The Daily Source of Urban Planning News
The Smoke Clears In Paris
<p>Beginning tomorrow, smoking will be banned in all public restaurants, bars and cafes in Paris, a city where smoking is as much a part of the culture as an addiction.</p>
Amtrak's Ridership Up, But Funding Remains An Issue
<p>For the fifth year straight, Amtrak is reporting record highs in ridership. But funding remains a major concern for the struggling transit service.</p>
Parking Illustrated
<p>In this video from <em>Streetfilms</em>, Donald Shoup discusses and shows how parking reform can work. Toy cars and stop-motion animation included.</p>
San Francisco's Historic Gem Returned To Life
<p>San Francisco's latest and perhaps most glorious restoration is the 1890 De Young Building that was the original home of The Chronicle has now been converted to a Ritz Carlton after having been an undignified office building for the last 43 years.</p>
China Abandons Yangtze Dam Plans
<p>The dam would have forced the flooding of one of China's most visited tourist sites and displaced more than 100,000. Plans are still in the works for a hydropower dam on the river, but the exact location is uncertain.</p>
Public Transit For a Month
<p>Millions take public transit in New York every day. <em>The New York Times</em> is beginning a month-long series looking at the commute and culture of public transit in the city.</p>
'Superferry' Takes Off, But Controversy Persists
<p>The 866-passenger Hawaiian Superferry has begun operations despite months of controversy over its environmental consequences. With an environmental impact statement due in 18 months and plenty of opponents, the Superferry is not yet in the clear.</p>
Looking To Architects As Bellwhethers of Building Industry Trends
<p>This column from <em>The Washington Post</em> looks at the housing and development trends presented by the American Institute of Architects' Home Design Trends survey.</p>
Finding Canada's Happy Place
<p>A new Canadian study shows that people in smaller, less affluent cities are happier than those in larger, rapidly-growing ones.</p>
New Year To Bring $10 Toll To Southern California Commuters
<p>In 2008, $10 tolls will be awaiting some Inland Empire commuters to Orange County who use the 91 Express Lanes of the Riverside Freeway, depending upon what day and time they travel home.</p>
The German Urban Planning Workhorse
<p>One German planner's influence has been seen in projects across the world. Now he's refocusing his eyes on his home country.</p>
Thoughts on America's Affordable Housing Shortage
<p>This report from <em>NPR</em> looks at the shortage of affordable housing in America.</p>
The City of Blinding Lights is Starting To See 'Green'
<p>The first thermal plant in 16 years opened this summer in southern Nevada. And America's most expensive private development - a new hotel and casino complex on the Strip - is getting LEED certified.</p>
Planned Communities Take Nosedive in Idaho
<p>Proposals for planned communities have taken a sharp downturn in Idaho since last year. A deteriorating housing market and the lack of infrastructure are being cited for delays in development.</p>
Is New Urbanism The Way To A Green Future?
<p>This article from <em>Time</em> discusses the burden development places on the environment and how New Urbanism seeks to mitigate this burden.</p>
America's Global Warming-Fighting Attorney General
<p>California Attorney General (and former governor) Jerry Brown may be to global warming what former NY Attorney General (now Governor) Elliot Spitzer was to corporate reform, as his widely watched lawsuits, and threats of lawsuits, have gained fame.</p>
The End of The Big Dig
<p>With the end of 2007 comes the official end of Boston's "Big Dig."</p>
The Path To Preserving L.A.'s Industrial Lands
<p>Preserving industrial land in Downtown L.A. is the focus of a broad city report to be released in January. The city recommends classifying specific areas into four land use categories to guide development in the area increasingly sought by investors.</p>
The Year's Best In Livable Streets
<p><em>Streetsblog</em> has announced the winners of its livable streets awards, commending such public works as bike lanes and low emissions policies.</p>
Height Restrictions May Be Lifted In Paris
<p>This report from <em>NPR</em> looks at plans in Paris that could lift building height restrictions and dramatically alter the city's skyline.</p>
Tyler Technologies
New York City School Construction Authority
Village of Glen Ellyn
Chaddick Institute at DePaul University
Institute for Housing and Urban Development Studies (IHS)
City of Grandview
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.
