The Daily Source of Urban Planning News

ng1_3717

Can a Net Zero Cottage Work in the Suburbs?

In its first year alone, Zero Cottage has produced 22 percent more energy than it consumes. But can such an urban project be replicated in a suburban setting?

November 17 - Build a Better Burb

Citing High Rate of Adoption, Los Angeles Considers Expanded Freeway Toll Lanes

The use of toll lanes on two of the Los Angeles region's freeways has proven popular enough that county transportation planners are considering expanding the system.

November 17 - The San Gabriel Valley Tribune

Switching to Transit in Atlanta—Affordable but Unlikely

Darin from ATL Urbanist picks up on a recent report by the American Public Transportation Association (APTA) finding that residents of Atlanta can save big money by ditching their cars and riding transit.

November 17 - ATL Urbanist

Dallas Launches Fledgling Bikeshare Program

Meant as the precursor for a larger program and delayed from an expected summer launch, Dallas launched its first bikeshare system with two rental kiosks for use around Fair Park.

November 17 - The Dallas Morning News

San Francisco Parking

An Unintended Consequence of Unbundling Parking from Housing

Transportation and affordable housing advocates advocate unbundling parking from housing to provide an incentive to own fewer vehicles while reducing housing costs and increasing supply. But should parcel taxes be applied to parking spaces?

November 17 - San Francisco Chronicle


Study Complicates Relationship of Population Growth, Emissions Reduction

More people translates to more emissions, right? Cut back on population growth and you'll reduce emissions and the threat of climate change, along with other environmental woes—it's a no-brainer. Or is it?

November 16 - The Washington Post - Wonkblog

How to Solve the Pension Challenge

Diana Lind of Next City poses five ways big cities can alleviate some of their pension funding problems.

November 16 - Next City


Oakland skyline and San Francisco Bay

The Biggest Transportation Winner on the Nov. 4 Ballot

The ballot measure generating the most new transportation funds approved by voters this month was in Alameda County, Calif. Voters chose to double an existing sales tax to one percent and extend it to 2045, raising $7.8 billion over 30 years.

November 16 - Contra Costa Times

Silicon Valley BRT

BRT Planned for the Silicon Valley

A region dominated by automobile-friendly infrastructure has released a Draft EIR for a bus rapid transit project connecting central San Jose to Palo Alto via El Camino Real.

November 16 - Human Transit

Want a Stronger Economy? Focus More on Racial Inclusion

"We asked the question: How much higher would total earnings and economic output have been in 2012 if racial differences in income were eliminated"...

November 16 - Shelterforce/Rooflines

If Keystone Bill Becomes Law, Would it be Built?

It's not a foregone conclusion that President Obama would veto a bill expected in the Senate next week to allow the construction of the Keystone XL pipeline. But if it were to pass and Obama signs it, would it be built? CNBC investigates.

November 15 - CNBC

2050: Year of the Minority Majority

Tanvi Misra discusses with William Frey of the Brooking Institution the repercussions of the demographic flip expected to occur by 2050.

November 15 - CityLab

Late Night Bus Stop Request Program for Women Launches in Brasilia, Brazil

The new safety law allows women to request a stop at any location along a bus route after 10 pm, in an effort to increase women's safety in transit.

November 15 - The City Fix

Bay Bridge Bike Path: Cheaper is Better

The existing bike path on the eastern span of the Bay Bridge meets an abrupt dead end, though it will be extended to Yerba Buena Island next summer. Plans are underway to extend the path to San Francisco, but it won't be cheap.

November 15 - Contra Costa Times

electricity infrastructure

How To: Smarter Infrastructure Investments

In the next few decades, U.S. governments and businesses are predicted to spend trillions of dollars on infrastructure. This is the reality. The question is: how do we get smart about these investments?

November 15 - Infrastructure Crisis Sustainable Solutions

A Census for City Streets

Eric Scharnhorst, project manager at Gehl Architects, argues for a wide-scale census instrument detailing city life, not just pedestrian counts and fatalities.

November 14 - Next City

The $100 Billion Question Facing the New Republican Majority

A huge challenge for the next Congress will be finding the funds to keep the Highway Trust Fund solvent when the current patch expires on May 31.

November 14 - The Washington Post

Does Airbnb Impact the Affordable Housing Market?

Michelle Cohen discusses whether or not companies like Airbnb, which provide platforms for room and house-sharing aimed at travelers, impact a city's affordable housing market.

November 14 - 6ftsq

Toledo Healthcare Nonprofit Wants City Parkland for a Parking Garage

ProMedica is a locally owned nonprofit healthcare organization that is in the process of moving 900 employees from various suburban locations in the Toledo area into its newly renovated riverfront headquarters in Downtown Toledo.

November 14 - The Toledo Blade

Converting Single Room Occupancy Hotels to Market Rate Apartments

Emily Badger discusses a phenomenon of gentrification in Chicago: former single room occupancy hotels, historically reserved for low-income housing, are being converted into market-rate rentals.

November 14 - The Washington Post

Post News

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.