The Daily Source of Urban Planning News

Rental Construction

Sunday Funday: Game Simulates the Development Experience

Even though it's simplified, Inside the Rent provides a window into the logic of developers trying to get apartments built in New York City. The game's creators emphasize its educational value.

June 28 - Curbed NY

Historic Charleston

Southern Cities Seek Balance Between Preservation and Modernity

In the wake of recent tragedy, cities like Charleston, South Carolina and Savannah, Georgia still take pride in their architectural heritage. Debate abounds over whether modern architecture should be given freer rein.

June 28 - Next City

NYC Subway Construction

Debate Over Proposed Utica Avenue Subway Line

One of the suggestions in Mayor Bill de Blasio's OneNYC citywide plan is nothing new: an oft-proposed subway extension down Utica Avenue in Brooklyn. Some question whether the area's relatively low density warrants such an expense.

June 28 - the transport politic

Urban Living as a Quadriplegic

Peter Apps, a quadriplegic for the past nine years, shares insight into how he evaluates the mobility and access of cities.

June 28 - Citymetric

Downtown Pittsburgh Stakeholders Pitch Shared Streets

It's an early idea, but Pittsburgh, with support from transportation planners and the Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership, could be the next U.S. city to consider the shared streets concept.

June 28 - Pittsburgh Post-Gazette


New Crude-by-Rail Rule Restricts Access to Information

A May 1 Federal Railroad Administration rule on moving crude by rail was supposed to make routing information more accessible to the the public, but due to lobbying by the rail industry, it will do just the opposite.

June 27 - McClatchy Washington Bureau

Drinking and Peddling Is Legal in Cincinnati (Yes, There's a Catch)

Drinking and riding isn't legal for everyone—but it is legal on a vehicle known as the Pedal Wagon, which seats 15 people around a mobile bar, thanks to a new state law.

June 27 - Cincinnati Business Courier


A Landmark Achievement for Renewable Energy in 2014

The headline from Quartz doesn’t hold back: "Renewable energy just had its best year ever."

June 27 - Quartz

Overcoming Roadblocks to Data-Driven Governance in Cities

Pursuing Mayor Garcetti's "back-to-basics" agenda, the city of Los Angeles' notoriously complex and convoluted bureaucracy has taken big leaps toward data-driven governance—thanks, in large part, to Deputy Mayor of Budget and Innovation Rick Cole.

June 27 - The Planning Report

Toronto's New Complete Street: For Everyone, By Everyone

A complete streets makeover for a stretch of Queens Quay in Toronto earns high praise.

June 27 - Toronto Star

Two New Ambitious Stormwater Capture Plans Proposed for Los Angeles

The state of California, along with county and city officials, have taken several steps forward on plans and projects that could help Los Angeles wean itself from imported water.

June 26 - Los Angeles Times

ReBuild Houston Lawsuit Threatens Road Repair Projects

If a controversial fee fails the scrutiny of the state's courts, roads around the city will suffer the consequences.

June 26 - Houston Chronicle

Gothenburg Sweden

BLOG POST

Way to Go, Göteborg!

Smart cities around the world are finding creative ways to make walking, cycling, public transit, carsharing and delivery services more attractive and efficient. Way to go!

June 26 - Todd Litman

Confederate Flag Debate Spreading to Federal Transportation Funding

An Ohio Senator hopes to use the transportation reauthorization bill to motivate states that issue license plates bearing the Confederate flag to remove them. A week ago the Supreme Court ruled states can do so without violating the first amendment.

June 26 - Cincinnati Enquirer

Danger

Cities Lose Supreme Court Case on Sign Regulation

The Supreme Court, in two separate opinions, unanimously ruled on June 18 against an Arizona town's sign regulation that denied the placement of a street sign based on its content. At question was a sign directing passers-by to a church service.

June 26 - The Washington Post

A 'New Era of Wildfires' in Alaska

The last great U.S. wilderness won't forever remain the frozen tundra imagined by residents of the Lower 48. A new report finds evidence of Alaska's transformation in the increasing frequency and intensity of wildfires around the state.

June 26 - Climate Central

Big Challenges Ahead for Chicago's O'Hare Airport

After spending $10 billion since 2005 on capital improvements, Chicago's O'Hare is still losing business to competitors along with the battle of public opinion.

June 26 - Chicago Tribune

Atlanta Region Developing More Walkable Urban Places

The Atlanta metropolitan area is bucking the trends established by its recent history of sprawling development by building a majority of its new developments as walkable urban places.

June 26 - ATL Urbanist

Friday Eye Candy: First-Ever Vertical Street View Scales El Capitan in Yosemite

Google Street View climbed 3,000 feet, straight up, to capture the images for its first-ever vertical street view.

June 26 - Google

Friday Funny: All Signs Point to a Miserable Commute

Finally a road sign that tells it like it is.

June 26 - The New Yorker

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Top Books

An annual review of books related to planning.

Top Schools

The definitive ranking of graduate planning programs.

100 Most Influential Urbanists

The who's who of urbanism, according to Planetizen readers.

Urban Planning Creators You Should Know

A short list of voices on social, video, and podcasting platforms.

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.