The Daily Source of Urban Planning News

Pierce Transit

Pierce Transit Lets You 'Build Your Own Transit System'

For feedback on a system overhaul, Pierce Transit in Washington is asking residents to design their own transit system through an interactive survey.

May 9 - The Urbanist

The Next Economic Frontier: Cities

Urbanists, test your knowledge of urban economics. Familiar with the concept of agglomeration externality? Finance professor and Bloomberg View writer Noah Smith opines it's a major reason why American cities are not as productive as they should be.

May 9 - Bloomberg View

Family Farm

The 'Myth' of Family Farms

Historian Gabriel Rosenberg challenges romanticism in the history of family farms in the US.

May 8 - Boston Globe

Seeing Eye People

Safety Improvements for Texters Around the World

Cities are experimenting with safety measures for pedestrians who text while they walk, but the projects could benefit everyone.

May 8 - The Guardian

San Gabriel Mountains

19 Mansions May Be Headed to Los Angeles Wilderness

A fight is brewing over a plan to build 19 luxury homes on an expanse of wilderness in Los Angeles' San Gabriel Mountains.

May 8 - San Gabriel Valley Tribune


8 Ways Exclusionary Zoning Hurts Cities

The Sightline Institute tackles what may be "our most acute urban public policy challenge."

May 8 - Sightline Institute

Project Housing

Only Public Housing Can Save the Housing Market Now

An article in The Nation rejects the notion that the market will solve the country's current affordable housing crisis.

May 8 - The Nation


Rockaway

BLOG POST

Remember Your Rockaway

Growing up in Rockaway, Queens led me to the planning profession, just as home town experiences lead many students to city planning. It's easy to forget why we became planners: we need to remember.

May 7 - Bruce Stiftel

Green Line

Somerville and Cambridge Offer Cash to Save Expensive Green Line Extension

The cities of Somerville and Cambridge are digging into their pockets to save the beleaguered Green Line extension project. State transportation officials could decide next week if the additional $75 million matters or not.

May 7 - The Boston Globe

New York Bike Lane

Open Data Practices Still Catching Up With Bike Metrics in New York

A new report released by the New York City Department of Transportation (DOT) shows a steady increase in the number of bikers in the city. A lack of data, however, continues to be a problem for accurate assessment of the trend.

May 7 - StreetsBlog NYC

Highway 401

Ontario to Double Highway 401 Capacity in the Peel Region

A massive highway widening project will soon begin construction in the city of Mississauga, Ontario.

May 7 - Toronto Sun

Is a Meritocracy Really What We Want?

At first glance, a meritocratic vision is morally compelling, but upon closer scrutiny, its pursuit ends up legitimizing—and thus reinforcing—the very social and economic inequality it purports to rectify.

May 7 - Shelterforce/Rooflines

Bus Stop

Failed Public-Private Partnership Leaves Bus Stops With No Shade in Los Angeles

A 2001 contract between the city of Los Angeles and CBS Decaux failed to deliver 662 shelters for bus stops. A case study in what not to do on either side of a public-private partnership follows.

May 6 - KPCC

great lakes

Water Diversion Controversy Stifles Milwaukee Suburb's Growth Plans

The city of Waukesha asked for more water than the Great Lakes Compact would allow. Commenters remind the city of Waukesha that water for growth was never the goal of the Great Lakes Compact.

May 6 - Milwaukee-Wisconsin Journal Sentinel

Kansas City Streetcar Prototype

Open Today: the Kansas City Streetcar

Today, Kansas City becomes the first Midwestern city to run modern streetcar service.

May 6 - Kansas City Star

Canton Mellett Mall

Two Rustbelt Cities Take Similar Tacks to Future Planning

Erie, Pennsylvania and Canton, Ohio have faced the challenges of shrinking populations and fewer job prospects, but new comprehensive plans in each city may provide a pathway to resurgence

May 6 - The Canton Repository

Florida Roads

Roads Come Before Transit for Broward, Florida Metropolitan Planning Organization

County commissioners had approved a one-cent sales tax measure to improve roads and transit throughout the county, but MPO members, dominated by city representatives, prefer an undefined infrastructure tax with a majority of funds returned to cities.

May 6 - Sun Sentinel

Bicycle Infrastructure Fail(s)

An op-ed by Mikael Colville-Andersen of Copenhagenize Design Company.

May 6 - Cities of the Future

Del Mar Station TOD

Study: How Does Transit Really Impact Land Values?

The idea that proximity to transit equals higher land values doesn't tell the full story. According to this study, a variety of other factors must be in place to achieve the desired effect.

May 6 - CityLab

Downtown Reno

Expecting Investment, Reno Targets Blighted Properties

As a nascent tech economy tests the waters, Reno's Vice Mayor spearheads an effort to equitably clear out blight and revisit the purpose of the city's downtown.

May 6 - Next City

Post News

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.