The Daily Source of Urban Planning News

Tracking the 'Bikeshare Boom'

The latest in CityLab's chronological explorations of multi-modal infrastructure examines the rise of bikeshare into a global and ubiquitous phenomenon.

September 6 - CityLab

Illinois DOT Head: System Is Stuck in the Past

Strong words from the head of the Illinois Department of Transportation, who says the state is planning for "yesterday's transportation system." Are we witnessing a sea change in leadership of transportation at the state level?

September 6 - Chicago Tribune

Philadelphia's Open Data Reveals Land Use Trends

A trove of data from the Office of Property Assessment has been released to the public. It's like Christmas day for zoning wonks in the City of Brotherly Love.

September 6 - PlanPhilly

Toyota Places $50 Million Bet on Driverless Car Research

Toyota is racing to keep up with Google and Uber on driverless car technology.

September 6 - AP via The Australian

Cleveland Leads Index of the Most Racially Segregated Cities

24/7 Wall Street created an index to measure the most racially segregated cities in the United States.

September 6 - 24/7 Wall St.


Compromise Transportation Funding Plan Floated by California Gov. Jerry Brown

With five days left in the legislative season, Gov. Jerry Brown halved the fuels tax increases proposed in the Democratic bill as a sweetener to tax-averse Republicans, though they haven't show any willingness to date to compromise.

September 5 - San Jose Mercury News

Labor Day Means the End for Many Transportation Sector Jobs

A Brookings Institution reports calls on policy makers to ensure appropriate investments and programs to support workers in the transportation sector.

September 5 - Brookings


Indianapolis Will Test Ambitious Electric Car Sharing System

The Technology section of the Money website expresses some surprise that the ambitious BlueIndy electric car sharing program is bound for Indy, and not some tech haven like San Francisco, Boston, or Austin.

September 5 - Money

Commuter Rail Service Between Miami and Palm Beach County Moving Forward

New service connecting Miami and Palm Beach is expected to add 2,000 riders to the Tri-Rail system.

September 5 - Miami Herald

On the Benefits of Streetcar Suburbs

Peter Saunders knows of the Corner Side Yard knows a good thing when he sees it, and that is good thing is the streetcar suburb.

September 5 - The Corner Side Yard

$19 Million Approved for Houston's Bayou Greenways Plan

An ambitious project Mayor Annise Parker calls "one of the most exciting things I've had the opportunity to work on as mayor" took a major step forward this week.

September 4 - Houston Chronicle

From Net Zero Energy to Net Zero Water: A New Frontier in Sustainability

The Net Zero Water Toolkit helps individuals and organizations make water resource planning decisions based on local conditions rather than targeting historical demand and allowing water quality impacts to flow downstream.

September 4 - Brendle Group

Here Comes Portland's New Orange Line

TriMet will get a new addition to its rail system later this month, when it opens the new Orange Line.

September 4 - The Oregonian

Sign Most Likely to Send Mixed Messages: "Share the Road"

For some reason, many drivers think "Share the Road" means bikers should stay out of their way.

September 4 - Streetsblog USA

Meet Chicago's New Northerly Island Open Space

Chicago gains a new open space today, located on an island on Lake Michigan just across from Soldier Field and Burnham Harbor.

September 4 - Chicago Tribune

Technology Enables a New Understanding of the World's 3.04 Trillion Trees

A news study, combining satellite imagery and field study, dramatically increases the estimated trees in the world. What has not changed: how quickly humans are killing those trees off.

September 4 - The Washington Post

View of Portland, Oregon from Pittock Mansion

Land Sparing Protects Urban Ecosystems Better Than Land Sharing

A study of two cities at opposite ends of the urban spectrum demonstrate how density matters for a number of ecological services.

September 4 - Pacific Standard

Kids Crossing the Street

Surgeon General Warning to Local Governments: Stop Being So Auto-Centric!

No, those will not be the precise words of the forthcoming "Call to Action" by Surgeon General Vice Admiral Vivek H. Murthy, but he will call on cities to "design and build roads and public places to make walking easier, safer, and more pleasant."

September 4 - T4America Blog

Friday Funny: How to Break Up With (Your City Name Here)

The only thing as ubiquitous as love letters are break up letters. Now it's even easier to break up with your city, using real data from the U.S. Census.

September 4 - Tiny Subversions

Bed Stuy view

Problems With New York City's Temporary Shelter Program

With a surging homeless population, the city's cluster site program incentivizes slumlords and reduces the supply of affordable housing.

September 4 - The New York Times

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