The Daily Source of Urban Planning News

memphis Bus

A 'Memphis 3.0' Vision for Transit Taking Shape

In 2019, the city of Memphis will enter its third century with, hopefully, an ambitious new vision for public transit in place.

October 4 - The Commercial Appeal

D.C. Metro Station

CNU Climate Summit Highlights

Growing set of tools measures the impact of urban form on climate. Hazel Borys reviews highlights of the CNU Climate Summit held last weekend near Washington, D.C.

October 4 - PlaceShakers

Highway

Florida DOT Adopts 'Context-Based' Street Design

The "right street in the right place" hasn't always been a concept that departments of transportation were ready to acknowledge, much less adopt. The Florida Department of Transportation, however, is working to take context into consideration.

October 4 - State Smart Transportation Initiatives

Maumee River

Lake Erie Algae Bloom Growing Again

The algae bloom in Lake Erie has spread to cover much of the edge of Lake Eerie near Toledo, but toxins remain low where local communities draw drinking water supply.

October 4 - The New York Times

Rail Transit

Favorite Podcasts of D.C.-Area Urbanists

Greater Greater Washington contributors put their heads together and came up with a list of the favorite podcasts.

October 3 - Greater Greater Washington


Houston Flood

Opinion: Forget Zoning, Houston Needs a Floodplain Ordinance

Zoning might not have saved Houston from Harvey, but a strong floodplain ordinance would have, according to an opinion piece published in the Houston Chronicle.

October 3 - Houston Chronicle

San Bernardino

San Bernardino County Launches New Online Permitting System

The processes for planning and permitting development and construction projects are moving online. A Southern California county provides the latest example.

October 3 - Inland Empire Community News


Seattle Councilmember Wants a Temporary Development Moratorium While Rezoning Proceeds

The vision for Aurora-Licton Springs includes more pedestrian-friendly housing developments—not the drive-in businesses, recycling and solid waste, vehicle sales, and mini-storage business that currently get permitted and built.

October 3 - The Urbanist

New York City Crossing

MTA Bridges Go Cashless in New York City

Cold hard cash is becoming a relic of the past for navigating the nation's transportation system.

October 3 - New York Post

Bus Rapid Transit

Pittsburgh's Planned Bus Rapid Transit Could Leave Some Riders Behind

A proposed bus rapid transit route connecting Pittsburgh to the neighborhood of Oakland will surely benefit many commuters, but other transit commuters, including some of the poorest in the region, will face new hardships.

October 3 - Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Cul-de-Sac

Two Simple Sentences Could Reshape Suburban America

A seemingly innocuous sentence embedded in almost every subdivision ordinance across the United States has disconnected neighborhoods and made cities unwalkable. Two sentences could change that.

October 3 - Modern Cities

San Jose, California

San Jose Sets Target for 25,000 New Housing Units in the Next Five Years

The mayor of San Jose's newly announced housing plan would include 10,000 affordable units.

October 3 - The Mercury News

4-Wheeling

Can I Have a Diet Coke With That Ice Cream Sundae?

Essentially that's what UC Davis, Yale, and MIT researchers found among California families who purchase very fuel efficient vehicles—they also pair them with gas hogs. If your family owns two vehicles, do you meet the profile?

October 3 - San Francisco Chronicle

Whole Foods and Amazon: Lessons from Walmart

FEATURE

Whole Foods and Amazon: Lessons from Walmart

The question of whether Amazon's ownership of Whole Foods will make opportunities, or take them away, is still up for debate.

October 3 - William Riggs

Chicago's Lakefront Trail Gets an Update and Loses an Exit

Construction on Chicago's Lakefront Trail, which stretches from south of the city's downtown up to the North Side, will involve many updates and changes.

October 2 - Streetsblog Chicago

Passaic River Hydropower

At Least One Paterson Councilmember Is Skeptical About Plans to Revitalize Great Falls Area

What should a local elected leader do when he or she disagrees with a high-profile expenditure with support from on high?

October 2 - Paterson Press

Denver Bike Lane

Critiquing the Bike Friendliness of a City with a Reputation for Bike Friendliness

One opinion writer thinks Denver is getting more credit than it deserves as a bike friendly city, but to be fair, a lot of cities have gotten good at overselling their bike friendliness.

October 2 - The Denver Post

Hoover Dam Downstream

Lawsuit Would Recognize the Human Rights of the Colorado River

Corporations have rights in the United States, and an organization called Deep Green Resistance is going to federal court in Colorado to argue that rivers should too.

October 2 - The New York Times

Metro Los Angeles

The L.A. Metro 'Megaproject' Connecting Downtown and Southeast L.A. County

The West Santa Ana Branch light rail would offer new infrastructure and economic activity to a transit-dependent part of the county.

October 2 - The Planning Report

Gentrification

Property Tax Relief for Longtime Residents Impacted by Gentrification

The city of Lexington in Kentucky is looking for ways to insulate long-time residents from rising property tax bills.

October 2 - Lexington Herald Leader

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.