ideas of livability into communities and policy.
New Study Reexamines Causes and Costs of Congestion
Analysis indicates that compact development reduces the time urban residents spent in traffic and requires less spending on highways.
The Fractiousness of Bay Area Transit
From outside, it can appear that the San Francisco Bay Area is very good at transit. But when you look deeper, you'll see that the system of regional governance makes change and improvements for commuters nearly impossible, says Yonah Freemark.
Best Videos About Urban Planning
<em>Democrablog</em> offers this list of 50 videos on YouTube that focus on urban planning and related issues.
Small Town Bucks Trend, Lowers Property Tax
While cities across the country are raising fees to counteract the recession, the village of Schaumburg, Illinois is bucking the trend and decreasing or even eliminating municipal fees.
Building Takes More Realistic Pace in Dubai
Once the site of a seemingly endless string of outlandish building projects, Dubai has shaken off the dust from the market crash and resumed building less flashy projects at a steadier pace.
Community-Led Efforts Unseen in New Orleans
Looking back on five years of recovery in post-Katrina New Orleans, Roberta Brandes Gratz bemoans the fact that much of the community-based work remains below the radar.
BLOG POST
Reflections on Urban Parenthood (Year 1)
<div>As young planners bursting into the real world we are anxious to create communities that are vibrant, fun, and speak to the urbanity that will host future generations of our civilization. What we lack in experience we make up for in enthusiasm, and hope that our superiors guide us on the finer points of less crystallized aspects of critical infrastructure such as designing for the elderly, disabled, and those semi-attached to a stroller. In traffic engineering, we often hear a common rebuttal to technical traffic analysis from communities; they say, “I drive these streets every day, so I understand traffic here better than you.” Well, they’re right.
Builders, Developers and Cities Team Up Against Florida's Amendment 4
Amendment 4, on the Nov. ballot in Florida, would put state-mandated growth plans before the voters, and could mean any change to a community's development plan would have to be approved by the masses.
Taking the 'Mass' Out of Mass Transit
Is the isolation of personal rapid transit truly viable for mass transit?
Regionalism Takes A Step Forward In CA With SB 375 Targets Approved
NRDC land use expert Amanda Eaken blogs about the approval by the Air Resources Board of the regional targets required by SB 375 to reduce global warming caused by transportation. An overlooked result may be the new powers resting with MPOs.
Candidate's Plans to Return Stimulus Rail Money May Not Work
A gubernatorial candidate in Wisconsin has made a campaign pledge to turn down federal money intended to build a high speed rail route connecting Milwaukee and Wisconsin. But some say he won't be able to do it.
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.
