The Daily Source of Urban Planning News
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Accessibility-Based Planning
<p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; line-height: normal" class="MsoNormal"> <span style="font-size: small; font-family: Calibri">Should society encourage parents to <a href="/node/40737">drive children to school</a> rather than walk or bicycle? Should our transportation policies favor driving over walking, cycling, ridesharing, public transit and telecommuting? Probably not. There is no logical reason to favor automobile travel over other forms of accessibility, and there are lots of good reasons to favor efficient modes, so for example, schools spend at least as much to accommodate a walking or cycling trip as an automobile trip, and transportation agencies and employers spend at least as much to improve ridesharing and public transit commuting as automobile commuting.
Debate Over Letting Kids Walk To School
<cite>The New York Times</cite> goes over the debate over whether it is acceptable to let children walk to school nowadays. The topic has many parents expressing mixed feelings about the issue.
Judge Rules Against Efforts to Stall California's High Speed Rail
A judge has overruled challenges from two northern California cities over the siting of the state's proposed high speed rail line. Environmental studies can now move forward.
Cheapskate Cities
This map from <em>Mint</em> looks at American cities that have spent the least so far in 2009, and those that are also cutting back budgets.
Sustainability Solutions in the City
This piece from the <em>Guardian</em> looks at a handful of projects and ideas that are emphasizing the importance of sustainable metropolitan areas in an age of diminishing resources and environmental devastation.
DC Goes NU
New Urban News looks at the growing influence of New Urbanists and their ideas in Washington, from the appointment of former CNU director Shelley Poticha to a HUD position to the new Livable Communities Act proposed by Sen. Christopher Dodd.
FEATURE
SPECIAL REPORT: A Lobbying Free-For-All
Thousands of special interest groups are competing to influence the new transportation bill. Reporter Matthew Lewis sheds light on the most significant players, in an extensive report from the Center for Public Integrity.
Jeff Speck reviews the NY Street Design Manual
<em>Suburban Nation</em> co-author Jeff Speck cracks the new New York Street Design Manual and finds a lot of useful material and some that falls short.
Controversial Rezoning in Harlem, A Year Later
Controversy surrounded the 125th St. Rezoning, which locals thought would cause rampant gentrification. One year later, little has changed.
Kaid Benfield's Favorite Park
Kaid Benfield, who came in at #42 in our Top 100 Urban Thinkers poll recently, talks about what makes the Jardin du Luxembourg in Paris his favorite in the world.
Stimulus Spreading Work to Otherwise Barren Field of Architecture
Work has been hard to find for many architects over the last year. But for architects doing federal work, the story is a bit different.
The Hawaiian Energy Islands
The islands of Hawaii are proving to be a laboratory for renewable energy projects, playing host to a variety of pilot projects that could end up paving the way for the rest of the country's transition to an energy menu with more renewable options.
Study Shows TND Encourages Walking
Orenco Station in Portland, OR shows that traditional neighborhood development (TND) can decrease car use and encourage walking, according to a new study.
Town Seek to Share Services as Budgets Dwindle
As city and state budgets tighten, town in New Jersey are looking to join forces and share services.
Charlotte Light Rail May See Six Year Delay
In an effort to give themselves more time to pay for it, transit officials in Charlotte may delay an 11-mile light rail extension for six years.
The Two Paths to Sustainability
Achieving sustainability can take one of two paths, according to Richard Carson: centralized or decentralized policy. Choosing one will be crucial.
Le Corbusier for Kids
A new picture book introduces the architecture and urban ideas of Le Corbusier to children.
Senate Blocks Funds to ACORN
Yesterday, the Senate voted to block ACORN (Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now) from receiving grants from HUD. ABC News looks at the latest complaints against the group, and ACORN's chief organizer speaks in defense.
Manhattan is the Greenest City
A review of <em>GREEN METROPOLIS: Why Living Smaller, Living Closer, and Driving Less Are the Keys to Sustainability</em> by David Owen, expanding on his groundbreaking essay in the New Yorker in 2004 on why New York is the greenest city around.
California Environmental Groups Hope to Save State Parks with DMV Fees
Major environmental groups hope this year's park closures, caused by the California budget crisis, will inspire support for parks at the ballot box next year.
Smith Gee Studio
City of Charlotte
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
Transportation Research & Education Center (TREC) at Portland State University
US High Speed Rail Association
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
Municipality of Princeton (NJ)
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.
