The Daily Source of Urban Planning News

Downtown Highway

Big Idea: One Less Highway Through Kansas City

Eric Bunch argues that removing I-70 from downtown Kansas City presents a big opportunity for the city.

February 28 - Bike Walk KC

Self-Driving Car

Trump Administration Reviewing U.S. DOT's Automated Vehicle Guidelines

Among the many guidelines and rules going back to the drawing board (or ceremonial execution by executive order) at the federal level are guidelines for self-driving cars released only months ago by the U.S. Department of Transportation.

February 28 - Reuters

Indianapolis Cityscape

Nation's Newest Transit Funding Income Tax Approved in Indianapolis

It took awhile, but the city of Indianapolis has finally approved the nation's newest income tax to raise revenue for the IndyGo public transit system.

February 28 - Indystar

How to Build a $12 Billion High-Speed Rail Line at No Cost to Taxpayers

Unlike the nation's more well-known high-speed rail project in California, the 205 miles-per-hour, Dallas-to-Houston bullet train will be almost entirely privately financed. How is that possible?

February 28 - Dallas News

Changes in Environmental Policy Already Apparent on the EPA Website

A group of researchers monitoring government websites noticed changes to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's website. The changes fit into the Trump Administration's "America First" politics.

February 28 - Climate Central


Casino

Casinos Still Illegal in Georgia

A nascent effort to legalize casino gambling in the state of Georgia fell short of the necessary legislative support.

February 28 - The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Old houses with large porch and colorful siding

Why Aren't We Building Middle Income Housing?

For low-income residents in high-cost areas, there's no substitute for the public sector to provide below-market rate housing. But for middle-income households, the market should be able to produce housing without subsidy. So why doesn't this happen?

February 28 - Shelterforce/Rooflines


Delay Sign

Yet Another Flawed Congestion Report

The new INRIX Traffic Scorecard uses "big" data to calculate congestion costs. Like previous studies, it exaggerates traffic congestion costs and roadway expansion benefits.

February 28 - City Observatory

Texas Rail

More than Twenty Bills Introduced in Texas Legislature to Stop High-Speed Rail

The California high-speed rail project is not alone in confronting legal and political obstacles. The main issue in Texas that has aroused opposition to the privately financed, 240-mile Dallas to Houston bullet train is the use of eminent domain.

February 27 - The Texas Tribune

Seattle Hoping to Extend a Successful Traffic Safety Project

After repainting the lanes on Rainier Avenue in Seattle, the street works better for everyone. If it's that easy, why isn't the model implemented more widely?

February 27 - Seattle Bike Blog

Denver TOD

Checking In With Cities That 'Lost' the Smart Cities Challenge

Denver and Austin were finalists in the competition. Since then, they've found ways to implement their ideas.

February 27 - Governing

Speed Limit

Scottish Town Tackles Speeders with Blow Dryers

Mimicking traffic cops, local townsfolk have resorted to speed checking passing cars with blow dryers.

February 27 - BBC

Texas Wind

Texas Road Subsidies Take Toll on General Fund

Diverting billions of dollars of sales tax revenue from the state's general fund to the Texas Department of Transportation is taking a toll on other programs that lawmakers must fund.

February 27 - The Texas Tribune

Walkable Street

Study: Reduce Traffic with Mixed-Use Development

A new study explores how the built environment influences vehicle miles traveled.

February 27 - Streetsblog USA

Hard Rock Coliseum

Unique 'Audio Portraits' Pay Homage to Urban Noise

One man's noise pollution is another man's symphony.

February 27 - CityLab

St. Louis

St. Louis Studying Ambitious, $2.2 Billion MetroLink Proposal

The city of St. Louis is taking the first official steps toward the ambitious Northside-Southside MetroLink proposal.

February 27 - St. Louis Post-Dispatch

Myriad Botanical Garden - Oklahoma City

FEATURE

Planners Across America: McDermid Manages New Oklahoma Land Rush

Planning Department Director Aubrey McDermid discusses planning's role in the Oklahoma City's ongoing reinvestment and revitalization.

February 27 - Josh Stephens

Feather River Dam

Dams Throughout the U.S. Fail to Meet Safety Standards

It's not just Oroville and Elko County. By 2020, 70 percent of the dams in the United States will be more than 50 years old.

February 27 - The New York Times

Washington D.C.

Another Protected Bike Lane Proposed for Washington, D.C.

An early look at designs for a protected bike lane on Florida Avenue shows the District Department of Transportation keeping pace with its tradition of ambitious bike infrastructure projects.

February 26 - Greater Greater Washington

Seattle Apartments

Seattle Considering a First-Ever Renters' Commission

In Seattle, about 54 percent of the households rent their homes, but they have few places to collectively voice their opinions on critical matters like rent control, move-in fees, and transit. Some city councilmembers hope to change that, however.

February 26 - The Seattle Times

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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.