The Daily Source of Urban Planning News

Internet Infrastructure

Governor's Veto Gives Locals Control Over 5G Infrastructure in California

A bill designed to streamline the implementation of 5G Internet infrastructure onto public poles and lights has been vetoed by California Governor Jerry Brown.

October 16 - Los Angeles Times

Gaslamp Quarter

Power Shifts to Cities in San Diego County's Embattled Regional Planning Agency

Larger cities in California's second most populous county will be given more power thanks to a bill that reforms the San Diego Association of Governments (SANDAG). One result may be that more public transit measures appear on the ballot.

October 16 - The San Diego Union-Tribune

Rail Transit North Bay Area

New Commuter Train Comes Through for Fire-Ravaged Santa Rosa

Sonoma-Marin Rail Transit (SMART) has been operating almost continuously at full schedule, collecting no fares since the epic wildfires began in Sonoma County on Oct. 8. Two stations in the fire-zone are shut down due to lack of access.

October 16 - Marin Independent Journal

Minneapolis Bike Lane Protest

Bikelash Reaches a Whole New Level

A Minneapolis bike lane protest sets a new bar for opposition to bike lanes—Godwin's law was definitely in play.

October 16 - Streetsblog USA

Street Traffic

Where's the Concern About Spiking Traffic Fatalities?

Traffic fatalities are increasing faster than any time since the 1960s, but it's hard to notice much concern from the United States.

October 16 - Streetsblog USA


Apartment Construction

Rents Drop for the Second Consecutive Quarter in Washington, D.C.

A large amount of new rental units have come online in recent months in Washington, D.C., and the housing market has seen a surprising amount of upheaval as a result.

October 16 - Bisnow Washington D.C.

One Way

BLOG POST

The Problem With Externalities

By defining "externalities" as impacts of private conduct, economists and lawyers bias public discussion in favor of government regulation.

October 16 - Michael Lewyn


Downtown Nashville

Are Massive Portfolios for Real Estate Investment Trusts Bad for Neighborhoods?

Nashville stakeholders are increasingly concerned by a post-Recession wave of real estate investment trusts buying up all the housing stock in neighborhoods gutted by the foreclosure crisis. The trend extends to other Sun Belt cities as well.

October 16 - Tennessean

Self-Driving Cars

FEATURE

Autonomous Vehicles and Urban Contexts: It's Time to Engage All Stakeholders

At the 2017 Autonomous Vehicle Symposium, a group of experts were asked to predict the effects of autonomous vehicles in two case study communities, and to generate a list of proposed policy actions to prepare for a future of autonomous vehicles.

October 16 - Nico Larco

Highway Interchange

Obesity Tied to Suburban Life

London-based study ties obesity to sprawl and finds that suburbs have a bigger obesity problem than rural areas.

October 15 - CityLab

New York City From New Jersey

$1.7 Billion Project to Replace Critical Rail Crossing in New Jersey Underway

New Jersey's 107-year-old Portal Bridge has been a symbol of the region's crumbling rail infrastructure. A $1.7 billion project to replace the bridge, launched this week, is designed to improve the situation.

October 15 - NorthJersey.com

Los Angeles County

Density Debate Boils Over in Southern California's Third Largest City

The city of Long Beach's draft Land Use Element has provoked political forces that would like to cap the growth of the city.

October 15 - Long Beach Press-Telegram

British Rowhouses

A Playbook for Supply-Side Housing Affordability Solutions

The word YIMBY isn't used in the McKinsey Global Institute's new supply-side toolkit for housing affordability, but YIMBYs will like this it anyway.

October 15 - McKinsey & Company

Seattle Train

Riverview Corridor Streetcar Passes Major Hurdle, Still a Long Way Off in the Twin Cities

An oversight committee has approved the Locally Preferred Alternative for the Review Corridor Streetcar project that will connect Downtown St. Paul to the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport.

October 15 - MinnPost

U.S. Census

More Bad News From the U.S. Census: Economic Census Delayed Six Months

A budget shortfall for Census 2020 has already claimed one victim: the timely delivery of the five-year Economic Census.

October 14 - Politico

Washington D.C. Row Houses

'Housing Insights' Mapping Tool Designed to Preserve Subsidized Housing in D.C.

The Housing Insights team of volunteer civic hackers hopes you'll use their software in other cities, too.

October 14 - Greater Greater Washington

8 Tips for Suburban Placemaking

Suburban areas looking to improve public places can try following this advice.

October 14 - Build a Better Burb

Chicago Train Commute

Chicago CTA Expands Hard Back Seat Pilot, Seeking to Avoid Wet Surprises

Chicago trains and buses have long had dark cloth coverings, which can hide liquids and make for unpleasant experiences for riders.

October 14 - Reader

Berkeley Hills Bay Area

The Cost of a Well-Maintained Urban Tree Canopy Is Actually Pretty Cheap

In terms of its public health benefits, a flourishing tree canopy is practically priceless.

October 14 - ASLA The Dirt

Tokyo Blur

Ranking the Safest Cities in the World—Tokyo Leads the List

The Economist's Intelligence Unit has released its 2017 Safe Cities Index.

October 13 - Quartz

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Top Books

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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.