The Daily Source of Urban Planning News
What's Wrong With the Ethanol Mandate?
A former EPA official makes the case in a New York Times op-ed that the ethanol mandate, a major issue in Monday's presidential caucus in Iowa, the nation's top corn producer, is implemented so poorly that it is not benefiting the environment.
FHWA Ruffles Feathers With Font Change for Highway Signs
After adopting the Clearview font in 2004, ending the Highway Gothic in use since the 1960s, the U.S. Federal Highway Administration reversed course in January and will again require the older font. This small change matter a great deal.
Everyone Wants a Piece of Havana—Can Cuba Keep Up?
Cuba and its capital city of Havana are experiencing several, simultaneous revolutions. The opportunity for residents is also an opportunity for developers and architects, as well as a challenge for planners.
London Gets £13 Million to Boost Electric Vehicles
London is one of the four U.K. cities that will become international pioneers of green vehicle technology, after getting £13 million (€17m, $18.5m) to boost the number of plug-in cars on their roads.
Columbus Political Leadership Wants a New Transit Plan
Columbus, Ohio is expected to grow to 500,000 residents by 2050, but all recent efforts to raise the funds for a large investment in transit have stalled. The new City Council president wants to try again.
The Trouble With Using GDP to Measure Economic Growth
Following recent bad news about the sluggish growth of the country's gross domestic product (GDP), the Brooking Institution reminds policy makers that growth does not necessarily trickle down to economic well-being.
How to Beat Extreme Heat
Louisville, Kentucky has recently been named the "most rapidly growing urban heat island" in the U.S., but what led to this title? Jeff Byles traces how cities are becoming increasingly warm through a number of different factors, including economic.
Advocating for Planning When Presidential Campaigns Come to Town
All eyes are on Iowa's caucuses today, but presidential campaigns will be touring communities all over the country for months. The APA wants planners to be ready to explain the importance of planning when such rare opportunities arise.
Facebook Developing Carpool Capabilities
The most popular social media site in the world is the latest entry in the quickly evolving world of mobility applications after filing a patent to for technology that would connect carpoolers.
Houston's Lower-Income and Minority Communities Face Lack of Access to Medical Care
Maps showing the concentration of medical facilities in Houston, shows a greater density in higher-income areas.
Protecting the Lungs of Children by Improving School Location
With the national spotlight rightfully focused on the irreversible effects of lead in the drinking water of Flint, Michigan, another insidious threat remains: motor vehicle emissions affecting children's lungs.
Fighting the Urge to Diverge: Straightening Transit Routes
A transit rider and writer has a simple and succinct request for transit planners in Minneapolis: straighten out your transit routes.
A Primer on New York City’s Fast, Free Public Wi-Fi
New York City’s new public Wi-Fi system is fast—really fast. But before you logon, remember to take all those encryption precautions you've heard about for years.
A Forced Gentrification May End Amsterdam’s Red Light District
In an attempt to force out organized crime and bring in a better class of tourist, the local government has forced the closure of brothels in the city's famed Red Light District.
Wave of Walmart Closures Cuts Across the Rural, Urban Divide
January marked an unprecedented contraction for Walmart, which closed 269 stores, including all 105 of its small format Walmart Express stores.
How the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Failed the People of Flint
While blame squarely lays with Michigan state officials, agencies, and possibly Gov. Rick Snyder himself, the EPA also played a role by both detecting the cause of the problem but not acting on the reports of improper treatment of river water.
Digging Deeper Into the Deal That Brought GE to Boston
The big news about GE moving to Boston is more than just a story about a large company moving from the suburbs to the big city—it's also about how far cities will go to attract new jobs, and at what cost.
Skyscrapers and Starchitects Coming Soon to Downtown San Francisco
Take a tour of the changes coming the to the Transbay District in San Francisco.
Bikeshare Means Transit to New Yorkers
A case is emerging from data shared by Citibike that the system gets the most use by commuters. Federal legislation is in the works that would make bikeshare-as-transit official.
Population Growth Shifts to Urban Virginia
Newly released data from the Weldon Cooper Center's Demographics Research Group shows a state shifting in population growth northward—toward Washington D.C. and inner ring suburbs.
City of Moorpark
City of Tustin
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.
