The Daily Source of Urban Planning News

California

Three Housing Stories to Watch in California

California's housing crunch finally became a top legislative priority in 2017. More of the same is expected in 2018.

December 31 - Los Angeles Times

Victorian Townhomes

New Zoning in Historic Philadelphia Neighborhood Will Protect Victorian Homes

A rezoning expected to go into effect in the neighborhood of Spruce Hill in Philadelphia chooses historic preservation over potential student housing developments.

December 31 - PlanPhilly

Jack and Laura Dangermond Preserve

Esri's Jack and Laura Dangermond Make Massive Land Conservation Gift

The Nature Conservancy's largest ever gift will preserve 24,000 acres of highly prized land in California. Jack and Laura Dangermond (cofounders of Esri) made the donation.

December 30 - The Atlantic

Bus Shelter

Whistler's Secret to Transit Success: Reduced Fares and Free Rides

Faced with a booming population and heavy peak traffic during tourists seasons, Whistler decided to make transit much more affordable—ridership increased as a result.

December 30 - CBC News

Popular but Controversial Seattle Express Toll Lanes Face Possible Termination

The two-year-old I-405 express toll lanes are actually a trial. It's up to the legislature to decide whether they will be permanent. Two metrics were laid out: revenue and performance, but there's controversy there as well.

December 30 - KIRO Radio


Gilpin County, Colorado

Colorado Tax Mandates Will Continue to Hurt Rural Areas

When home values rise, the state constitution requires cuts to residential tax rates that severely impact less-developed areas.

December 30 - The Denver Post

Texas Flood

2017 Set a New Precedent for Natural Disasters

Floods, hurricanes, wildfires, drought, freezes, and tornadoes—the list of disasters that struck the United States this year covers every corner of the country.

December 30 - Vox


Bike and Bus Lane

What's Next for Bike Advocates?

Wondering what's on the agenda for bike advocates these days? The San Francisco Bike Coalition that just released a Strategic Plan that will direct political actions in 2018 and beyond.

December 29 - San Francisco Bike Coalition

Long-Haul Bus

Demand Begets Supply of Long-Haul Buses in Colorado

New long-haul bus routes will connect cities located in the Arkansas Valley in Colorado starting early in 2018. More new lines will be added later in the year.

December 29 - The Denver Post

Rhode Island Interstate 95

Major Bridge Rebuilding Project Cost Soars in Providence

When the Trump Administration scrapped the U.S. Department of Transportation's FASTLANE grant program, the state of Rhode Island decided to seek a public-private partnership for its I-95 bridge replacement project.

December 29 - Providence Journal

New York City Retail

Tracking the Increasing Number of Chain Stores in New York City

While the number of national retailers is still growing in New York City, growth is slowing and it concentrated in the restaurant and food sector of the market.

December 29 - Center For An Urban Future

Nashville

Black Population Plummets in Nashville Neighborhoods

The new development in and around Downtown Nashville is driving out black residents, according to this article.

December 29 - Tennessean

Two New High-Speed Rail Lines Open in China

It was a big day for high-speed rail…in China.

December 29 - Xinhua

Commute

Four Steps for Making Accessibility a Tangible Part of the Planning Process

Although there is a strong push for accessibility as a key metric in transportation and land use planning efforts, there is still a long way to go in putting theory and intentions into practice.

December 29 - Next City

Austin

How Anti-Urban State Legislatures Hurt Cities

Creating a new version of the "haves" and the "have nots," Richard Florida distinguishes cities struggling against state-level anti-urban policies from cities that get more support from the state.

December 29 - CityLab

Golf

Conservation Easements: Crafted With Good Intentions and Now Exploited for Tax Benefits

A tax break designed to protect land has become just another massive tax loophole. It looks like conservation easements are here to stay.

December 29 - ProPublica

NOAA Satellite Fires

Friday Eye Candy: 2017 Pictured From Space

More than ever it seemed, the scale of natural and human events were visible from space in 2017.

December 29 - Quartz

Double Trucks

Movement Toward Mileage Fee Gains Momentum in U.K. with Truck Fee

British trucker calls for a level playing field with 'continental trucks' that may pay no diesel duty is one impetus for the vehicle miles traveled fee that would also consider emissions. The Transport Department stresses it would not apply to cars.

December 28 - The Times

Shanghai Shopping

10 Stats That Explain the World in 2017

Looking for lessons about 2017?

December 28 - The Washington Post

Levee

An Early Look at Louisiana's 'Strategic Adaptations for Future Environments' Plan

The state of Louisiana could be the first state to adopt a massive plan to push residents out of coastal areas threatened by sea level rise and coastal erosion. More states are expected to follow Louisiana's lead.

December 28 - Bloomberg

Post News
Senior Manager Operations, Urban Planning

New York City School Construction Authority

Building Inspector

Village of Glen Ellyn

Manager of Model Development

Central Transportation Planning Staff/Boston Region MPO

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.