The Daily Source of Urban Planning News

BLOG POST
Scooter Media Brief: We Still Haven't Figured Scooters Out
A few notes on the policy landscape and media narratives that have emerged in response to the sudden appearance of electric scooter rental companies onto the planning scene.

French Suburbs Join Paris in Diesel Ban
The ban on diesel cars now extends well beyond the city of Paris.

New Equipment and Staff for 'Non-Motorized Trail' Snow Removal Acquired in D.C.
A common wintertime compliant about snow removal for cars taking priority over bike lanes and sidewalks might be a little less common this winter.

Upzoning, Inclusionary Zoning Designed to Increase Affordable Housing Supply in Miami
The city of Miami will for the first time require that affordable housing be included in private residential development projects. The mandatory inclusionary zoning was made more palatable to developers by upzoning the affected area.

High Housing Prices Concern the Nation's Homebuilders
High prices and rising mortgage rates are called a "toxic cocktail" for the homebuilding industry.

Pacific Northwest Gears Up for Another Fossil Fuel Export Fight
Just two years after killing what would be the world's largest methanol plant at the Port of Tacoma, the project has reemerged at the Port of Kalama. According to the EIS for the plant, global CO2 emissions will be reduced, though increased locally.

Truck Tolls Wins (Indirectly) on Election Day
Tolls were not on state ballots like gas taxes and transportation sales taxes on Nov. 6, but surrogates for and against truck-only tolling participated in two gubernatorial elections in New England, and the results will give no joy to truckers.

Immigrant Homeownership in U.S. Cities
A new study looks at homeownership among native-born and foreign-born residents in U.S. cities.

Zoning Overhaul Revealed for Northern Brooklyn
The New York Department of City Planning has proposed more permissive zoning regulations for the neighborhood just to the south of Amazon's future home in Long Island City.

Planning Underway for New Bay Bridge Bike Path, and a Second Transbay BART Tube
In a distant and expensive future, there are two new ways to get across the San Francisco Bay without a car. One will have a much better view.

Portland Approves $36 Million Central City in Motion Plan
Portland has approved a plan that clears the way for $36 million in bike and other transportation safety projects in the city's downtown.

An Argument for a Graduated Real Estate Transfer Tax in Chicago
As it exists today, Chicago's real estate transfer tax is a flat tax that charges the same percentage for modest homes and mansions.

Atlanta Housing Authority Changing Course as Affordable Housing Problems Grow
Housing costs are rising in Atlanta, while available affordable housing has decreased. The Atlanta Housing Authority needs to ramp up construction after a lull in development.

Discounted New York MTA Passes Coming Next Year
The MTA passes will be half priced, but advocates say riders still need other less costly transit options.

Watch Saturday Night Live's Hilarious Take on Amazon's HQ2 Decision
Saturday Night Love comes up with a novel hot take on the thinking behind Amazon's decision to split its new second headquarters between New York City and Northern Virginia.

Snow, 'Bureaucratic Snafu,' and Gun Shots: Rough First Day for Trolley Service in St. Louis
First, a snow day delayed the opening of the Loop Trolley in St. Louis. Then, the trolley didn't runt the full route. Finally, the trolley line became a crime scene.

Vancouver Launching its First Citywide Plan Since 1928
The Vancouver City Council decided to launch a new housing vision for the British Columbia city. Planners will have their work cut out for them balancing all the stakeholders in the expensive city.

How San Francisco Ran Out of Affordable Housing Funds, and What to Do About It
Analysis and policy recommendations from Bay Area-based think tank SPUR focuses on how poorly designed inclusionary zoning the exact opposite of the desired effect.
How Microgrids Are Changing the Energy Game
An interview with a leader in technologies pushing energy
Sunday Fun: Take a Google Earth Flyover Tour of Tokyo's Yamanote Line
A key ring route in Tokyo's massive collection of rail lines, the JR Yamanote Line is a public transit aficionado's wildest dream. Reece Martin offers a guided tour of the line, available from the comfort of any YouTube-enabled screen.
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
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.