The Daily Source of Urban Planning News

The projects receiving funding through the federal government's roughly $8 billion high speed rail investment travel through more than 40% of congressional districts. Analysts predict this will encourage more legislators to push for related funds.

February 15 - The New York Times

Detroit Mayor Dave Bing is reportedly open to the idea of downsizing the city, and is looking for other fresh ideas to help the city's economy return to a sustainable place.

February 15 - The Detroit News

Amid the economic recession, Habitat for Humanity is transitioning from the construction of single-family homes to more affordable condominiums.

February 15 - The Washington Post

FEATURE

High-density development in Australia is causing more greenhouse gases than the suburbs, argues Dr. Tony Recsei of the group Save Our Suburbs, in this rebuttal of a blog post by Michael Dudley.

February 15 - Tony Recsei

This paper animation clip by Rob Carter shows the urban growth and development of Charlotte, North Carolina over time.

February 14 - Good

Mike Lydon discusses the importance of creating "bikeway networks" -- systems of bike lanes and infrastructures that have varied forms for varied situations.

February 14 - Reconnecting America

The town of Holyoke, Massachusetts has hired Cisco to create a technology-led urban revitalization plan.

February 14 - Fast Company

Writing for <em>The New York Times</em>, Timothy Egan takes a look at some of the empty cities that were abandoned after the housing crash, and why they will be the slums of tomorrow.

February 14 - NYTimes: Opinionator Blog

A large-scale program of high speed rail projects is creating a huge economic impact in China. The fast timeline for these rail projects and the jobs they are creating have American officials looking on jealously.

February 14 - The New York Times

A plan to divert water from Northern California to the state's agricultural heart in the drought-stricken Central Valley has residents and officials on the offensive.

February 13 - San Francisco Chronicle

Bike lanes and sharrows are being added to more streets in Indianapolis, which is a fairly new concept for the city and its drivers.

February 13 - The Indianapolis Star

Outdated or ugly building blighting your skyline? Maybe what it needs is a "facade graft".

February 13 - Gizmag

As homelessness rises in cities and suburbs across the country, local municipalities are trying to get the newly homeless back into homes as quickly as they can.

February 13 - Governing

We may not be driving flying cars, but the futuristic city is here -- in the form of a more intimate connections, communication technologies and social interactions. Former Planetizen Managing Editor Christian Madera discusses.

February 13 - Next American City

Due to its pounding beat and often sexual themes, funk music has been banned from Carnival by the mayor of a small Brazilian town.

February 12 - Reuters

As the Winter Olympics kick off in Vancouver, the city has been named the world's "most livable city".

February 12 - Reuters

The Portland City Council unanimously approved a $613 million, 20 year plan to improve the city's bike infrastructure.

February 12 - Portland Business Journal

Keeping government open and accountable has led to some problems for cities, according to John D. Donahue.

February 12 - Governing

California is looking to fast-track a pilot project that would exempt some construction projects from environment-related legal challenges. It's a move aimed at speeding development and creating jobs, but critics say it will harm the environment.

February 12 - The Desert Sun

This post from <em>The City Fix</em> looks at the investment Mumbai is making in developing a citywide mass transit system.

February 12 - The City Fix