The Daily Source of Urban Planning News

Could Uber End 'Surge' Pricing?
Anyone who has used Uber knows the dreaded surge. But before the self-driving cars take over the wheel at transportation network companies, will the machines also figure out a way to eliminate one of the key perks of being an Uber driver?

A New 'Learning Garden' for Detroit's Osborn Neighborhood
A new garden has opened in Detroit's Osborn neighborhood. It's described as the city's first outdoor learning garden.

Illinois Voters to Decide on Transportation Trust Fund in November
Instead of voting on new taxes to reduce transportation revenue shortfalls, Illinois voters will decide on a constitutional amendment to ensure that transportation fees and taxes are only spent on roads and transit, the so-called "lockbox" measure.

Art at Seattle Bus Stops Only Appears When It's Raining
Seattle celebrates a transit project with public art that plays to the city’s strength: rain.

Changes Coming to the Downtown Milwaukee Skyline
The Architect's Newspaper surveys the development scene in Downtown Milwaukee—an that remained quiet for 20-some years is now expecting four new high rises before 2020.

Parcel Tax Measure Would Fund Climate Adaptation in Bay Area by Restoring Wetlands
Next month, along with picking presidential, U.S. Senate and legislative candidates, and local ballot measures in a primary election, voters in the Bay Area will also determine the outcome of the first regionwide measure in Bay Area history.

The New Mayor of London's Housing Manifesto
Newly elected Mayor Sadiq Khan created a housing manifesto while on the campaign trail. Its support of affordable housing development would be unique on this side of the pond.

Meet New York City's First Regional Planning Director
A city planning office with a regional focus? Such a rare beast is real in New York City. There's even a new leader at the helm of the operation.
Balancing the Scales of City Sustainability
Urbanism and smart growth are great for cities, people, and "the environment"—but neighborhood impacts must be mitigated. Kaid Benfield gives pointers on balancing the scales.

BLOG POST
Selling Smart Growth
Smart Growth can provide many direct benefits to residents, businesses and local governments. Our challenge is to better answer the question that many stakeholders ask, "What’s in it for me?"

Planning in Houston: No Longer an Oxymoron
Houston, Texas, adopted its first general plan called Plan Houston late last year. Plan Houston covers everything from economic development to education to public health to arts and culture.

Dallas Doesn't Deliver on Promised Libraries
In 2006, Dallas voters approved a bond package that promised $42 million for new libraries. Ten years later, and after $11.75 million in spending, none of the projects are close to completion.

The Backbone of Orange County
In the 1950s, southern Orange County, California was a place of open hills, citrus groves, and scattered towns. The I-5 Freeway changed that, paving the way for today's subdivisions.

Get Around Chicago Like an Insider with 20 Apps
These 20 apps and services will help you engage with everything Chicago has to offer in a whole new way.

Parking Crunch Hits New Light Rail Station
The number of people parking at the new Gold Line light rail station in Azusa, California is outstripping the available supply of parking spaces, forcing many onto surrounding residential streets, which now has neighbors up in arms.

Mayoral Op-Ed: Give Cities the Power to Address Climate Change
In an opinion piece, former mayor Michael Bloomberg of New York joins Anne Hidalgo of Paris and Eduardo Paes of Rio de Janeiro. They argue that national governments should give cities every possible tool to cut emissions.

'Highway Propaganda' Promotes Widening Projects
Apparently to galvanize public support, the Colorado Department of Transportation and an Ohio chamber of commerce have produced videos touting the benefits of widening projects for low-income communities.

New and Older Apartments Cater to Bike Riders—In a Big Way
Bike rooms for office buildings are hardly new. Now they are making their way into the New York City residential real estate market, big time. These rooms may come with bike repair equipment, and in some cases, the apartments may come with new bikes.

FEATURE
Top Twitter Feeds
Some of the most active and valued Twitter users in the planning and urbanism conversation share their favorite Twitter feeds.

The Land Value Tax Explained
A Vox article and podcast delve into the wonky but thought-provoking reasoning behind the land value tax.
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
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.