The Daily Source of Urban Planning News
Developer Defeats Planning Expertise in Downtown Los Angeles
The Los Angeles City Council recently approved a pedestrian footbridge for a large development west of Downtown. The approval came suddenly and despite the protests of advocates, planning professionals, and the volunteer City Planning Commission.
Planners Working on a Road Diet Sea Change in Houston
Planners in Houston are working on street configurations in large swaths of the city. The plans reflect Mayor Annise Parker's recent executive order to embrace complete streets as well as a growing demand among residents for walkable, safe streets.
Where Can Tesla Sell Cars? (And Where Can Tesla Not Sell Cars?)
The direct sales model of Tesla has led many states, at the behest of auto dealer interests, to block the sale of the vehicles. Treehugger drew up a map to give a clear picture of where Tesla is welcome.
Transit Planning for the Future of the Brooklyn-Queens Waterfront
The Brooklyn-Queens Waterfront is amidst a radical change—massive housing projects, celebrated parks, and new jobs by the thousands. One writer calls for transit planning now, to support the waterfront of the future.
Renting or Buying? The Math Figures Differently around the Country
As the real estate market sees dramatic price increases in much of California and the Northwest, more measures favor renting compared to buying.
Will Driverless Cars Spell Doom for Law Enforcement Budgets?
What happens to law-enforcement budget (and, for that matter, municipal budgets) in a future of law-abiding driverless cars?
First Responders Not Prepared for Oil Train Explosions Despite Emergency Order
Notwithstanding an emergency order DOT issued on May 7 that railroads must provide cities oil train information, secrecy continues to cloak the transport of hazardous oil shipments leaving first responders ill-prepared to handle fiery explosions.
Continuing the Fire Safety vs. Urban Design Debate
A dense network of streets creates the conditions for faster response times. Better pedestrian and automobile safety and excellent response times is a win-win. So why are fire officials undermining this network with calls for wider streets?
Special Delivery: Housing Data Provided by the United States Postal Service
If you're looking for more data on housing in the United States, a dataset produced by the United States Postal Service has many advantages.
Making Biking Cool for Kids
A three-year bike-to-school initiative in Europe encourages children to bike to school.
Paris Plans to Adopt Citywide Slow Speed Zone
A blog post by Eric Britton covers Mayor Madame Anne Hidalgo's plans to adopt a 30 kilometer per hour (approximately 20 miles per hour) maximum speed limit in Paris.
New Census Data Highlight Continued Growth of Urban Areas
It's hard to avoid tales about the country's urban boom; then the U.S. Census goes and releases data that totally backs it up.
Foreign Investors Driving Up Housing Costs, Creating Zombie Communities
A slew of analysis in recent weeks has examined the negative consequences of foreign real estate speculation in cities like New York City, London, and Vancouver.
How Value Capture Raised $2 Billion for Infrastructure in São Paulo
Leão Serva reports on the case of São Paulo, where a value capture funding mechanism has raised a huge amount of public revenue to pay for infrastructure projects and public housing.
Montreal Will Turn Two Residential Streets Into Cycle Streets
In Montreal, the Plateau-Mont-Royal borough unveiled an ambitious plan to make streets safer for people on foot and bikes by securing pedestrian crossings, and creating new bike paths as well as two "cycle streets" — where bikes have priority.
Watch the National September 11 Memorial Museum Rise from the Ground
A time-lapse camera installed by a live webcam company called EarthCam has produced a beautiful two-and-a-half-minute video showing the construction of the September 11 Memorial and Museum.
In Search of the Right Fit for Bus Stops on Virginia's Columbia Pike
A controversy over the "million-dollar bus stop" in Arlington prompted one writer to examine the size and scale of bus stops. It's a cost consideration that can determine the choice, in some cases, between bus rapid transit and streetcars.
An Electric Car the CEO Doesn't Want You to Buy
Please, don't buy the Fiat 500 E, stated Fiat Chrysler Automobiles CEO Sergio Marchionne during his presentation on a Brookings panel on May 20. It's not because it's a bad car—it's because his company loses $14,000 on every sale.
Friday Eye Candy: A Photo Critique of Asia's Megacities
Michael Wolf is a 60-year-old German photojournalist living in Hong Kong. In a recent interview, he describes his various projects in capturing the lives of the millions who call Asian megacities home.
BLOG POST
The Theory Behind NIMBYism, Part 3
When should a city give neighborhood concerns weight, and when should a state or city create clear-cut rules that limit planners' discretion to consider neighborhood concerns?
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.
