The Daily Source of Urban Planning News

Growth Plan Debate Heats Up in Toronto
The question of how and where to grow is causing controversy in Toronto. A recent op-ed picks a side.

FEATURE
A Sprinkle of Stores: Wrestling With Jacobs's Uncertainty
Jane Jacobs used vague terms to describe the number of stores necessary for a safe and vibrant streetscape. Here, author Fanis Grammenos attempts to discover a more specific number to attach to this prescription.

Voters Considering Game Changing 'Connect Gwinnett Transit Plan'
Suburban Gwinnett County could change the course of its history by finally voting to connect to the Atlanta region's transit network.

Los Angeles Wants its River Back From the Feds
Regional officials don't think the federal government is doing enough to warrant continued ownership of the Los Angeles River flood control channels that cut a 40-mile path through the city and county.

Breaking News: 10-Point Plan to Restructure the MTA Announced
Local and state leadership finally agreed on a plan to fix the city of New York's struggling transit system.

Regional Transportation Authority of Central Oklahoma Formed
Officials in six Oklahoma cities are hoping to add public transit connections throughout the region.

ADU Results Fall Short of Intentions in D.C. Region
Accessory dwelling unit regulations vary but results are consistently underwhelming in the D.C. region.

Expansion Planned for Low-Income Bus Pass Program in Seattle
The ORCA Opportunity program will provide free bus passes to some of the city’s low-income residents.

Pittsburgh's Big Development Plans Ready to Switch Gears
There are plenty of big, splashy projects to track in Pittsburgh's development pipeline.

Major Bus Transit Investments Proposed for Minnesota
Bus transit advocates in the state of Minnesota are happy to see they have a friend in the Governor's Office.

More Planning Staff Needed to Keep Up With the Amazon Boom in Northern Virginia
The arrival of Amazon's HQ2 facility in Northern Virginia is expected to multiply development investment in the area, requiring more planners to review project proposals.

Boston Plans to Put $26 Million Toward Affordable Housing Projects
A new initiative will fund 10 new developments as the city works to increase available affordable housing.

Seattle Could Be at the Forefront of the Mass Timber Industry
Cross-laminated timber offers a multitude of environmental and economic benefits. With the state’s resources and Seattle’s construction needs, the city is the ideal location for mass timber production to take off.

Seven State DOTs Awarded $10 Million to Study Gas Tax Alternatives
When transportation spending was last reauthorized, rather than hike the gas tax to maintain current spending, Congress diverted general fund revenue. A program to study alternative revenue options was created so states could launch pilot projects.

Auto-Centric City Dichotomy: More Mobility Options and More Risk
As cities strive to improve mobility for all users, the existing auto paradigm is slow to change

White House Ends Talks with California Over Fuel Efficiency Standards
Ending the talks means litigation will have to settle the conflict over the two standards: California and 12 other states continue to use the Obama-era standard of 36 mpg by 2025, while the administration's rule freezes standards at 2020, or 29 mpg.

$738 Million Parks Levy on the Ballot for Seattle Area Voters
King County, Washington voters will vote on a parks levy reauthorization in August—at stake is $738 million over the six years to fund improvements to the Seattle area's parks, trails, and open space.

Role of S.F. Parklets as Public Space Not Always Clear
Parklets in San Francisco are available for public use, but often they serve as extensions of the dining rooms of eateries.

With Growing Number of Affluent Renters, Denver Matches National Trend
The housing crunch and changing lifestyle choices mean more people who could be in the market to buy a home are renting instead.
Pagination
Smith Gee Studio
City of Charlotte
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
Transportation Research & Education Center (TREC) at Portland State University
US High Speed Rail Association
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
Municipality of Princeton (NJ)
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.