The Daily Source of Urban Planning News

How San Francisco Integrates Historic Rail Lines into its Transit System

San Francisco has managed to operate and integrate historic rail transit into its overall public transit system. Clement Lau explains how the City does it.

August 20 - UrbDeZine

Designing Child-Friendly Cities: More Trouble than it's Worth?

With the Millennial boom in many urban centers, many cities are looking for ways to retain young families rather than losing them to the traditional suburban exodus. One columnist dares to ask: Do cities even need kids?

August 20 - The Washington Post

As Crashes Go Unreported, Boston's Pedestrians Lose Out

The refusal of the Boston Police Department to report crashes to the state's Registry of Vehicles means that the city misses out on state funding to improve pedestrian and traffic safety.

August 20 - The Boston Globe

Arriving in Texas: the Shinkansen Bullet Train

The Houston to Dallas high speed rail train will be built with the cooperation of Japan's Central Railway, a longtime successful and profitable operator of Shinkansen bullet train lines. Securing the private financing is key to the project.

August 20 - The Texas Tribune

Portland Building First Multi-Modal Bridge—No Cars Allowed

To connect the South Waterfront area with the rest of the city, Portland is building a multi-modal bridge accommodating tram lines, streetcars, light rail lines, bicyclists, and pedestrians, but not automobiles.

August 20 - CityLab


Hells Kitchen Sidewalk New York City

Jane Jacobs' Sidewalk Ballet, Gone Forever in New York City?

Alex Marshall discusses whether Jane Jacobs' famous "Sidewalk Ballet" is dead on the streets of New York City.

August 20 - Governing

Breaking Down the Demographics of Bicycle Commuters

A new report from the League of American Bicyclists discussed equity in bicycle commuting and infrastructure, causing a flurry of discussion throughout the Internet.

August 20 - Blooming Rock


USDOT Announces Proposed Rulemaking for Vehicle-to-Vehicle Communications

USDOT's National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) yesterday publicized an advance notice of proposed rulemaking (ANPRM) and a supporting comprehensive research report on cutting edge V2V communications technology.

August 20 - National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

New York City Ranks Highly for 'Location Affordability'

A comparative analysis by the Citizens Budget Commission provides a softer take on the "affordability crisis" making so much news in New York City. The conclusion of the study is that New York City is more affordable than many other large cities.

August 20 - Crain's Business New York

Young Crowd

Kotkin on Cities: What the Hipsters Want is Not What the People Want

Joel Kotkin checks in with a dissenting take on the politics and demographics behind the urban revival.

August 19 - The Washington Post

Echo Park

Olmsted Alive! 'Emerald Necklace' Plan Proposed for Los Angeles

Inspired by a park system proposal by Frederick Law Olmsted from 1930 to build a network of parks and open space throughout the city, a coalition of advocates is reviving the idea of connecting people and parks throughout Los Angeles.

August 19 - Next City

Gentrification Creeps North of Boston

Naomi Kooker tells of the rapidly increasing pace of gentrification in the once gritty, now expensive, Boston suburb of Somerville.

August 19 - The Boston Globe

Lean Urbanism: A Century-Old Practice?

A short case study in Lean Urbanism, compliments of Victoria Beach, Manitoba.

August 19 - PlaceShakers

First 'Chief Resilience Officer' Begins Term in Oakland

Victoria Salinas was recently named Oakland, California's first Chief Resilience Officer (CRO), a position popping up in municipalities throughout the world.

August 19 - Next City

Sating Food Deserts with Frequent Transit Networks

According to Jarrett Walker, one solution to alleviating food deserts is by providing residents access to frequent transportation networks.

August 19 - Human Transit

California to Cap Incomes Eligible for Electric Vehicle Rebates

A bill will attempt to bring some equity to the flagrantly inequitable rebate program that subsidizes purchases of Electric Vehicles. Additional subsidies would be directed to low income families. Rebates could also be used for car share and transit.

August 19 - Los Angeles Times

'Future Ground' Competition Focusing on New Orleans Land Reuse Strategies

Spearheaded by the Van Alen Institute, and supported by the New Orleans Redevelopment Agency, the competition brings new life to some of the 30,000 vacant lots and abandoned structures left over from Hurricane Katrina throughout the city.

August 19 - The Architects Newspaper

'Dire' Budget Shortfall at the New York City Housing Authority

Faced with shrinking federal spending on affordable housing and a strained housing market, the New York City Housing Authority is dealing with a massive budget shortfall and a massive wait list.

August 19 - The New York Times

The Starchitect Debate Continues: Locatecture, Public Art, and Branding

James S. Russell, architecture and design critic, pitches his two cents into the starchitect debate, arguing for locatecture and sensitivity to place.

August 19 - Architizer

More Questions than Answers for the Silver Spring Transit Center

Bill Turque catches up on the progress of the "$120 million concrete albatross" that is the Silver Spring Transit Center.

August 18 - The Washington Post

Post News

Top Books

An annual review of books related to planning.

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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.