The Daily Source of Urban Planning News

The Peninsula

Late Election Result: Transportation Sales Tax Appears to Pass in San Mateo County, Calif.

Transportation advocates have been patiently waiting since Nov. 6 for the results of a half-cent, 30-year county sales tax measure, 50 percent of which would benefit Samtrans bus and Caltrain needs and 5% bike/ped. It needs 66.67% of votes to pass.

December 3 - Curbed SF

Dar es Salaam

Compact Cities Are Environmentally and Economically More Sustainable

Sprawl leads to more emissions, but the economic costs are also high. Policies and strategies that ensure compact growth are essential.

December 3 - World Resources Institute

Race and ethnicity 2010: New York City

Report: 'Segregation Tax' Depresses Home Values in Majority-Black Areas

According to a study, residential segregation and anti-black bias combine to devalue properties in majority-black neighborhoods by an average of $48,000 per home.

December 3 - Curbed

D.C. Streetcar

Study Casts Doubt on Streetcars' Ability to Spur Development

Examining Portland and Seattle's much-talked-about systems, the authors highlight the importance of treating streetcars as a viable transport option, rather than just a means to stimulate development.

December 3 - The Washington Post

Florida

NASA's Urban Plan for Space Settlements

A 1977 NASA publication laid out a plan for the future of space settlements. The future of space looks very urban.

December 3 - Greater Greater Washington


Shanghai Tower, World Financial Center, and Jin Mao Tower

BLOG POST

Vertical Cities: Can Mega-Skyscrapers Solve Urban Population Overload?

Vertical cities could be much more than monolithic luxury towers, but the idea has its skeptics.

December 2 - Kayla Matthews

Philadelphia Skyline

Philadelphia’s Skyline History

The city didn’t have tall buildings until the 1980s. Then its skyline took off.

December 2 - The Inquirer / Philly.com


Metro Gold LIne

Planned L.A. Crenshaw Line Rollout Prompts Argument

Already delayed, the Crenshaw Line has now sparked debate between stakeholders who favor opposing visions of how the light rail service should link up with the existing Green Line.

December 2 - The Los Angeles Times

Chicago River North Branch

Plan Changes for Chicago’s Lincoln Yards Project

The massive proposed development project on the Chicago River is facing a host of questions about density, open space, and infrastructure.

December 2 - Chicago Tribune

Dallas Transit

Feds Let the Transit Funding Flow

It was a big week for long-awaited transit funding from the Federal Transit Administration.

December 2 - Smart Cities Dive

Emergency Sign

U.S. Life Expectancy Continues Downward Trend

Drug overdoses and suicides caused American life expectancy to drop in 2017 for the second consecutive year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Most notable is the gap between the urban and rural suicide rate.

December 1 - The Washington Post

Northern California Wilidfires

A Regional Breakdown of Climate Change in the U.S.

No corner of the county will escape unscathed.

December 1 - Grist

Boston, Massachusetts

Boston's Metropolitan Area Planning Council Announces Resilience Grant Program

The Accelerating Climate Resiliency Mini Grant Program will award grants to six to 15 projects, policies, and actions to protect people from the impacts of climate change.

December 1 - Metropolitan Area Planning Council

egislative Assembly of Ontario

Ontario Orders a 'Carbon Trust Fund' to Replace its Cap-and-Trade Program

Premier Doug Ford and the Progressive Conservatives party have left their mark on Ontario's signature climate change policy.

December 1 - The Star

Invasive Species

Price Triples for Keeping Asian Carp Out of Lake Michigan

It's been expensive year for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' efforts to prevent environmental catastrophe in Lake Michigan.

December 1 - Associated Press via Chicago Tribune

Pasadena Light Rail

Freeway's Demise Will Fund Light Rail Grade Crossing Improvements in Pasadena

The final nails have been put in the coffin of the I-710 extension, and now communities like Pasadena are getting ideas about how to spend Measure R funding once reserved for the unwanted freeway.

November 30 - Pasadena Star-News

Waterfront Ballpark Plans in the Work in Portland

The Portland Diamond Project is trying to bring Major League Baseball to Portland.

November 30 - OPB

Flooding in Howard Beach

New Report Assesses Threat From Urban Flooding

Researchers from the University of Maryland and Texas A&M surveyed stormwater officials and synthesized the results. Their conclusion: "Rainwater is taking its toll on metropolitan America"

November 30 - Slate

Macron Protest

France Drops Road Tolling Plans Amid Fuel Tax Protests

Controversial London-style congestion pricing won't be coming to French cities due to concerns sparked by the 'Yellow Vest' protests over an upcoming fuel tax hike, but President Macron stated the fuel tax increases will go forward in January.

November 30 - Reuters

City Apartments

The New Rental Market: Get Less for More

New analysis from RENTCafe finds apartments shrinking while prices are expanding.

November 30 - CNBC

Post News

Top Books

An annual review of books related to planning.

Top Schools

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.