The Daily Source of Urban Planning News

Largest Desalinated Water Reserve Ever Unveiled in Abu Dhabi
The UAE has created a storage facility under the desert that can provide up to 100 million liters per day in the event of an emergency.
Streetcars Coming to the OC
The conservative bastion of Orange County will soon begin on construction on the mode of transit favored by the Obama Administration: the "modern streetcar."

Two Kinds of Affordable Housing Policies for Two Kinds of Affordable Housing
A short and simple "explainer" post makes sense of why there seems to be so little ground on affordable housing issues in expensive urban areas.

Airbnb Sheds Thousands of Hosts in San Francisco
New registration requirements have proven an effective disincentive for thousands of short-term rental hosts in San Francisco.

Higher Cost Estimates Could Doom Fort Lauderdale Streetcar
While the 2.8 mile Wave Streetcar project has secured $195 million, proposals for design and construction are coming in higher than expected, which would leave Broward County and Fort Lauderdale responsible for half the extra cost.

A Growing D.C. Corridor Gets Badly Needed Bus Service
The new 59 bus route down 14th Street in Washington, D.C. represents a major win for transit advocates.

Divvy's Top Rider Talks About Getting African-Americans Onto Divvy Bikes
Kerida Roland is an African-American delivery man based in Chicago's South Loop who put more than 6,000 miles on Divvy bikes in 2017.

The Perpetuation of Segregation
A new book describes segregation as a cycle of social structuring: segregation begets segregation.

Rent Down 3.9% for Apartments in the Nation's Capital
After years of rising rents D.C., 2017 brought a bump in new apartment supply and a dip in apartment rents around the city.

Mapping the World's Proximity to Urban Areas
When it's said that most people live in cities, a significant portion of that number are people living in suburbs near cities. A new map shows just how far everyone travels to get to a big city.

BLOG POST
Why Is Transit Ridership Declining?
Over the past two years or so, transit ridership has begun to decline. It seems that this decline has been most widespread among cities with relatively weak transit systems.

'No Driving Day' in Seoul Means Free Transit Rides
South Korea has made public transit a key part of its approach to cleaning the air.

Downtown Revitalization Comes to Louisiana
Like many cities before it, Shreveport's downtown is transforming through the renovation of historic buildings.

New Study Provides a Counter-Narrative for Ride-Hailing Companies
A new study finds evidence that ride-hailing trips are at least as efficient, and often more efficient, than private, personal automobile trips.

In Final Days in Office, Virginia Governor Extends Express Lanes at No Cost to Taxpayers
The Australian toll road company, Transurban, will build two, 10-mile reversible express lanes for Virginia Department of Transportation and provide $277 million for a new bridge in the corridor. Free for carpools, others will pay a variable toll.

Middle Schoolers Plan the 'Future City'
The deliverables in the Future City competition—open to children in grades six through eight—include a virtual city design (using SimCity), a scale model, a project plan, and more.
'An Adult Day Care on Every Corner:' Aging in the Rio Grande Valley
In a region where most people “age in place,” facilities offering services and socialization give primary caregivers a much-needed break.

Trial Over San Francisco Waterfront Development Height Limits Begins
The State Lands Commission filed suit shortly after San Francisco voters approved Prop. B in June 2014, requiring waterfront developments exceeding height limits to obtain voter approval rather than go through the Planning Commission process.

The Real Benefits of Congestion Pricing
Like so many other transportation policies, congestion pricing risks being sold for the wrong reasons.

Reexamining Notions of Placemaking
Surveying the public discussion for answers about how to make sense of placemaking.
Pagination
Borough of Carlisle
Smith Gee Studio
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
Transportation Research & Education Center (TREC) at Portland State University
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
Municipality of Princeton (NJ)
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.