The Daily Source of Urban Planning News

Toronto from the CN Tower

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.

February 27 - Toronto Sun

Broadway Downtown

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.

February 27 - Fanis Grammenos

Atlanta

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.

February 26 - The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Los Angeles Downtown River

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.

February 26 - Los Angeles Times

NYC Subway Riders

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.

February 26 - Bloomberg


OKC Streetcar

Regional Transportation Authority of Central Oklahoma Formed

Officials in six Oklahoma cities are hoping to add public transit connections throughout the region.

February 26 - Oklahoma's News 4

Basement Apartment

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.

February 26 - Greater Greater Washington


Seattle Bus

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.

February 26 - Curbed Seattle

PPG Plaza

Pittsburgh's Big Development Plans Ready to Switch Gears

There are plenty of big, splashy projects to track in Pittsburgh's development pipeline.

February 26 - Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Minnesota Transportation

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.

February 26 - MinnPost

Arlington County, Virginia

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.

February 26 - Washington Business Journal

Boston Skyline with Dome

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.

February 26 - The Boston Globe

Timber Production

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.

February 25 - The Urbanist

Low Gas Prices

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.

February 25 - Transport Topics

Broadway Los Angeles

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

February 25 - The Conversation

Metropolitan Detention Center

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.

February 25 - The Washington Post

Washington

$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.

February 25 - The Urbanist

San Francisco Parklet

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.

February 25 - San Francisco Chronicle

Transit Oriented Development

FEATURE

Everywhere, Signs of Demise for the Planning Status Quo

The plans, they are a-changin.

February 25 - James Brasuell

Apartment renter

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.

February 25 - The Denver Post

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