The Daily Source of Urban Planning News
Sen. Tom Coburn Doesn't Get Bikes
On his blog, Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood lambastes Senator Coburn for calling bike infrastructure wasteful.
Touring Las Vegas' New Shining Hope
As the final construction took place, critic James Russell toured the newly-opened CityCenter. With 6,000 new hotel rooms opening in an already tanking market, will CityCenter sink Vegas or become its new star attraction?
Is Marketing the Key to Transit Success?
Los Angeles County's transit agency has increased its marketing efforts in recent years. This piece from <em>The City Fix</em> suggests the push has been an effective tool and that other transit agencies should take note.
Second Record Year for Foreclosures
By the end of the year, more than 3.9 million homes will have been foreclosed in the U.S., the second year in a row that figures have broken previous records.
Advice From City Cycling Celebrities
New York City Transportation Commissioner Janette Sadik-Khan, Congressman Earl Blumenauer, and rock star David Byrne recently offered their thoughts on making cities more bike friendly.
Steamy Streets
The steam rising from New York City streets in the winter offers a lesson about urban infrastructure, according to this explainer form <em>Urban Omnibus</em>.
Population Inches Up in Philadelphia
For the first time in 59 years, the population of Philadelphia increased in 2008, according to revised figures from the U.S. Census Bureau.
Moving Up to a Rental
Former homeowners forced out of their houses are becoming renters. It seems to be a good thing for them -- and the economy.
The Importance of Beauty
A study by Richard Florida and others concludes that the beauty of a place is a highly significant factor in community satisfaction.
Rendell On the National Infrastructure Bank
<em>The Infrastructurist</em> talks with Pennsylvania Governor Ed Rendell -- "a friend of infrastructure" -- about the proposed National Infrastructure Bank.
Buffalo Architecture Snubs the Street
Tim Tielman, executive director of the Campaign for Greater Buffalo takes a look at the new Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus and the terrible lack of "eyes on the street" there.
Grand Entrance Planned for Jerusalem
Mayor Nir Barkat is behind a plan to revitalize the entry to the capital with skyscrapers and a modern look.
BLOG POST
Win-Win Transportation Emission Reduction Strategies: Good News for Copenhagen
<span style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'"> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt" class="MsoNormal"> <span style="font-family: Calibri">Here is good news for anybody looking for smart ways to reduce climate change. </span><a href="http://www.vtpi.org/wwclimate.pdf"><span style="font-family: Calibri; color: #0000ff">"Win-Win" transportation emission reduction strategies</span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri"> can provide substantial energy conservation and emission reductions in ways that also help achieve economic and social objectives.</span> </p>
Transit Agencies Without Open Data: We See You
A new site from the people behind WalkScore shows you where to track your commute, and singles out the transit agencies who are failing to let you.
BLOG POST
Mixier Use
<p> A recent event organized by <a href="http://www.good.is" target="_blank" title="Good Magazine">Good Magazine</a>, <a href="http://www.sheridanhawkes.com" target="_blank" title="Sheridan/Hawkes Collaborative">Sheridan/Hawkes Collaborative</a> and <a href="http://www.popsiclesforeveryone.org/" target="_blank" title="The Public Studio">The Public Studio</a> brought together about 30 civic-minded designers, planners and architects to come up with some ways to improve the urban environment of Los Angeles. It was a big question to tackle in one afternoon, with a huge array of possible solutions. The crowd was split up into five separate groups and surprisingly, each came up with a similar answer: taco trucks. OK, not taco trucks specifically, but the essence of taco trucks and what they bring to the city.
Do 'Megaregions' Make Sense?
The Urbanophile attempts to separate the hype from the usefulness of the concept of the 'megaregion', deciding in the end that it is a 'convenient abstraction for federal-level thinkers.'
Historic Settlement With Native Americans For Land Trust Abuses
The U.S. Government has agreed to a settlement of $3.4 billion for failing to pay royalties on mineral and grazing leases to Native Americans.
When Architecture Goes Bad
Fast Company looks at six examples of architecture that rebelled, from SOM's Lever House to Boston's John Hancock Tower.
It Takes A Village, But Walmart Won't Bite
In Pass Christian, Mississippi, it seemed WalMart was on board for a village-style, mixed-use development that would include one of their stores. That is, until Walmart brass heard about the project.
Four-Year Vacancies in NYC?
The New York City Housing Authority has come under fire because thousands of affordable rental units are sitting vacant, some for years at a time.
City of Moorpark
City of Tustin
Tyler Technologies
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.
