The Daily Source of Urban Planning News
The Best "Adventure Towns" in the U.S.
Outside Magazine compiles their top 25 U.S. towns for outdoor adventure. Considered alongside the availability of great kayaking and biking were stats like percentage of college graduates and cost of living.
Bridge's Congestion Pricing May Extend to Entire City
Peak period pricing on the Bay Bridge, enacted by the regional Bay Area Toll Authority on July 1, is the first application of congestion pricing for driving in the Bay Area. Officials in San Francisco feel the outcome is favorable for their project.
In Oregon, Students Seek Key to a Sustainable City
Roughly 600 University of Oregon students will take part in the university's Sustainable Cities Initiative, which pulls together students of architecture, planning, law, journalism and business to make a plan to fix downtown Salem.
Cairo's New Megacities
Overcrowding and pollution in Cairo have inspired planners to push out into the desert, raising two brand-new cities out of the sand.
Growth in Footprint Far Exceeded Growth in People
A new study shows that while development in the North Carolina mountains increased 568 percent between 1976 and 2006, the population only increased 48 percent. What happened?
County Stuck With Mall It Bought At Cusp of Recession
Chesterfield County, Virginia purchased the ailing Cloverleaf Mall two years ago with the idea of turning it into a mixed-use development. One recession later, the mall still stands and the city is stuck with an "expensive eyesore".
10 Minute Max
A "simple and powerful idea" is catching on with transit agencies around the world: the 10 Minute Max transit system, which was recently announced in Montréal.
HUD Announces Pilot Grants
Applicants have until November 22 to submit applications for a new round of HOPE VI funds.
America's "Forgotten Cities"
The website 24/7 Wall St. analyzes a number of sources of data to identify "dead cities" -- those which have lost their economic foundations.
Libertarians and Urbanism
Urbanists have rightfully been wary of libertarianism in the past, says Stephen Smith, but a new crop of Jane Jacobs-loving libertarians could change that perception.
Brad Pitt's New Orleans Homes "Symbolically Invaluable"
Architecture critic James Russell tours the homes built in New Orleans' Ninth Ward by Brad Pitt's Make It Right Foundation and finds a lot to like.
As Slump Continues, Developers Turn to Mixed-Use, Ped-Friendly Homes
In a new survey conducted in the Tri-State and Mid-Atlantic regions, 60% of developers said they were shifting their emphasis away from big houses to "conservative pedestrian-oriented mixed-use neighborhoods."
Park Smart Pilot Has Cut Traffic in Park Slope, DOT Finds
Higher parking meter prices have helped allow more people to park in the Brooklyn neighborhood even while easing congestion.
"Dilbert" Creator Tries to Build Green House
Scott Adams, creator of the Dilbert comic strip, walks readers through the planners, planning commissioners, architects and builders that plagued him through his quest to build a sustainable home.
What And Who NYC Pedestrians Should Watch Out For
Not taxis, trucks, or buses as many might have thought. It's left turning motorists -especially if they are men! And you are less likely to get struck if you jaywalk than if you cross with the light, though if you do get hit it will be more serious
Is There a "Right" Kind of Mosque?
Attempts to eliminate all visible traces of Islamic influence from the design and nomenclature of the Park51 project contributes to the de-legitimization of Islam in America, writes Aisha Ghani.
The New and Familiar
New restaurants are striving to look like (and to be) community institutions, reflecting old-style pubs, meeting halls and marketplaces.
From Storm Drain to Sidewalk
An architect and planner in India has proposed a plan to convert Delhi's storm drains into a network of walkways and passages.
Interactive Map Documents Road Quality
A new interactive map shows wear-and-tear on city roads, color-coding where work needs to be done and where smooth rides can be found.
Maglev: Dreaming the Impossible Dream?
The idea of a magnetic levitation train has been bubbling for decades, but has yet to materialize in the U.S. Some say the idea is a pipe dream, but this column from <em>The Baltimore Sun</em> says the idea just needs the right home.
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.
