The Daily Source of Urban Planning News

Federal Agencies Investigating the Rising Costs of Detroit's Blight Program
Detroit's aggressive blight reduction strategy, to demolish vacant homes by the thousands, is coming under scrutiny for rising costs. The FBI and the U.S. Inspector General are investigating.

A Chicago Bike Path Goes Underused
While a federally-funded network of bike paths is in the works elsewhere in the city, the Major Taylor Trail gets little use from Chicago residents. The main problems are a lack of awareness and the South Side's fearsome reputation.

Op-Ed: Talking Resilience Isn't the Same as Being Resilient
Resilience, as such, isn't a problem. But Alex Beam takes issue with the current flood of resilience-related jargon. Can you blame him?

Los Angeles' Ballot Box Planning and Development Initiatives Leaders Discuss Impacts
Two major ballot initiatives would change the state of planning and development in L.A. As the housing and planning crisis reaches new levels, initiative leaders and land-use experts discuss how to create a viable path forward.

In Paris, Tough Talk on Income Segregation
As is so often the case worldwide, many Parisians live in communities distinguished by class. The city government wants to change that by inserting thousands of public housing units in wealthy central districts.

Women Spend More Time in Traffic Than Men
On average, women spend longer in traffic than men—perhaps because of the gendered division of labor that still exists in many households.

What If Buses Could Pass Over Cars?
The latest from China: a concept for street-straddling buses that cars could pass underneath. The giant vehicles could improve worsening traffic and already-dire pollution levels, taking the place of many conventional buses.

10 Ways to Make Cities Livable for the Elderly
How can the New Urban Agenda respect the elderly—and make cities better for all of us in the process?

Broward County, Florida to Select from Four Sales Tax Options on November Ballot
They could opt for a one percent, 30-year infrastructure tax, a .75 percent, 20-year transportation sales tax, approve both, or reject both. The two competing measures arise from differences between the county's 31 cities and county commissioners.
Highest Gas Prices are Lowest in 11 years
Yes, gas prices are both lowest and highest. When compared to past Memorial Day weekends, it's the lowest since 2005, and by no coincidence the highest amount of travelers will take to the roads since the same year. Guess what that is doing to VMT?

Seattle May Follow San Francisco in Tossing Conventional Level of Service Standards
Mayor Ed Murray released a 20-year growth plan, Seattle 2035, that retains LOS, but rather than measuring vehicle congestion, measures mode share, consistent with his vision for a green and sustainable city, but rattling The Seattle Times.

Inside the Mysteries of St. Paul's Wheelock Parkway
An exploration, historical and geographic, of St. Paul's Wheelock Parkway reveals the twists and turns of transportation infrastructure.
A New Children's Book for Teaching Green Urbanism
Next City shares news of a colorful new book for children that introduces the objects of a environmentally-friendly build environment.

Meet Citi Bike's Top Users—Some Have Pedaled More than 4,000 Miles
Some users accrue more data than others.

The Arts District and the 'Missed Opportunity' of Planning in L.A.
Downtown L.A.'s Arts District transformed from an industrial sector to a vibrant, mixed-use neighborhood. Now, the community's attempts to protect their vision from haphazard development illuminate Los Angeles's broken planning process.

Talking Point in D.C. Homeless Housing Debate: 'Homeowner Lives Matter'
An already controversial proposal to disperse homeless shelters and service around Washington, D.C. is finding new ways to be controversial.

This Month's Bad News for Retail Could Be of the Fundamental Variety
The retail sector got a wake up call this month.

One Reaction to an Invasive Plant Species: Eat It
When it comes to one particularly invasive plant species in Pittsburgh, some food retail businesses are saying, "if you can't beat it, eat it."

New Bus Service to Alleviate Congestion Between Portland and Multnomah Falls
Even natural attractions outside of urban areas have parking shortages and congestion problems.
Huge Drop in California Cap-and-Trade Revenues—Could Market Be Collapsing?
'Huge' is an understatement. Revenues were less than 2 percent of what was forecasted. The uncertainty of the continuance of the program may be responsible. The plummet in revenues to high-speed rail adds to uncertainty of the $64 billion project.
Pagination
Tyler Technologies
New York City School Construction Authority
Village of Glen Ellyn
Transportation Research & Education Center (TREC) at Portland State University
Chaddick Institute at DePaul University
Institute for Housing and Urban Development Studies (IHS)
Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada
Toledo-Lucas County Plan Commissions
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
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Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.