The Daily Source of Urban Planning News

Pittsburgh

Pittsburgh Launches New Permit and Code Tracking Website

The city of Pittsburgh launched a Buildingeye website to provide new access to the development and approval process in the city.

October 16 - Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Metro Paris

Comparing Transit Systems and Populations for 13 Worldwide Cities

A new study compares regional population densities to transit systems to find out which transit systems have maximized their reach.

October 16 - CityLab

Link and Bus Seattle

An Argument for Light Rail Over Bus Rapid Transit

Opponents of the ST3 transit funding measure in Seattle have argued that bus rapid transit is a cheaper alternative to light rail. A local write counter argues that point by making the economic case for light rail.

October 16 - The Urbanist

Tracking the Growth of the 'Gig Economy' in U.S. Cities

The Brookings Institute thinks it has found a way to measure the impact of the expanding 'gig economy'—i.e., freelancing work enabled by online platforms like Airbnb and Uber.

October 16 - Brookings

Self-Driving Car

Responding to a Proposed Ban on Self-Driving Cars in Chicago

Gabe Klein thinks a proposed ban on self-driving cars in Chicago is shortsighted.

October 16 - Chi.Streetsblog


Single-Family Homes

Where Are the Latino Home Owners?

In the United States, rates of homeownership among Latino families lag far behind those of white families. A recent article from the Urban Institute digs into the causes and effects of this issue.

October 15 - Urban Institute

Tilikum Crossing

Ridership Numbers Below Target on Portland's One-Year-Old Orange Line

Eliot Njus reports on underwhelming ridership figures for the MAX Orange Line light rail service between Portland and Milwaukie. "Forecasts used to help justify federal funding for the project called for 17,000 average weekday trips in 2016. The

October 15 - The Oregonian


Uber Car

Two Uber Drivers Granted Employment Status in New York

In an unprecedented ruling in New York, the state Department of Labor deemed two Uber drivers employees of the company.

October 15 - Crain's New York Business

An image of a path through sand dunes to ocean in New Jersey

Calling for an End to Federal Support for Beach Nourishment

In the wake of Hurricane Matthew, a researcher calls attention to the method behind the federal spending on billions of dollars of investment in unsustainable beaches.

October 15 - The New York Times

Blight Demolition

The Dangers of Demolition for Its Own Sake

Jason Hackworth argues that demolition has come to be seen as a good, in and of itself, in rust belt cities like Detroit; giving rise to policies that are wrong-headed and dangerous.

October 15 - London School of Economics and Political Science - American Politics and Policy Blog

Austin Traffic

Austin Chamber of Commerce Supports Form-Based Codes Among Traffic Fixes

The Austin Chamber of Commerce is connecting the dots between land use and transportation—and voicing its support for reform of the city's land use regulations.

October 14 - Austin Business Journal

EPA Awards Grant To Monitor Wetlands Using Unmanned Aircraft System

Community and Regional Planning Associate Professor Zhenghong Tang received an Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) grant to explore the use of drones to monitor wetlands.

October 14 - University of Nebraska-Lincoln

Seattle SUper Bowl Parade 12th Man Flag

Seattle Sees Persistent Demand for Apartments

Data from a 2015 study of Seattle housing shows demand for apartment is robust and likely to stay that way.

October 14 - Smart Growth Seattle

Qualcomm Stadium

San Diego Mayor Supports New Football Stadium

San Diego mayor, Kevin Faulconer, calls for voters to support $1.8 billion new football stadium.

October 14 - Next City

San Francisco Homeless

San Francisco's Anti-Homeless Camping Proposition Has Tech Billionaires' Backing

San Francisco's Proposition Q, up for vote this November, would place additional limits on homeless camping in the city.

October 14 - The Guardian

Power Lines

Comparing Energy Costs in Cities Around the Country

Residents of Rust Belt cities might pay less for housing, but they pay a lot more for energy.

October 14 - Redfin

George Washington Bridge

Bridgegate Probe Widens to Include Gov. Chris Christie

While the U.S. District Attorney has stated that he would not target Christie, that hasn't stopped other courts from probing. The Bergen County Municipal Court has issued a summons for Christie relating to the closure of GW Bridge access lanes.

October 14 - The Huffington Post

'Sleek' Housing Sprouts Up in Gentrifying Houston Neighborhood

Houston area's Oak Forrest neighborhood is the planned site for modern housing.

October 14 - The Houston Chronicle

Volcano

Friday Eye Candy: Watch as the Earth 'Breathes'

A new visualization from the Smithsonian's National Museum of Natural History shows how the earth "breathes"—in the form of volcanic eruptions, earthquakes, and emissions.

October 14 - The Washington Post

Wynton Marsalis

Friday Fun: Wynton Marsalis on the 'Mythic Significance' of Trains

Famed musician Wynton Marsalis recently spoke with Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx about the connections between music and transportation.

October 14 - Facebook Video

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