The Daily Source of Urban Planning News

Opinion: Funding for N.Y.C. Parks Should Be a Priority
New York City parks are in desperate need of maintenance and infrastructure improvements, and the city should make investments now to support these essential public spaces.

Report: Congestion Defeats the Economic Purpose of Cities
Rapid urbanization and over-reliance on the inefficiencies of automobiles has set back the economies of urbanizing locations in the Global South, according to a new report.

Creating Suburban Exclusivity in the City
City life is being sold as a convenient version of the suburbs, with similar amenities minus the time-consuming commute.
Mobile Parks and Recreation Fill a Need
Several cities are using mobile park and recreation services to augment existing parks and fill gaps in parks. LA County parks planner Clement Lau describes a sampling of mobile programs.

How Much Should Electric Vehicles Be Charged in Lieu of Gas Tax?
Currently, electric vehicles pay a $17.50 annual registration fee in Illinois. A bill to double the 19 cents per gallon gas tax, unchanged in almost 30 years, would also increase the EV fee over 57-fold to $1,000.

New on Netflix: How Street Vendors Create Vibrant Cities
Street vending has been a contentious issue in many places, but this part of the informal economy is important to the social and economic well-being of cities.

Elon Musk and BART Go Toe to Toe (on Twitter)
Transit agencies and advocates are developing a genre of criticism that could be described as calling Elon Musk on his BS. Musk still has plenty of support on social media.

The Elephant in the Room in Nevada: Property Taxes
Despite an anticipated political showdown over the issues raised by the state's property taxes, the Nevada State Legislature failed to take up the issue this year.

How Wealthy Suburbs Block Outsiders From Economic Opportunity
Exclusionary zoning and land use tactics have a long history in the United States, retaining startling relevance in contemporary times. A deep investigation into Connecticut land use politics reveals just how entrenched these practices are.

Report: Many States Spent Volkswagen Settlement Money on More Diesel Vehicles
When Volkswagen funded a $3 billion environmental mitigation trust as the result of a settlement in the cheating scandal three years ago, states could have used that money to fund things like electric buses.

What Do Cities With Fewer Cars Have in Common?
A new analysis looks at how income and population density are related to car ownership and some ways that the design of cities can help lessen car dependence.

An Urban, Technologically Enabled Era of Retirement
A feature article in Marketwatch describes a future for retirement communities that look more like WeWork than the golf course-adjacent exurban communities of the 20th century.

FEATURE
Stampede of New Residents Challenges Fort Worth
An interview with Fort Worth Planning and Development Director Randle Harwood on the planning practices and ideas driving the future of one of the nation's fastest growing cities.

Report: Ballot Measure Intended to Spur Affordable Development Had the Opposite Effect in L.A.
L.A. voters approved Measure JJJ in 2016 in the hopes of encouraging more affordable housing as a trade-off for discretionary approval. The result has been no development at all.

Mulling the Idea of Ending Right Turns on Red Lights
San Francisco might follow the lead on New York City when it comes to right turns on red lights.

Inclusionary Zoning Now a Subject of the Toronto-Ontario Spat
Ontario and Toronto keep finding ways to disagree.

State of the Cities 2019
The National League of Cities has released their annual analysis of the top issues mayors are talking about in the United States.

New Mobile Platform Will Offer Transit Discounts for Students, Shoppers and More
There's synergy between mobility-as-a-service and mobile ticketing. We're only beginning to see the potential benefits of platform integration in these two tech spaces.

Eleven Units of Affordable Housing Coming to S.F. Bay Area Suburb
A new apartment building is going up in Danville, California, but the affordable housing it will provide is a drop in the bucket compared to the state’s massive housing needs.

D.C. Attempts to Save Local Dog Park
Residents of Columbia Heights in Washington, D.C. have been using property owned by D.C. Metro as a dog park. The District might buy the land to ensure it stays that way.
Pagination
City of Clovis
City of Moorpark
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.