The Daily Source of Urban Planning News

Where Americans Will Be in 2050

Where will Americans live? Everywhere. The third article in a three-part series based on Joel Kotkin's new book, "The Next Hundred Million: America in 2050," looks at where Americans will live and how our communities will grow to accommodate them.

March 23 - AOL News

20mph Zones Saving Lives in London

Over the last decade, London has established more than four hundred 20 mph zones across the city. The 10mph decrease has had a significant effect on the number of fatalities.

March 23 - Streetsblog

City Stunts Try to Lure Fiber Optic Internet

A handful of American cities are hoping to become testing grounds for a new fiber optic Internet connection being offered by Google. To catch the company's eye, many of these cities are making concerted -- and sometimes audacious -- efforts.

March 23 - NPR

Global Cities Becoming Global Mega-Regions

A new report from the United Nations says that world cities are increasingly becoming mega-regions of developed areas, and governing these regions must become a new focus of governments.

March 23 - Guardian

How the Recession is Downsizing Local Government

Budget cuts are dramatically reshaping many local governments. This piece from <em>The Atlanta Journal-Constitution</em> looks at how the recession will restructure governments in the Atlanta area.

March 23 - The Atlanta Journal-Constitution


Saving Depleted River Could Unite War-Torn Region

This article from <em>National Geographic</em> examines the rapidly depleted Jordan River and how saving it could bring Israel and its quarreling neighbors together.

March 23 - National Geographic

Pushing Forward a World Urban Campaign

City and government officials from around the world are in Rio de Janeiro to make the argument that urban hold the key to sustainability. Neal Peirce reports.

March 23 - Citiwire


Big Box Casino On Its Way To Philadelphia

The new casino rising along Philadelphia's Delaware River is likely to be little more than a drab Big Box with gambling inside, according to this review from Philadelphia Inquirer architecture critic Inga Saffron.

March 23 - The Philadelphia Inquirer

Expanded Brookyln Bridge Park Debuts

9.5-acres of the planned 85-acre expansion of Brooklyn Bridge Park opened at Pier 1 yesterday. Curbed NY has pictures.

March 23 - Curbed

Overdue Debut of Austin Light Rail Line

Austin's Capital MetroRail Red Line opens today after two years of delay and budget overruns. Intended as a showcase line, Yonah Freemark claims the line will see very few riders.

March 22 - the transport politic

Barcelona Residents Make Major Planning Decision By Popular Vote

Barcelona, Spain is planning a redesign of La Diagonal, an important boulevard, and is asking citizens to make the final choice between two alternatives or no change at all.

March 22 - Arkinet

Judaism and Food Deserts

Jewish groups in Los Angeles are taking on the lack of healthy groceries in certain parts of the city, the so-called "food deserts" of LA.

March 22 - The Los Angeles Times

Does Greater Efficiency Encourage Greater Waste?

Jevon's Paradox is the idea that the more efficient a resource becomes, the more it is consumed. With new future fuels in the works, those promoting sustainability and conservation find themselves at odds with innovation.

March 22 - Fast Company

A Lot of Rezoning, But Little Growth

A new report from the Furman Center finds that the effect of the 100+ rezonings under the Bloomberg administration is minimal, with upzonings and downzonings almost canceling each other out.

March 22 - The New York Times

Regional Taxes For Transportation?

The NYT looks at a provision in a state assembly bill to restore transit funding to beleaguered CA transit agencies by allowing voters in regions to approve gas fees. Not only was the provision dropped by the Senate - the governor vetoed the bill.

March 22 - The New York Times - U.S.

Funding for Las Vegas Maglev Instead Going to Highway Construction

A $45 million federal earmark to help fund a maglev train between Los Angeles and Las Vegas is instead going to widening a freeway connection to the airport.

March 22 - Las Vegas Sun

Why Shanghai Won't Be Vancouver

Shanghai is preparing for the 2010 World Expo, but the Chinese investment won't create anything like the urban investment created in Vancouver for the Olympics, says Brendon Crain.

March 22 - Next American City

People Rarely Leave 6-Mile Circle

In a study in Europe using cellphone GPS data, researchers discovered that people rarely leave a six-mile area around where they live. GPS cellphone data is being used for a host of urban planning studies like this.

March 22 - Planning Commissioners Journal

FEATURE

A Middle Eastern Oasis for Sustainable Transportation

Like the U.S. in the mid-20th Century, much of the growth in Abu Dhabi over the last 35 years has catered primarily to the automobile. But new plans are re-wiring the city to make Abu Dhabi's streets more hospitable to pedestrians.

March 22 - Gary Toth

The Return of Nuclear Power

Pres. Obama has come out in favor of developing more nuclear power plants, and the public is warming up to the idea because of the climate change benefits of switching from coal. Hendrik Hertzberg looks at the politics of atomic power.

March 22 - The New Yorker

Post News
Home and Land Services Coordinator

Appalachian Highlands Housing Partners

Associate/Senior Planner

Gallatin County Department of Planning & Community Development

Senior Planner

Heyer Gruel & Associates PA

Top Books

An annual review of books related to planning.

Top Schools

The definitive ranking of graduate planning programs.

100 Most Influential Urbanists

The who's who of urbanism, according to Planetizen readers.

Urban Planning Creators You Should Know

A short list of voices on social, video, and podcasting platforms.

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.