The Daily Source of Urban Planning News

Parking Meter Fail

A New Video to Explain the High Cost of Free Parking

Mobility Lab, the Chilton Media Group, and Vox have produced a new video on the price of parking, and "how we have historically done it all wrong" in the United States.

July 19 - Mobility Lab

Rural Bus

Difficult Data to Understand: City Drivers Logging More Miles, Rural Drivers Fewer

As America's VMT returns to record highs, more of the miles are coming from cities than ever before.

July 19 - Slate

Transit Village Plans Popping Up All Over San Jose

A long-awaited BART extension into San Jose, California is also bringing major development interest of the transit-oriented variety.

July 19 - The Mercury News

U.S> Department of Housing and Urban Development

Trump Administration Suddenly Drops Fair Housing Concerns in Westchester, New York

The news that the Trump Administration hired a former party planner to oversee HUD's New York and New Jersey office went viral in June. The hire has already had an effect on affordable housing policy in Westchester County, New York.

July 19 - lohud

California

California Legislature Approves Continuation of Cap-and-Trade Program

The nation's only state-run, market-based program to reduce greenhouse gas emissions will continue until 2031 without fear of litigation, as it passed with the required two-thirds supermajority needed for tax increases, along with two related bills.

July 19 - Planetizen


Gas Works Park

Seattle Considers Licensing and Fees for Cyclists

Many argue that bikes save cities millions by lessening pollution, improving public health, and opening up space that would otherwise be taken by cars and parking, but some counter it's too hard to ticket bikers when they don't have licenses.

July 19 - The Seattle Times

Reflection Canyon, Glen Canyon National Recreation Area

Desert 5, Humans 0

Look no further than the American Southwest for signs that human ingenuity is no match for the ability of the planet to reassert its power.

July 19 - Pacific Standard


Austin Neighborhood Objects to Proposed Transect Zone

The CodeNext project of updating the city of Austin's zoning code and land use policies has faced a controversial and protracted period of public scrutiny. The Allandale neighborhood provides a case study.

July 19 - Austin American-Statesman

Pittsburgh Bikeshare Trips Decline, While Users Mostly Coast Downhill

"Healthy Ride," the bikeshare system launched in Pittsburgh in 2015, is looking to improve on sagging performance.

July 19 - Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

New Orleans Streetcar

New Orleans Begins Planning for the Future of Mobility

The city of New Orleans recently launched a new 20-year transit planning process.

July 19 - The Times-Picayune

Cleveland, Ohio

Cleveland Clinic Lacks a Prescription for its Community

According to an article by Dan Diamond, the Cleveland Clinic is a worldwide success story, but the community surround the hospital "remains mired in poverty."

July 18 - Politico

Marine Drive

The Remaining Gap Between 'Smart Cities' Ambition and Reality

A critique of a proposed "smart cities" development in Mumbai reveals how much work remains in providing the resources and maintaining the rigor to built sustainable, resilient, liveable cities.

July 18 - The Conversation

San Diego metropolitan Transit System

San Diego Activists Plan a Pedestrian Promenade and 'Nudillo'

Activists organized to save their downtown San Diego neighborhoods from the NFL Chargers' stadium proposal. Their defense strategy? A fine-grained community plan with no stadium. In the process, they came upon the idea of a promenade and a "Nudillo."

July 18 - UrbDeZine

Sunset Plaza

The Secrets of 'Place Making' Success

Some well-meaning urbanists try a place-making-in-a-box approach. Their efforts would resonate more if they took the neighborhood’s history and culture into account.

July 18 - Streetsblog LA

Gas Pump

The Vital Role of Gas Tax Indexing

Without an automatic adjustment for gas taxes, revenue from the tax declines due to increasing fuel efficiency standards while road maintenance and construction costs increase due to inflation. Witness Wisconsin's woes.

July 18 - WUWM (Milwaukee Public Radio)

Transportation Network Company

Uber Hoping to Mend Relationship with Drivers by Offering Equity, Tips

Uber drivers may be offered equity in the company if a company plan goes through.

July 18 - Business Insider

Venice Canals

Venice, California Has Fewer Housing Units Than in 2000

Venice, the famously picturesque neighborhood in Los Angeles, has become a poster child for wealthy urban enclave that has closed its doors to development and new residents—despite a strong local economy.

July 18 - Fox Business

Governor Larry Hogan

U.S. DOT Won't Investigate Potential Civil Rights Violation on Baltimore Red Line Cancellation

In the waning days of the Obama Administration, the U.S. Department of Transportation saw reason to investigate the civil rights implications of a decision to cancel funding for the Baltimore Red Line light rail project.

July 18 - Streetsblog USA

Atlanta BeltLine

An Investigation of Affordable Housing Failure on the Atlanta Beltline

An investigative collaboration between the Georgia News Lab and The Atlanta Journal-Constitution has produced a scathing critique of Atlanta Beltline Inc., the organization shepherding one of the nation's most ambitious public works projects.

July 18 - The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Property Tax Assessment Shake Up in Wisconsin

A highly anticipated decision by the Wisconsin State Supreme Court has stakeholders scrambling to anticipate changes to the property tax system.

July 18 - Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel

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Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools

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Planning for Universal Design

Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.