The Daily Source of Urban Planning News

Los Angeles Voters Won't Decide on Anti-Development Measure in November

Saying that their controversial "Neighborhood Integrity Initiative" would be 'buried' in a November ballot, the Coalition to Preserve L.A. will revise it and gather signatures to put it on the March ballot next year.

March 17 - Los Angeles Times - L.A. NOW

Following Fido: Considering Other Measures of Gentrification

The most effective measure of gentrification will not be a magic bullet, but rather a constellation of variables aimed at addressing its processual and multi-dimensional character.

March 17 - Thriving Cities Blog

Tenderloin District

Op-Ed: Overcoming a New NIMBYism

Rick Jacobus argues that those who block new development on social justice grounds aren't fighting to win long-term. Building is necessary, but with it should come robust affordable housing mandates.

March 17 - Shelterforce

Edinburgh

Edinburgh Sets 20-mph Speed Limit

Citing pedestrian and cyclist casualties, the Scottish capital will reduce speed limits on 80 percent of its streets to a mere 20 mph. Backers are pushing for additional complete streets improvements.

March 17 - Next City

Does Ride-Hailing Complement Public Transit—Or Vice Versa?

Thanks to technology-enabled ride-hailing services, more households have the ability to go car-lite now than in preceding generations, according to a new study prepared for the American Public Transportation Association.

March 17 - Time


Raleigh Finally Approves Bikeshare Program

Raleigh City Council voted Tuesday to adopt a bike rental program downtown and at five university campuses. Supporters say it will improve mobility, encourage healthy lifestyles, and offer a more urban lifestyle.

March 17 - The Raleigh News & Observer

Austin Mixed-Use

Austin Denies Mixed-Use Zoning Change

Following concerns that the change would threaten Thornton Road Studios, a collection of arts and music businesses, the Austin City Council struck down a measure that would allow mixed-use development on the site.

March 17 - Austin Monitor


Solidarity

FEATURE

Empowered Design, By 'The Crowd'

Crowdsourcing offers a viable resource for planners to empower communities and engage citizens to collectively innovate solutions to complex urban problems.

March 17 - Lindsey Collins and Kendra L. Smith

Light Rail Extension Opens on Saturday in Seattle

A $1.9 billion light rail extension, connecting to the University of Washington campus and the Capitol Hill neighborhood, will open to the public this weekend.

March 16 - KUOW

Baltimore Approves Bikeshare System (E-Bikes Included)

The newly approved Charm City bikeshare system has a leg up on the competition: 200 of the system's 500 bikes will come with electric pedaling assistance.

March 16 - The Baltimore Sun

Seattle Seeks Density as New Normal

Seattle architect David Neiman writes about his city's attempt to find a new housing form that results in a denser city as appealing as the single family fabric that came before it, while managing all the cars.

March 16 - Crosscut

No Metrorail Today in Washington, D.C.

At midnight last night, the Washington, D.C. region's trains stopped for a sudden, potentially alarming safety inspection. Commuters, rerouted and upset, were only given a day's notice of the impending systemwide shutdown.

March 16 - Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority

$120 Billion Transportation Bond May Be Headed to Los Angeles County Voters

The transit and road measure, based on extending and increasing half-cent sales taxes, would fund a massive amount of light rail, bus, and road measures, including building a Sepulveda Pass tunnel which would accommodate a toll road and rail line.

March 16 - Los Angeles Times

Op-Ed: Politicians Should Leave the Transit Routes to Planners

While it will certainly comes as a relief to some commuters living in the San Gabriel Valley, the Metro Gold Line extension that opened earlier this month was more the result of politics than planning.

March 16 - Los Angeles Times

Sprawl

A Dissenting Opinion on the Subject of Compact, Affordable Cities

Writing for New Geography, Fannis Grammenos expresses skepticism that more compact cities are more affordable cities. In fact, Grammenos argues that just the opposite is true.

March 16 - New Geography

The Next Frontier for Compact Walkability? It's Gotta Be the Burbs

Suburban retrofit: what's next in issues, approaches, strategies, and tools.

March 16 - PlaceShakers

Historic Atlantic City Airport Up for Sale—90 Percent Off 2008 Prices

The more things change, the more they stay the same. Evidence Bader Field as a cog in plans to revive Atlantic City's financial fortunes.

March 16 - Associated Press via NorthJersey.com

Looking for a Kickstart: City Design Method Cards

The same team that created Cards Against Urbanity is back with an eagerly anticipated new engagement product called City Design Method Cards.

March 16 - Planetizen

Demonstration Project

BLOG POST

New Guide Will Help You Take Action in the Streets

With a grant from the Knight Foundation, Street Plans is creating the "Tactical Urbanist's Guide to Materials and Design" to provide engineer-approved materials guidance for citizen-led demonstration, and city-led pilot and interim design projects.

March 15 - Mike Lydon

BART to the Silicon Valley: Phase 1 Well Underway, Phase 2 Now on the Way

What seemed for decades like an impossible dream is becoming more and more of a reality: BART service to San Jose and the Silicon Valley.

March 15 - Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority

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