The Daily Source of Urban Planning News
Census Undercount Areas Mapped
<em>Urban Omnibus</em> takes a look at a new website that maps out places in the U.S. with low return rates for Census surveys.
Detroit Mayor Makes Big Plans in State of City Speech
Detroit Mayor Dave Bing recently delivered his first "state of the city" speech since taking office, and included a broad list of proposals that could bring about a widespread revisioning of the struggling city.
Portland's New Complex Aims At Curing Homelessness
The city of Portland is moving ahead with a $47 million shelter and services project known as the Resource Access Center. It's the largest efforts underway to solve the city's notorious homelessness problem.
Florida's Fast Train Connects to Slow Buses
The NYT examines problems with Florida's high speed rail line that received $1.25 billion in HSR stimulus funds. In addition to weak transit connections at both ends, the 84-mile route has five stops, increasing the total trip time.
Tech Tools Have Revolutionary Potential for Cities
<em>Governing</em>'s Stephen Goldsmith looks at the trend of smart phone applications related to city governance and civic improvement. He sees huge potential in these early stages of a trend that's likely to experience exponential growth.
Cities Banning Digital Billboards
Digital billboards with flashing and changing images are being outlawed in cities across the country.
Experts Weigh in on Question of Bike-Car Equality
Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood recently wrote on his blog that bicyclists would no longer be overlooked by federal transportation policy. <em>National Journal</em> asks its panel of experts whether cars and bikes should be treated equally.
Obama Health Care Bill May Create Demand for Medical Office Space
Real estate brokers see opportunity in building office space for physicians who will serve newly-insured people under federal health-care overhaul.
BLOG POST
Crowdsourcing Plans
<p class="MsoNormal"> <span style="font-size: 9pt; font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'">Many thanks to Wired’s Jeff Howe who’s 2006 article “The Rise of Crowdsourcing” put an effective label at what the internet was doing to business.<span> </span>Building from Web 2.0 applications focused on social media like Facebook and on-line communities, it’s become a popular and controversial term in tech circles.<span> </span>For those not as familiar with the idea, let’s consult the most often used example of crowdsourcing – Wikipedia.<span> </span><span> </span>“Crowdsourcing is a distributed problem-solving and production model. Problems are broadcast to an unknown group of solvers in the form of an open call for solutions.
Alternative Energy Lights Up Streets in Suburban Chicago
Downers Grove, IL has won accolades for being the first residential subdivision to install a hybrid solar-wind powered street lighting system, reports TribLocal.
Maps, Apps, and Food
Yahoo has released a new iPhone app that allows users to draw a circle on a map around the area he or she wants to search.
NYC Transportation Head Offers Advice to LA
This video from <em>Streetfilms</em> shows excerpts from a recent speech in Los Angeles by New York City Transportation Commissioner Janette Sadik-Khan, who had some advice for the traffic-plagued California city.
Sequestering CO2 In Sidewalk Cement
A Silicon Valley startup is proposing to turn carbon dioxide emissions from coal and gas power plants into cement that can be used for everyday construction.
Challenges Face Ambitious New Metro Officials in Houston
When five new board members will join the Houston Metropolitan Transit Authority next month, they'll inherit a host of systemic problems and one of the toughest economic climates in decades.
Transfers, Bus Lanes, and More: What LA Metro Isn't Doing to Attract Riders
Columnist David Lazarus looks at how L.A. Metro could increase transit usage, in the wake of reports showing how expensive it is to drive instead.
Hosting Olympics, But At What Cost?
The Olympics can be a huge boon for cities -- in terms of international attention, physical legacies and infrastructural development. But they can also be a huge risk. This piece from <em>Finance and Development</em> looks at the pros and cons.
Adventure Tourism as Preservation
California City is a city in the desert that never came to be. But much of its skeleton remains. A recent tour explored the ghost of this unbuilt city.
Finding a Home For America's Nuclear Waste
The Federal government has scrapped plans to make Nevada's Yucca Mountain the nation's main storage facility for nuclear waste, which raises the question: where will the waste go?
Deciding Which Homeowners To Bail Out
The Feds have $1.5 billion to help homeowners at risk of losing homes to foreclosure. Deciding just which homeowners to help is no easy task. This article looks at the decision-making process in Arizona, one of the five states receiving federal aid.
Momentum Builds Toward Chicago to St. Louis HSR
The IL state senate's 51-2 passage of a bill creating the Illinois and Midwest High Speed Rail Commission on March 18 is a major step toward planning the 150+ mph train from Chicago to St. Louis.
Appalachian Highlands Housing Partners
Gallatin County Department of Planning & Community Development
Heyer Gruel & Associates PA
Mpact (founded as Rail~Volution)
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
City of Portland
City of Laramie
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.
