The Daily Source of Urban Planning News

How the Built Environment Shapes Music
From Motown to grunge, techno to hip hop, modern music came to life in garages, living rooms, churches, and warehouses. Urban design has been instrumental to what we listen to every day.

Study: High Occupancy Toll Lanes Slow Traffic in Adjacent Free Lanes
HOT lanes are supposed to not only speed traffic flow for paying solo motorists in the carpool lane, but improve traffic flow in the adjacent free lanes, according to theory. A new study on express toll lanes in Seattle disproved that last part.

Londoners Taking to Bicycles in Record Numbers
The number of commuters taking to bicycle in the city have tripled since 2000, while commuting by car has been cut in half.
Dallas Has Two New Long-Term Plans for Parks
The city of Dallas recently approved a new Parks and Recreation Comprehensive Plan and the city's first Recreation Master Plan. The comp plan updated the previous Renaissance Plan.
Virtual Reality a Game Changer for Real Estate
The New York Times details how virtual reality is expected to change the game of real estate. The possibilities for planners and architects are endless as well.

The Twin Cities To Get a First Test of Bus Rapid Transit in June
Metro Transit officials announced the opening date for the A Line—the first of potentially many more rapid bus routes featuring platform level boarding and signal priority.

Study Finds More Age Groups Ditching the Driver's License
It's not just millennials anymore. A new study finds more people are going without driver's licenses than in previous decades.
Inside the Plans to Build a Domed City in Dubai
Plans are underway to build the world's first domed city.

Rhode Island's Unique Funding Option to Repair Roads and Bridges Approved
After an eight-hour debate, the Rhode Island House of Representatives approved controversial truck-only toll legislation that will make Rhode Island the only state to apply tolls to large trucks but not other motor vehicles.

Re-Examining the Safety of Colorful Crosswalks
There has been no shortage of responses to the story about St. Louis letting decorated sidewalks fade away after encountering federal policy that recommends more subdued colors.

How Many Homeowners Became Renters During the Great Recession?
Trulia has undertaken an in-depth analysis of American Community Survey data to reveal some of the impacts of the recession on the housing market.
Record Numbers of Riders Took to Rail in Chicago in 2015
The Chicago Transit Authority has something to celebrate as it tries to dig itself out of a budgetary hole.
Massachusetts Considers Raising Its $1 Jaywalking Fine
There are a few reasons one should exercise caution while crossing the street illegally. In Massachusetts, fear of a fine is not one of them.

Friday Funny: Video Game Allows Players to Deface an Icon of Modernism
An online video game has the perfect remedy for anyone who hates modernism—and Le Corbusier more specifically.
A Drill Not Named Bertha Got Stuck in Seattle
A drill named Pamela, tasked with digging the tunnel for the Sound Transit light rail extension from Husky Stadium to Northgate, was stuck in the dirt under Seattle for several months.
Los Angeles Passes Sweeping Homeless Plans—Funding Still Needed
The easy part for politicians at both the city and the county of Los Angeles is over. Funding their plans to improve services for the homeless will be the hard part.
Concerns Raised About the Brooklyn-to-Queens Streetcar Proposal
We've gathered a sample of the responses to Mayor Bill de Blasio's proposal for a $2.2 billion streetcar to connect Brooklyn to Queens.

Controversy Over Drive-Throughs in Minneapolis Gains National Attention
A proposal in Minneapolis would restrict the development of drive-throughs, in pedestrian-friendly parts of the city, as a safety measure for all non-car users of the street.
After Almost Four Months, Monster Methane Leak is Capped
It's a temporary cap, but it means that thousands of Porter Ranch, Los Angeles residents can return home. SoCalGas has begun the process of permanently capping the leak of the huge natural gas storage field first detected on Oct. 23.
Oregon Considering Payroll Tax for Transit
Traditionally pro-transit organizations have come out against a proposal to create a new payroll tax to fund bus transit improvements.
Pagination
City of Moorpark
City of Tustin
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
Transportation Research & Education Center (TREC) at Portland State University
Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada
Toledo-Lucas County Plan Commissions
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.