The Daily Source of Urban Planning News

Visualizing Density in New Jersey
An interactive map shows the surprising density of the Garden State.

A Train Instead of the 405: The Impossible Dream One Step Closer to Reality in L.A.
A rail transit project has serious momentum in Los Angeles, offering a potentially game changing alternative to the notoriously jammed commute on Interstate 405 over the Sepulveda Pass.

The Oil Production Boom in New Mexico Could Mean More Money for Roads
With an "unprecedented" amount of money coming in from booming oil production, New Mexico legislators are considering how to spend the extra money.
10-Story Apartment Project Tests the Limits of Minneapolis' New Comprehensive Plan
A proposed development in Minneapolis would add affordable units in exchange for extra height. A neighborhood group worries about the precedent the project would set.

Transportation Priorities of the New Democratic Leadership in the House
With Democrats rising to power in the U.S. House of Representatives and the government recently reopened (temporarily at least), it's time to plot the legislative ambitions of the coming session in Congress.

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Scooter Media Brief: A Fork in the Road for Scooters
A few milestones stick out from the rest of the scooter news from January 2019.

Portland's Opportunity Zone Designations Raise Eyebrows
Call it "Tax Breaklandia," according to this Bloomberg article.

Wisconsin County Completes First Comprehensive Zoning Code Rewrite in 70-Plus Years
Dane County, Wisconsin, which includes the city of Madison, has rewritten its zoning code to address a changing economy and a state-mandated system of local control.

PG&E Promises to Keep the Lights on After Declaring Chapter 11 Bankruptcy
Pacific Gas and Electric has declared Chapter 11 bankruptcy in the face of "actual and potential" liability.
L.A. Metro Jumps Into the Ridesharing Business
The Los Angeles County metropolitan Transportation Authority announced the launch of a one-year pilot program for on demand ridesharing, otherwise known as microtransit.

How to Integrate Light Rail and Bus Rapid Transit for Walkability and Housing
Better integration between San Diego's various transit modes—trolley (light rail), bus, bus rapid transit, and active transit—are key to increasing use and housing options, argues AVRP planner Howard Blackson III.

The Geography of Commuting and the 'New Urban Crisis'
How people get to work, and the geographic distinctions between trends in those choices, reveals some of the country's more ominous traits, including the trend Richard Florida calls "the new urban crisis."

Pittsburgh's Iconic Rachel Carson Bridge Closed for Repairs Until Summer 2020
One of the symbols of Pittsburgh's status as the Steel City and the City of Bridges will be closed for repairs for all of 2019 and a good portion of 2020 as well.

Houston's $7.5 Billion Multimodal Transportation Plan
The Moving Forward Plan seeks to improve transportation throughout the region, but funding and project priorities still need to be sorted out.

Minneapolis Liquor License Restriction Lifted
The city’s "7-acre rule" limited liquor licenses to restaurants in a commercial zone, but a repeal of the ordinance last year means that restaurants across the city can now apply to serve liquor.

Carbon Tax-and-Dividend Bill to Be Reintroduced
Two members of Congress, a Democrat and a Republican, both from Florida, will reintroduce their bill to put a tax on carbon emissions and return the revenue to the people in the form of a dividend.

$1 Billion Mixed-Use Complex Halts Construction in L.A.
The example of Oceanwide Plaza, which recently halted construction across the street from the Staples Center, raises more questions than it answers about foreign investment in Downtown Los Angeles' revitalization.

U.S. Appeals Court: Climate Crisis Justifies California Clean Fuels Rule
California's Low Carbon Fuel Standard, which requires fuel producers to reduce the carbon intensity of transportation fuels by at least 10 percent by 2020, has been opposed by corn ethanol producers and the oil industry since its inception in 2011.

Silicon Valley Tech Community Commits $500 Million to Fund Housing Crisis
A large group of technology and philanthropic foundations has announced multiple funds to help mitigate the crisis of housing affordability in the Bay Area. It's the second such effort announced already this year.

Scarf Depicting Rail Delays Sells for $8,650
A German rail commuter recorded each day’s travel by knitting a scarf.
Pagination
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
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