The Daily Source of Urban Planning News

Northern California

A New Wave of Reservoir Construction Set to Begin in California

Two massive water storage projects have been awarded $2.6 billion in funding from Proposition 1.

April 25 - The Sacramento Bee

A Call for Bus Rapid Transit in a Miami Suburb

The Miami suburb of Pinecrest, Florida would benefit greatly from a Bus Rapid Transit line on U.S. 1, argues City Councilmember James McDonald

April 25 - Cities Speak

Southern California

FEATURE

Los Angeles: Focus on Urban Design (Not Just Urban Planning)

By embracing timeless principles of urban placemaking, we can create walkable transit villages and make room for housing at every socioeconomic level. First we have to re-invigorate high quality urban design.

April 25 - Gerhard Mayer

Busy Downtown

How Social Physics Explains About the World

Big data has ushered in a new era of Social Physics.

April 25 - BBC - The Big Idea

Historic Washington Mall

Effective Mobility Taxes Need Better Data

The District of Columbia is attempting to build a data-based model for the mix of public and "shared" transportation modes on its streets, but is still finding holes in the data necessary to build new policies.

April 25 - The Washington Post


Charlotte, NC

Charlotte Takes a Step Forward on Affordable Housing Promises

The city of Charlotte has a funding gap to make up if it wants to keep its promises about how much affordable housing to build or maintain in the short term.

April 25 - The Charlotte Observer

Pedestrian Signal

Newly Installed Bollards Shooting Water at Jaywalkers in China

Lasers, water vapor, shouting bollards, and facial recognition have all been deployed in the city of Daye in China to control traffic and pedestrians.

April 24 - The Straits Times


Los Angeles Harbor Freeway

California Has 8 of the 10 Most Polluted Cities in the U.S.

Despite ever-stricter air-quality regulations and dropping emissions, the American Lung Association once again finds the state to have some of the worst air in the nation.

April 24 - USA Today

Philadelphia

Growth Centers on Philadelphia's Downtown, But Poverty Persists Elsewhere

An opinion piece points out the inequities of growth in contemporary Philadelphia.

April 24 - The Philadelphia Inquirer

Allston Interchange

$1 Billion Mass Pike Redesign Offers a Second Chance for Urban Design

MassDOT has a $1 billion opportunity to redesign the Massachusetts Turnpike (I-90) through Allston. One columnist says it's a rare second chance to correct one of history's mistakes along the Charles River.

April 24 - The Boston Globe

Oakland Slow in Keeping Its Promise to Help Small Businesses Deal With Transit Changes

Oakland created a fund of $4 million dollars to aid small businesses affected by the construction of a new BRT line on International Blvd. So far, none of that money has been spent, though some of the funding was supposed to be spent by 2017.

April 24 - KALW

Open Space

'Unprecedented' Sale of Public Land Concerns 'Even Some Republicans'

As the Department of the Interior auctions off 'vast swaths' of American wilderness to oil and gas companies, fiscal conservatives and conservationists alike wonder if it’s the right thing at the right time.

April 24 - Houston Chronicle

California

Four Interest Groups Contributed to the California Transit-Housing Bill's Defeat

Two journalists discuss what led to the defeat of the SB 827, the controversial bill which garnered national attention and lots of in-state opposition from groups that one would think would support the effort to address the state's housing crisis.

April 24 - Los Angeles Times

Another Use of Motor Vehicle as a Weapon Leaves 10 Dead, 16 Injured in Toronto

A van driver apparently deliberately mowed down pedestrians on sidewalks and intersections in the North York area of Toronto on Monday. The suspect is in custody. The incident is reminiscent of a similar scene last May in Times Square, Manhattan.

April 24 - CNN

Michigan State Capital

And the Parking Crater Award Goes To…

One of the biggest days of the year on the urbanism calendar took place on April 20. No, not marijuana day—the awarding of the Golden Crater award to the winner of Streetsblog's annual Parking Madness competition.

April 24 - Streetsblog USA

Sonny Perdue

Under Zinke, Land in Montana Is Still Somehow Protected

Though he’s opened land all over the U.S. to industry, the Interior Secretary is actually pushing to conserve even more of his home state.

April 24 - The New York Times

San Francisco Bay

How SB 827 'Cleaved the California Environmental Movement'

Even before the bill was defeated, it exposed a major generational divide between anti-development environmentalists and their pro-density, pro-housing heirs.

April 23 - San Francisco Magazine

New York City Winter

Game-Changing 'Bus Action Plan' Announced in New York City

If you're a fan of improved bus service, we have some good news from New York City.

April 23 - StreetsBlog NYC

LA Ciclavia

Public Space Arms Race

Battles for inclusion and exclusion in the life of the city more often end in stand-offs than in skirmishes.

April 23 - Urban Omnibus

BART Train

BART's Transit-Oriented Development Bill Sets Disturbing Precedent, Says APA

AB 2923, which would allow the Bay Area Rapid Transit District to rezone their properties near stations for transit-oriented development, passed its first committee. The California chapter of APA objects to the preemption of local land use authority.

April 23 - California Chapter of American Planning Association

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