The Daily Source of Urban Planning News

Political Support Coalesces Around Protected Bike Lanes in Philadelphia

Bike advocates have high hopes for the leadership of newly elected Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kenney. Among Mayor Kenney's campaign promises: to add 30 miles of protected bike lanes.

February 17 - People for Bikes

Are State Rebates Necessary for Electric Vehicle Sales?

Campaigners for the Sierra Club's electric vehicle initiative make the case that New York State Gov. Andrew Cuomo needs to offer a state rebate of $2,000 to $4,000 to make EVs more attractive to car buyers now that he's phasing out coal power.

February 17 - Sierra Club Compass

Toronto Mid-Rise

Zillow: Suburbs Becoming More Like Cities

According to the real estate website, urban home values are growing faster than those in the suburbs, bucking a longtime trend. This isn't exactly surprising, but it has serious social justice implications.

February 17 - Puget Sound Business Journal

Orange County Retooling Bus Service to Reverse Transit Declines

Orange County provides the latest development in the ongoing experiment with transit in Southern California, hoping that a high-frequency bus grid can reverse slumping ridership numbers.

February 17 - KPCC

Mobile Apps Provide the Ultimate Guide to Los Angeles

Get this guide for 21 apps and services for enjoying the city of Los Angeles to its fullest, whether you're a resident or a visitor.

February 17 - Netted


Could This Heating Technology Revolutionize the U.S. Market?

Michelle Robb, Director of Product Planning at Mitsubishi spoke to Alex Ulam about VRF, or air source heat pump technology, and how it can fit into the American built environment context.

February 17 - Doggerel

Presidio San Francisco

BLOG POST

Problems With Economic Impact Analysis: Examples From Base Communities

Guest blogger Joshua Drucker discusses his new research critiquing current practices in economic impact analysis.

February 17 - JPER


Thriving from the Center: Freeing Urban Innovation from Ideology

Today's civic challenges are not unique in their need for balanced, accountable, and equitable solutions, requiring a combination of mindful reforms with sincere hope for more egalitarian prosperity.

February 17 - Thriving Cities Blog

Toronto Planners Shopping Massive Transit Plans

What's being described as an unprecedented outreach program will gather public feedback on a total of seven provincial and city-led transit projects for the Toronto area.

February 17 - Toronto Star

São Paulo, Brazil

Can a New Master Plan Fix What Ails São Paulo, Brazil?

Facing an ever expanding shortage of affordable housing and growing inequality, São Paulo's new master plan hopes to change the face of the city.

February 16 - Next City

Cell Tower, MonoPalm, Los Angeles

California's New Guidelines for Cell Towers Upends Planning Process

California Assembly Bill AB 57 has tied the hands of local governments in reviewing the location of new cell towers, bypassing normal environmental and public review procedures.

February 16 - Medium

How Antonin Scalia's Death May Affect the Paris Climate Accord

Scalia's death means that the Supreme Court is left with eight remaining judges. In the case of a tie vote, the decision from a lower court is upheld with some restrictions. A tie vote on the Clean Power Plan may be good news for the environment.

February 16 - Vox

Cheap Gas Affecting Amtrak's Bottom Line

Amtrak will be forced to make cuts of almost 4 percent, due primarily to low gasoline prices.

February 16 - Philadelphia Inquirer - Philly.com

Boston Seaport

FEATURE

GE and Industry's Return to the City

GE recently made the blockbuster decision to move its corporate headquarters to Boston. More than just another example of a company returning to an urban area, the move shows how a city like Boston benefits the kind of company GE wants to become.

February 16 - Rod Stevens

Pickerington, Ohio

BLOG POST

Retail Parking: A View from Google Earth

Google Earth can be a useful tool for understanding how parking is being used in your community and to identify where over- or under-utilization occurs.

February 16 - Jennifer Evans-Cowley

The Bay Area's Coming 'Freeway Revolution'

This will not be a revolution against freeways, as some may have hoped, but a revolution marked by new express lanes totaling 550 miles, beginning with a new stretch of 14 miles on I-580 through Dublin, Pleasanton, and Livermore in the East Bay.

February 16 - San Jose Mercury News

Los Angeles Harbor Freeway

Slow Express Lanes Causes L.A. County Metro to Tinker With Toll Pricing

As more solo-commuters have moved into the express pay lanes designed to quickly move traffic on Los Angeles's congested freeway system, speeds have dropped and L.A. Metro officials are looking to pricing disincentives to speed things up again.

February 16 - San Gabriel Valley Tribune

Urban and Suburban Poverty: The Changing Geography of Disadvantage

After two recessions that limped into slow and uneven economic recoveries, the number of people living below the federal poverty line rose to record levels. The suburbanization of poverty reflects shifting housing and labor markets.

February 16 - Penn Institute for Urban Research

Food Truck

New Study Looks at the Mystery and Benefits of Food Truck Movements

The seemingly non-complex decisions on where food trucks park is examined in a new study that finds there's actually a lot more to it than just an empty curb.

February 16 - CityLab

Oil Rigs

North Dakota's Oil Boom Falters

As oil prices dip to around $30 a barrel, fears are setting in that North Dakota's oil fields have been overdeveloped. If the current boom goes bust, these towns might find themselves nearly empty.

February 15 - New York Times

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