The Daily Source of Urban Planning News
Explaining the Importance of Mandatory Inclusionary Zoning
A term you need to know.
Gov. Andrew Cuomo: Contemporary New York's Version of Robert Moses?
In a comprehensive look at the New York governor's attraction to big infrastructure projects, the analogy to Robert Moses is made by the Regional Plan Association, while the right-leaning Manhattan Institute faults Cuomo for ignoring MTA.
Bay Area's First Express Lanes Break Ground
The new 23 miles of I-680 express lanes between San Ramon and Walnut Creek in Contra Costa County will begin construction this month, the first of over 500 miles to be built and operated by the Metropolitan Transportation Commission.
A Visionary Plan for an Urban Village in Minneapolis-Saint Paul
The Prospect North Partnership intends to build a fully integrated, resource-efficient neighborhood in a prime yet underdeveloped location.
All Aboard Florida Receives Crucial State Backing for $1.75 Billion Loan
The Florida Development Finance Commission voted 3-0 at a contentious meeting to approve the 125 mph, Orlando-Miami privately funded train's request for tax-exempt status. It does not put the state at risk in terms of repaying the loan though.
Katrina 'Ten Years After': and the Band Plays On
The 10th anniversary of Hurricane Katrina is upon us. Many of us city planners invested whatever skills we thought we had, plus a heavy dose of passionate naivete, to recovery planning in the wake of the 2005 storm.
What Does it Take to Keep the Paint Fresh on Bike Lanes?
The bike lane on a well-traveled street through Philadelphia has faded beyond recognition. Appeals to restripe the lane have focused on a forthcoming visit from the pope.
Los Angeles Mandates Fault Surveys in Risky Areas
According to a new rule, developers building over known faults will need to drill or take samples to find the rift's exact position. While it slows down construction, the measure might prevent catastrophic future quake damage.
Op-Ed: Rideshare Beats Streetcars for Short Trips
Especially for parties with more than one passenger, summoning a car can make more sense, according to a recent op-ed. Transit still wins out for longer trips, but streetcars might just not be worth it downtown.
Promise Zones Partner Up in Los Angeles and Philadelphia
A new phase of President Obama's Promise Zone anti-poverty initiative will take place simultaneously in Los Angeles and Philadelphia. AmeriCorps staff will be on hand to provide career coaching to high school students.
Strategies for Maximizing Transit Ridership
Jarrett Walker outlines the conditions under which transit serves the greatest number of travelers. Maximizing ridership, he argues, requires thinking like a business and catering to demand.
Connecticut Shoreline Rail Vulnerable to Floods
Long stretches of Connecticut's "lifeblood" shoreline rail line lie in the path of rising seas and future floods. While moving the tracks further inland is prohibitively expensive, a resilience plan is still needed.
Google Celebrates the Birth of the Traffic Light
If you opened Google to do a search on Wednesday, you'd see an image (the "doodle") of a traffic light and six Model-T era cars spelling out the company's name. It was honoring the 101-year anniversary of the birth of the electric traffic light.
Friday Funny: Alternative Energy Will Enable Americans to Waste More Energy
A fake news report from the fake news site The Onion lampoons the American culture of excess and its disregard for environmental consequences.
FEATURE
NIMBY Obstruction and the Density Paradox
An op-ed describes a paradox produced by the ongoing debates over density while also presenting potential solutions for overcoming the resulting impasse.
How Technology Will Improve Inspection and Maintenance of Streets
A researcher in Pittsburgh could render obsolete the arduous task of manually inspecting streets for cracks and potholes.
Common Issues Facing Cities—Aggregated from 100 'State of the City' Speeches
Around the country, issues related to the field of planning dominate the public discussion of the "state of the city."
MAP-21 Regulations—From 2012—Delay Detroit Streetcar Opening
Detroit's M-1 Rail, under construction since 2014, has bumped back its project delivery date. Blame for the delay is assigned to weather, streetcar delivery delays, and the roll out of a federal transportation law from 2012.
Pennsylvania Could Require Reflective Clothing for Biking at Night
Pennsylvania is the latest state legislature to consider a bill requiring special clothing for people riding bikes.
Dueling Proposals for Seattle's Waterfront Park
Eventually, Bertha will push through and create an alternative route for what is now Highway 99. Eventually, also, Seattle will decide on a plan to build a park where the viaduct now runs.
City of Moorpark
City of Tustin
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
Transportation Research & Education Center (TREC) at Portland State University
Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada
Toledo-Lucas County Plan Commissions
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.
