The Daily Source of Urban Planning News

Cities Suburbanize While Suburbs Urbanize
As the internet makes retail more widely accessible, and poverty and density move to suburbs, the difference between cities and suburbs is shrinking, narrowing lifestyle choices.

100 LED 'Information Kiosks' on Their Way to Philadelphia Sidewalks
All the details on the new information kiosks expected to hit Philadelphia streets—80 on Center City and University City sidewalks and 20 more in other parts of the city.

An Amtrak Train Runs Through Them
Efforts to ensure that Amtrak's Southwest Chief continues its current route through three states has united more than 20 small communities in New Mexico, Colorado, and Kansas.

Ballpark Village Development Announced in St. Louis
A $261 million mixed-use development next to Busch Stadium will put the "village" in the Ballpark Village project in downtown St. Louis.

The Future of the Nation's Electric Vehicle Infrastructure
People won't drive electric vehicles much differently than they drive gas powered vehicles. That means charging infrastructure will be needed in communities to supply electricity for many short drives.

An Agrihood Takes Root in Palm Springs
Developer Freehold Communities is planning a suburban farming community in California's Sonora Desert.

Like Waze, But for Bikes
The mobile app LaneSpotter, described as a navigation app like Waze but for cyclists, has announced eight cities as the location for a pilot launch.
Cars Banned From New York's Prospect Park Starting in 2018
Decades of activism have led to this victory for pedestrian advocates, Streetsblog NYC reports.

13 Cultural Landscapes At Risk of Disappearing
Threats facing major U.S. cultural sites today include development, drilling, and the federal government.
Houston And L.A.: Kindred Spirits Meet In World Series
Planning scholar Bill Fulton, longtime resident of L.A. and relatively recent transplant to Houston, sizes up the urban implications of a World Series played between two very similar cities.

Interior Department Wants to Hike National Park Entrance Fees
Two years after increasing entrance fees at national parks, The U.S. Department of the Interior wants to raise daily vehicle entrance fees at the nation's most popular parks to $70.

Study Finds Bus Rapid Transit More Comparable to Light Rail Than Previously Thought
A new study challenges the conventional wisdom regarding the superiority of light rail over bus rapid transit.

California Gas Tax Repeal Provokes Internecine Republican Conflict
Chances for a repeal of California's 12-cents gas tax increase have doubled in that two measures aim to qualify for the November 2018 ballot. The initiatives are opposed by the state's major business groups that usually side with Republican causes.
Public Transportation Provides a Vital Mobility Link in Rural and Small Towns
A new report describes the important roles that public transit plays in rural communities and small towns, current demographic and economic trends that are increasing these demands, and examples of successful rural transit development programs.

Ground-Level Grocery Stores Proliferate in Boston
Being able to get groceries without a car can be a big draw in walkable, mixed use neighborhoods. Many Boston grocers and developers are taking that to heart.

Op-Ed: Vancouver Needs a Land Value Tax
Labor leaders argue that curbing real estate speculation is Vancouver's best chance at lowering housing costs.

Study Compares Nearly 900 Inclusionary Housing Programs
The largest survey of inclusionary housing to date contrasts the efficacy of policies across the United States.

MacArthur Genius’s Mission: Enliven the Planning Process
Damon Rich wants constituents and professionals alike to get excited about the bureaucratic slog.

EPA Launches Long-Awaited Cleanup of Gowanus Canal
Gowanus Creek was channelized in the 1800s and has been accumulating sludge ever since.

The World Series of Housing Markets
Comparing the housing markets of Houston and Los Angeles—two of the nation's metropolitan area's most commonly associated with auto-centric sprawl—before their respective Major League Baseball teams square off in the 2017 World Series.
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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.