The Daily Source of Urban Planning News
Vermont the Latest State to Post Fatality Figures on Roadside Signs
Call it the low-hanging fruit of traffic safety: a number of states around the country post traffic fatality figures on the message boards posted along highways. Questions remain whether such safety campaigns actually work.
Slot-Based Design Could Eliminate Traffic Lights
An MIT study determined that traffic lights, and their inefficiencies, could be eliminated if all vehicles were equipped to regulate their speed and "batch" together as they approach intersections.
Study: Geography Matters for Life Expectancy of Low Income Residents
A new study, released this week, reveals the connections between geography and life expectancy.
City vs. Suburb Battle Reignites
There's a new volley in the long-running battle between cities and suburbs. In his new book "The Human City," urban scholar Joel Kotkin contends that cities and their planners have lost sight of the residents who matter most: families.
Dedicated Bus Lanes Open on Crowded D.C. Corridor
A speedy approval process will have popular buses moving at a speedy pace down Georgia Avenue in Washington, D.C.
A Preview of the Cincinnati Streetcar: Expected to Open Sept. 1
The Cincinnati City Council is considering a budget for the eagerly anticipated Cincinnati Streetcar this week, revealing new details about the expected opening and early operations of the system.
Meet the Youth Plaintiffs Suing for Climate Change Action
A federal magistrate judge recently allowed a group of 21 youth plaintiffs to proceed with a lawsuit charging the federal government with neglecting their constitutional rights by failing to act on climate change.
City Study Finds Lots of Illegal Airbnb Listings in San Francisco
Despite Airbnb's promises to better regulate the hosts that use their site, and despite legislation approved a little over a year ago by the city, abuse of short-term rentals is rampant in San Francisco.
Four Land Use Features for Better Health
The latest from a growing body of research on the connections between land use and public health identifies four characteristics of land use that produce beneficial public health outcomes.
Rebecca Solnit: Public Transit Is Greater Than Self-Driving Cars
Rebecca Solnit writes a pointed criticism of the wave of optimism attached to the self-driving car. Her preference: public transit.
Coming to Grips With Post-Coal Reality in Wyoming
The state of Wyoming made billions in tax revenues off the coal industry. But after waves of layoffs, those left in the state are asking: What's left of those revenues for workers?
$8 Billion 'Chicago Bypass' Freight Line Proposed
A private developer is pursuing a proposal that would invest $8 billion in a freight line in the Midwest.
Legal Spat Over Plan to Widen I-405 in Orange County
Orange County, California transportation officials want to widen the 405 to reduce travel times and ease predicted congestion. The cities of Seal Beach and Long Beach are concerned about how that will impact traffic on surface streets.
More Than One Way to Gauge How Much Americans are Driving
Last year the U.S. Department of Transportation reported an increase of 3.3 percent in miles-traveled. During that same period, use of toll facilities, i.e., where motorists elect to pay to drive, increased 7.7 percent according to a new analysis.
A Critical Review of the Atlanta Streetcar Planning Process
The first phase of the Atlanta Streetcar is open to the public, though the city has big plans to extend the line. One planning academic hopes to redirect the planning process.
Coming to a Coastal City Near You: The International Sea Level Institute
A global problem requiring local solutions—sea level rise is one of the great planning challenges of the 21st century. A new institute wants to help cities prepare for the future.
BLOG POST
Trends from the APA 2016 Conference
The American Planning Association 2016 National Conference included a wide variety of topics and a significant amount of tweeting. This blog shares the highlights from the conference.
Plans for Massive Oil Pipeline to Philadelphia Taking Shape
Oil industry representatives have coalesced behind a plan to connect Philadelphia with the Marcellus Shale region with a large new pipeline. A recently completed conceptual plan for the pipeline is intended to build political support.
'Back to Normal' for BART's East Bay Commuters...Maybe
Two 'good news' stories greeted suffering BART riders this past week. First, service was back to normal between North Concord and Pittsburg/Bay Point stations. Second, new cars have arrived, though they will not be put into service until December.
Court Ruling Deals Blows to Granny Flat Permits in Los Angeles
Granny flats, also known as mother-in-law units or accessory dwelling units, are a hot button item in most cities. A county court recently took the city of Los Angeles' finger off the button, so to speak.
City of Moorpark
City of Tustin
Tyler Technologies
City of Astoria
Transportation Research & Education Center (TREC) at Portland State University
Chaddick Institute at DePaul 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.
