The Daily Source of Urban Planning News
Self-Driving Cars Still Can't Recognize the Difference Between a Wedding Planner and an Urban Planner
Pundits agree that planners need to prepare for self-driving cars. Self-driving cars still need to prepare for planners.
Florida Man Thought the New Comp Plan Included Zoning Changes
A Florida man is accused of not realizing an entirely separate process would be required to implement the zoning changes recommended in a recently approved comprehensive plan.
Millennial Confesses: I Was Born in the Suburbs and My Parents Are Baby Boomers
Everything we thought we knew about Millennials was wrong.
No Demand for 'Defensive Driving' Mode in Self-Driving Cars
General Motors recently cancelled development of "Defensive Driving" software in its autonomous vehicle program. The announcement came just days after Ford announced it had cancelled the development of similar "Safe Driving" software.
Housing Crisis Derailing California's Climate Strategy
In a powerful opinion in The New York Times, state Senator Scott Wiener and UC Berkeley energy professor Daniel Kammen make the case that transportation emissions are rising in the Golden States because of the shortage of housing in coastal cities.
Smashing Transit Ridership Success in New Zealand
The city of Auckland, in New Zealand, set a goal to double its transit ridership in ten years. With a little under four years left to achieve that goal, the city is already well on its way.
Big Mixed-Use Development Coming to Downtown Phoenix Transit Center
Developers have proposed a large mixed-use project for one of the best development opportunities in Downtown Phoenix.
Alabama Is Latest State to Hike Gas Tax
Thanks to bipartisan cooperation and strong leadership from Gov. Kay Ivey, the Heart of Dixie passed it first fuel tax hike in 27 years. The 21 cents per gallon tax will increase by 10 cents in three increments by 2021 and then indexed to inflation.
Milwaukee Pedestrian Plan Addresses Walkability
The draft pedestrian plan seeks to get the community involved in making streets safer and more walkable.
California Resists Federal Efforts to Roll Back Environmental Regulations
California is pushing back against federal actions by enforcing state rules and standards that it says have precedence.
Starchitecture Comes to Saudi Arabia
Designed by Norwegian firm Snøhetta, the King Abdulaziz Center for World Culture in Dammam, Saudi Arabia, promises to spread knowledge and promote understanding against the backdrop of the kingdom's dismal record on human rights.
Programming Over Serenity Favored in 21st Century Park Design
The new urban public realm in the United States is highly programmed—some of that design approach reflects the trends of culture and some reflects a history of violence and bad for PR for parks at the end of the 20th century.
Portland, Ore. Voters Will Be Asked to Reauthorize Gas Tax in May 2020
Originally approved by 52 percent of voters in May 2016, the 4-year, 10 cents per gallon city gas tax has outperformed revenue projections. Funds are split between road maintenance and bike and pedestrian projects.
$1 Billion Industry City Redevelopment Caught Up in Post-Amazon Political Drama
Large mixed-use projects aren't getting an automatic greenlight in New York City anymore.
Report: Most U.S. Coal Plants Uncompetitive with Renewables
The report heralds increased shuttering of coal-burning powered plants due to cheaper alternatives. Almost three-quarters of coal-burning power plants today are more costly to operate than renewable facilities. In six years, it jumps to 86 percent.
Court Overrules U.S. EPA in Baltimore Runoff Case
Environmentalists challenged the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and won.
California Unlikely to Follow New York in Allowing Urban Street Tolling
With the New York State legislature expected to pass a tolling plan for Manhattan early next week, the Chronicle's Rachel Swan reports on the unlikelihood of a similar plan being adopted in San Francisco or any city in the Golden State.
While Ridership Plummets, Transit Fixes Are Slow to Materialize in Philadelphia
The list of challenges facing transit agencies like the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority is long. The list of feasible projects that can deliver solutions is much shorter.
Problems With Portland Homeless Camp Clean-Up Program
An audit describes a number of issues with the city’s program to identify and remove illegal encampments.
Planning for 1.8 Million New Residents Around Puget Sound
The state of Washington's 1990 Growth Management Act requires regions to create long-range growth plans. The Puget Sound Region Council is currently working on its latest iteration of the plan.
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.
