The Daily Source of Urban Planning News

Ribbon Cutting Red Tape

BLOG POST

Ask the Ethicist: Making Room in the Development Review Pipeline for Social Justice

The latest installment of Planetizen's "Ask the Ethicist" series features the advice of our resident expert: Carol D. Barrett, FAICP, author of "Everyday Ethics for Practicing Planners."

May 28 - Carol Barrett

Is 2015 the Year California Increases its Gas Tax?

The stars appear to be aligning for a 10-cent gas tax hike, thanks to a $59 billion backlog in bridge and road repairs that has even influenced anti-tax Republicans. It's been 20 years since the gas tax was increased.

May 28 - San Jose Mercury News

Federal Court: Wisconsin DOT's Traffic Projections Fail to Justify Highway Expansion

A federal court found that the Wisconsin DOT uses specious traffic projections to justify the $146 million widening of Highway 23. The state must now either perform verifiable forecasting or scrap the expansion plans.

May 28 - Streetsblog Network

Who Is the Smart City For?

In India, smart cities are being built with much fanfare and government support. However, critics rightfully worry that such models could end up excluding the very people who need its benefits the most.

May 28 - The Hedgehog Review

Tulsa Arkansas River

FEATURE

Planners Across America: Dawn Warrick On Implementing Tulsa's Comprehensive Plan

In this interview for the "Planners Across America" series, Tulsa Planning Director Dawn Warrick describes the implementation process for the PlaniTulsa Comprehensive Plan.

May 27 - Josh Stephens


Clean Water Rule Finalized—Clarifies Protection of Streams and Waterways

The Obama Administration has moved forward with "one of the most controversial environmental regulations in recent years."

May 27 - The Hill

$400 Million Needed for Oakland NFL Stadium Deal Lacks Political Support

One city is prioritizing fiscal sanity over a new football stadium—at least for now.

May 27 - SFGate


'Melting-Pot Suburbs' Growing in Prominence

Analysis from the Brooking Institution maps the so-called melting-pot suburbs, where demographics closely resemble the diverse population of the country as a whole.

May 27 - Brookings Institution

Ideas for Housing Opportunity: Some Sorta Oldish, Lots Very NUish

The latest in a list of tip-of-the-spear practitioners combining their own experience and expertise with the lessons of others who share similar commitments to the easy-to-grasp, hard-to-realize ideas driving new urbanism.

May 27 - PlaceShakers

New App Would Enable On-Demand Public Transit

As transportation network companies like Uber and Bridj make it easier for some to opt out of the public transit system, a new app would help transit agencies offer more user-centric services.

May 27 - Fast Co.Exist

Large Park Expansion Coming to Seattle's Chinatown

A construction project seeking construction bids will double the size of Hing Hay Park, located in Seattle's Chinatown-International District.

May 27 - Daily Journal of Commerce

Home For Sale Signs

Reports Surveys Property Tax Burdens in all 50 States

The annual "50-State Property Tax Comparison Study" offers a thorough resource for understanding the role of property taxes in fiscal responsibility at the municipal level.

May 27 - At Lincoln House

Have You Spotted Any Rainbow Crosswalks?

These colorful crosswalks, recently installed in San Francisco's Castro District, are spreading. Latest city: Key West, Florida. Another aspect of their attractiveness is price: $4,000 for a four-crosswalk intersection. Guess who paid?

May 27 - Miami Herald

Plaza Midwood Charlotte

BLOG POST

Three Reasons to Use Livability as a Vehicle for Sustainability

Meghan Gough, assistant professor at the Virginia Commonwealth University, guest blogs about her work on balancing livability and sustainability.

May 27 - JPER

New York Vacant Storefront

'High-Rent Blight' on the Rise in Manhattan Retail Districts

Why are so many shops closing in New York's richest and best-known neighborhoods?

May 26 - The New Yorker

Neighborhood Activists Mobilize Against Mid-Rise Developments in Toronto

There are neighborhoods where residents are concerned about new developments raising prices, and there are neighborhoods where residents are concerned about new developments lowering home values. Toronto is currently dealing with the latter.

May 26 - Toronto Star

Proposed Atlanta BeltLine Budget Jumps 27 Percent

The improving economy will allow planners and city officials to expand work on the Atlanta BeltLine.

May 26 - SaportaReport

Chattanooga Mayor: No Chance for High-Speed Rail to Atlanta

A proposed plan to connect Chattanooga and Atlanta via high-speed rail, 17 years in the making, appears to be dead in the water. Chattanooga will now turn its attentions to a possible light rail system.

May 26 - Chattanooga Times Free Press

US Highway 23 in Ohio

Ohio's Experiment in Public-Private Partnership Just Tripled in Cost

The Portsmouth Bypass will provide Ohio's first test case of public-private partnership on a major transportation project. As such, the news about the project's ballooning costs could have been better.

May 26 - The Columbus Dispatch

The Real Estate Rebound Comes to Southwest Denver

The Denver Post reports that a forgotten corner of Denver is showing signs of recovery from the foreclosure crisis.

May 26 - The Denver Post

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