The Daily Source of Urban Planning News
Putting the Comprehensive Plan in Plano, Texas
The suburban city of Plano, Texas, located outside of Dallas, approved this week a comprehensive plan that overcame vocal opposition to the idea of mixed-use, urban developments.
The 27 Typical Patterns of Urban and Suburban Development
Most cities around the world can be broken down into 27 typical patterns of development, according to the work of a researcher at UC Davis.
L.A. Metro Tackling Transit's Connection With Gentrification
New leadership at Los Angeles County's Metro says its planning efforts should consider much more than transit routes and service—including the potential for gentrification in the neighborhoods where it's investing.
Waze Index Ranks Driver Satisfaction
One of the world's most popular navigation apps, Waze, has aggregated the data generated by 50 million users to develop a "Driver's Satisfaction Index." Perhaps surprisingly, auto-oriented Phoenix, Arizona leads all cities on the index.
New York Department of City Planning Adds an Office of Regional Planning
With hot-button issues like the Hudson Tunnel crisis forcing a new perspective about the connection of New York city to its surrounding region, Mayor de Blasio has responded by creating a new office of regional planning.
Want to Make a Better City? Build a Better Bus System
It's simple, according to this Washington Post column: better buses make a better city.
Financing Finally Complete for the NBA Arena of Sacramento's Dreams
Sacramento's parking revenues will pay for the city's share of the arena construction loan.
United Nations and World Bank Unite for Sustainable Urban Development
The United Nations agency for urban development, UN-Habitat, has announced a partnership with the World Bank to implement several Sustainable Development Goals focusing on urban sustainability, safety, inclusiveness, and resilience.
California Adopts One of Nation's Highest Renewable Energy Mandates
Gov. Jerry Brown signed stripped-down legislation that sets a target for the state of generating 50 percent of electricity from renewable sources by 2030 and doubling energy efficiency standards in buildings by the same year.
Dallas' CityMAP Project Looks to Reimagine Downtown Connectivity
Local officials, planners, and other civic leaders have joined together to look at how the city can bring neighborhoods split by freeways back together again.
Goodbye School Bus: Hello City Bus
Recognizing that providing transit passes to students costs about the same as operating a system of buses in-house, some schools are giving students access to public transit.
Open Streets as Teachable Moments
"There is just too much to learn," from open streets events, says Philadelphia Inquirer Architecture Critic Inga Saffron.
Innovation in Detroit Turns to the Worm
Faced with an estimated 24 square miles of vacant land, Detroit is turning its empty lots into test beds of urban innovation.
BLOG POST
Good Congestion and Bad
The phrase "traffic congestion" can be misleading; some reductions in traffic speed are less harmful than others.
Large Capital Infusion for New York's Community Parks Initiative
$285 million in capital dollars through 2019 will help fund parks in New York not called the High Line and lacking high-profile private backing.
Challenges and Opportunities Found in Nevada's 'Diversity Explosion'
A rapidly changing population might make Nevada a more thorough exemplar of the challenges and opportunities presented by the "diversity explosion" than its neighboring state to the west.
Retrofitting Vulnerable Buildings Becomes Mandatory in Earthquake Prone LA..
Decades in the making, the Los Angeles City Council has approved regulations requiring the retrofit of vulnerable wood and concrete buildings.
BLOG POST
Tips for Planners to Design Memorable Tourism Experiences
Tourists' expectations when they travel are becoming increasingly sophisticated, seeking stimulating and meaningful experiences. The new book Gamification in Tourism shares how cities are designing memorable experiences.
Charger Rage Hits Electric Vehicle Country in California
All is not copacetic in the Bay Area's EV community. An apparent shortage of electric vehicle chargers is causing incidents where EV owners disregard proper 'charging etiquette' and unplug the charger from other EVs to charge their own vehicle.
California Governor Jerry Brown Pessimistic on Affordability
Housing often costs a literal fortune in California, and Governor Jerry Brown doesn't see an easy fix. Demand to live in the state is high, but there are local factors at work impeding housing construction.
City of Moorpark
City of Tustin
Tyler Technologies
City of Astoria
Transportation Research & Education Center (TREC) at Portland State University
Chaddick Institute at DePaul 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.
