The Daily Source of Urban Planning News

Op-Ed: San Francisco's New Urban Design Guidelines Could Backfire
John King argues that the city's new guidelines may leave too many loopholes open, potentially defeating their purpose: well-integrated new buildings.

California Water Plan Foretells Tension Between Cities, Farmers
Recognizing the ongoing drought's severity, Sacramento is set to adopt a new statewide conservation plan. But some say the regulations don't place enough pressure on California's agricultural sector.

How Should Lower Manhattan Handle Its Crowd Problem?
In the period since 9/11, Lower Manhattan has undergone a residential boom. With daytime professionals and tourists also in the mix, the strain is showing.

Atlanta Hopes to Help Some Neighborhoods Stay 'Displacement-Free'
A motion in City Council would open the door to new protections for gentrifying areas.
Another Fossil-Fuel-Friendly Climate Skeptic Selected for Trump Cabinet
President-elect Donald Trump is reported to have selected Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers, a Republican from Washington, for Secretary of the Department of Interior. Also, "Climate McCarthyism" emerges as a concern for federal employees.

Americans Continue Relentless Increase in Driving
New data released by the Federal Highway Administration shows that vehicle mile traveled increased three percent for the first nine months of 2016 compared to the same period last year. Driving has increased continuously since April 2014.

FEATURE
Making Long-Term Planning and Democratic Politics Work Together
To the potential surprise of many planners in the United States, strategic planning and politics can work together to produce significant policy outcomes in democratically governed cities.

San Francisco Muni Hack Could Have Been a Catastrophe
The Internet of Things will continue to be a concern for cities, the ransomeware that struck the San Francisco transit system could have been much worse. A future attack will be.

D.C. Metro and Uber Partnership Seeks a Win-Win
Uber and D.C. Metro are partnering in new ways as the transit agency deals with fallout from its SafeTrack repair program.

A Pro-Development Argument in the Great Housing Debate
In the ongoing and contentious debate about whether market-rate development is a cure or a disease, another writer comes down on the side of more supply, no matter the cost.
How Students Would Improve a Particularly Busy Boston Intersection
Students at Emerson College live with the frustrations of the intersection of Boylston and Tremont streets everyday. They also have ideas for how to fix the intersection.
Trump, Carson, and 'Inner Cities'
Both during the campaign and his victory speech, President-elect Trump referenced the troubled conditions of 'inner cities.' A Tufts professor offers advice for the new administration if it really wants to help.

Cycling Infrastructure Gets a Boost in London
London is planning to build multiple "cycle superhighways," among other improvements for bikers.

As Goes Vancouver, So Goes Seattle?
What does Vancouver’s housing market implosion mean for the Seattle area?
UPS Now Delivering Packages By Bike In Portland
In an effort to help solve the ever-evolving demands of urban logistics, UPS asks 'what can Brown deliver to you, on a fixie?'

Atlanta Adopts Waste-Collection App to Improve Service
The city's public works department hopes the app will improve efficiency, sustainability, and customer service.

Facebook to Donate $20 Million for Housing and Jobs in its Own Backyard
Facebook has decided that being a good neighbor means donating funding toward affordable housing.

Friday Funny: The Best of the Best Gentrification Parodies
Sometimes you have to stop and laugh about the big problem with no immediate nor obvious solution. You might even learn something while doing it.

More Evidence that Bay Area Housing Prices Are Hurting the Economy
Beacon Economics projects a slowdown in job growth in the San Francisco Bay Area due to the region's high housing costs.

Private Rail Contractors Facing Fines for Service Failures
Private companies involved in Boston and Denver rail travel are facing increasingly large fines for service failures, and some are going unpaid.
Pagination
City of Moorpark
City of Tustin
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.