The Daily Source of Urban Planning News

First U.S. City to Build Protected Intersection for Bikes: Salt Lake City

An intersection configuration mastered by the Dutch is about to get its first showcase in the capital of Utah as part of a larger bike lane project through the center of the city.

May 7 - Streetsblog USA

Stop Sign Intersection

On the Benefits of Traffic Signal Removal

Certain intersections stand to gain from losing their traffic lights. According to this study, cities can save money and improve safety by uninstalling signals in low-traffic zones.

May 7 - CityLab

drinking water fountain

The Equity of Tiered Water Pricing

A tale of two water-parched cities, one in California, the other in New Mexico, and the critical role played by tiered water pricing. Long known as an effective economic strategy to reduce consumption, tiered pricing also influences equity.

May 7 - The New York Times

Battle Over Federal 'Clean Water Rule' Heats Up

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the Army Corps of Engineers have drafted a new Clean Water Rule to clarify the regulatory powers of the Clan Water Act. In response, some members of Congress authored opposing legislation.

May 7 - NRDC Switchboard

Graffiti and Family

BLOG POST

Building the Inclusive City

Income inequality, housing affordability, and residential segregation are big challenges that require more self-critical analysis and less civic self-promotion.

May 7 - Dean Saitta


Seattle Gasworks Park

Seattle Zealously Protects Its Parkland

Based on a history of park-friendly ordinances, Seattle parks and urban forests are largely off-limits to developers. Landowners who flout these regulations must provide the city with an adjacent and equivalent parcel.

May 7 - KUOW

Revealed: Dan Gilbert's Next Detroit Redevelopment Investment

The neighborhood of Brush Park will be home to the latest big investment by Quicken Loans founder and Detroit patron Dan Gilbert. $70 million will build 337 new housing units on 8.4 acres.

May 7 - Detroit Free Press


Looking for Someone to Blame for Bad Architecture? Look in the Mirror, Says Op-Ed

Architecture Critic Mark Lamster attended the recent Congress for The New Urbanism annual conference, this year held in Dallas. One panel in particular, "How to Rebuild Architecture," proved informative.

May 7 - The Dallas Morning News

A Call for Mayor de Blasio to Fund New York's Public Libraries

The New York Times editorial board questions the priorities of a city that can support sports facilities with hundreds of millions of dollars in taxpayer funds but neglects its libraries.

May 7 - The New York Times

Photo of google sign outside of google cafeteria

Cities Chase Elusive 'Innovation Economy'

In many places, anchor institutions and local industries are old news. New companies, new ideas, and brand-new industries are creating wealth and vibrancy. Professor Enrico Moretti explains how cities can get in on the 'innovation economy.'

May 7 - California Planning & Development Report

The Lake Mead Water Crisis Explained

The water level in Lake Mead dropped to an all-time low at the end of April, falling below 1080 feet above sea level for the first time in 78 years.

May 6 - Brookings

Golden Gate

Affordable Housing Strikes Back

Has George Lucas discovered the ultimate anti-NIMBY weapon? Hint: It's not a lightsaber

May 6 - Rooflines

Housing Market Finally Improves for Country's Poorest Renters

New data from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development shows that the rental market is improving for the most at-risk populations in the country.

May 6 - The Washington Post - Wonkblog

Michigan's Sweeping Road Funding Amendment Loses in a Landslide

Proposition 1 would have enacted broad reforms in road funding policies and programs in Michigan. Despite Governor Rick Snyder and the State Legislature's efforts, however, voters soundly defeated the measure in a statewide election this week.

May 6 - Detroit Free Press

The First Four Months of 2015 State Gas Tax Increases

Transportation for America makes it easy to keep track of the seven states that have passed legislation to raise, or stem the fall of, gas tax revenue, with an in-depth look at how the first state, Iowa, increased fuel taxes.

May 6 - T4America Blog

Welcome to the 'Age of Animals as Infrastructure'

Animals are more than just guests or co-habitants in our cities, according to an article in New Scientist—they're a critical component of the infrastructure that keeps cities running.

May 6 - New Scientist

Mapping Chicago's 375 Tax Increment Financing Projects

A new mapping project allows new access to information about Chicago's controversial tax increment financing mechanism. Now at least the debate will include visuals.

May 6 - Curbed Chicago

Highlights from CNU 23 Dallas

Having just wrapped up a great CNU in Dallas, April 29 through May 2, a collection of urbanists share some of the ideas that resonated the most.

May 6 - PlaceShakers

Car Graveyard

New Report Finds Drivers Pay Less Than Half the Cost of Roads

The new report, "Who Pays for Roads? How the 'Users Pays' Myth Gets in the Way of Solutions to America’s Transportation Problems" exposes the widening gap between how Americans think we pay for roadways—through user fees—and how we actually do.

May 6 - U.S. Pirg

FEMA to States: Want Disaster Mitigation Funds? Then Plan for Climate Change

A policy adopted earlier this year and due to go into effect next March would require states to plan for climate change before they are eligible to receive grant funding to plan for disasters.

May 6 - The Hill

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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.