The Daily Source of Urban Planning News
Planning Programs to Watch in the Federal Omnibus Spending Bill
Congress is on pace to wrap up a major piece of federal legislation before leaving for recess.
East Portland Mobilizing Against Gentrification
East Portland is home to 25 percent of the city's residents—many of which are low-income or immigrants. The East Portland Action Plan aims to protect the community as a wave of gentrification approaches.
Cities Should Stop Electronic Warrantless Surveillance
From ALPR cameras mounted on garbage trucks to IMSI catchers such as Dirtboxes and Stingrays, local authorities have increased exponentially the amount of electronic surveillance, with little regard for the basic principles of privacy.
Oil Export Ban Lifted—After 42 Years
Thanks to a 'must-pass' omnibus spending bill that President Obama indicated he would sign, the ban on crude oil exports, a relic of the 1973 Arab oil embargo, will be lifted. In exchange, energy credits will be extended for wind and solar products.
Visualizing the Drought in the Colorado River Basin
The Colorado River, drinking water source for one in ten Americans, is severely impacted. A new interactive visualization illustrates just how dramatic the problem has become.
Big Changes in the New Year for the Seattle Department of Planning and Development
The traditional functions of planning are going to look a lot different in Seattle when the calendar changes to 2016.
Dissecting the National Infrastructure Bank Idea
Hillary Clinton recently proposed the creation of a national infrastructure bank—an idea also put forward several times by the Obama Administration. Posts by Vox and City Observatory put the idea under a microscope.
Keeping Indianapolis Beautiful With Pocket Parks
A local non-profit recently announced funding for the development of five public green spaces in the coming year. The projects represent incremental progress toward a larger, shared vision.
When 'Vision Zero' Conflicts With Local Politics
Community leaders sometimes present the biggest obstacles when and where the rubber hits the road on Vision Zero traffic safety improvements. New York City Mayor de Blasio is pushing for more power for the DOT.
Huge Southern California Methane Leak Won't Be Plugged for Months
The mother of all natural gas leaks can be found near Porter Ranch in Los Angeles County. The methane, a potent greenhouse gas, is leaking from an underground storage facility known as the Aliso Canyon Gas Storage Field owned by SoCalGas Company.
Congress to Even Tax Breaks for Car and Transit Commuters
Tax benefits have long provided more incentives for car commuters than transit users. Congress is expected to even the score with a new tax bill.
A New Atlas of American History
A new online mapping project called American Panorama earned rave reviews this week from CityLab and Gizmodo.
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Implications for Planning Emerge From COP21
The Conference of Parties (COP21) held during the last two weeks in Paris establishes ambitious climate change emission reduction targets. This will be a challenge and opportunity for planners. Here are some highlights.
Washington Hopes to Coexist With Growing Number of Wolf Packs
The state of Washington is navigating the complex politics of wildlife protection—in this case, wildlife means the territory of an estimated 16 wolf packs.
State of Emergency Declared in Flint Water Crisis
A crisis that stretches back for several months escalated this week, bringing this news of the very bad variety to national attention.
The 'Both/And' of the Housing Debate
Planners and community development housing activists and professionals need to start thinking about housing policy as "both...and." It is not reasonable to couch housing policy as either unfettered building or only rent.
Texas Rangers Caught in Pickle: Develop Ballpark Parking Lots or Move to Dallas?
A public-private partnership could bring new development to some of the parking lots outside the home of the Texas Rangers. It's not the first grand plan to get floated for the ballpark's ancillary areas.
Order Up: Massachusetts Has a New Food System Plan
With economic, employment, and social benefits, food is much more than what we eat. Now Massachusetts has completed a comprehensive food plan in the hopes of doing better with the systems by which food is manufactured, bought, and consumed.
First There Were Electric Vehicles—Will Electric Roads Be Next?
Two Texas universities received a federal grant to embed sensors in road asphalt to create renewable electricity from the wind created by passing vehicles to power roadside lights and traffic signals.
Shell Companies Rule Los Angeles Luxury Real Estate
For all the intention New York gets for foreign investors buying up rarefied air, Los Angeles has allowed shell companies to completely control the luxury real estate market—and the neighborhoods where it locates.
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.
