The Daily Source of Urban Planning News

Planetizen Week in Review: September 3, 2016
Books! Maps! Data! Renderings! What more could you want from one week?

More Study Needed: How to Make Green Streets Work
A review of the current research into the effectiveness of green streets and green infrastructure finds gaps in our understanding of what works, and where.

Serenity Now! BART Finds a Solution to Its Screeching Trains
BART trains have always made a lot of noise—impacting riders and the people who live along the regional system's routes. Now there's hope that the racket could be a thing of the past.

A New Road to Relieve Congestion on Denver's Southern Periphery
Castle Rock Parkway, which connects US 85 and I-25 south of Denver (or north of Colorado Springs, depending on your perspective), opened service to the public this week.

Redevelopment Plans and Gentrification Concerns for Toronto's Moss Park
Urban renewal of the 1960s built large amounts of public housing in the formerly industrial neighborhood of Moss Park in Toronto. Now, the neighborhood and its eponymous park have become home to some of the most impoverished people in the city.

St. Louis Spent $1.1 Million on Defunct Riverfront Stadium Plans in 2016
The gift of the NFL keeps on giving in St. Louis. What one writer calls a "sad saga" seems far from over.

Trulia: The U.S. Housing Market Drives Regional Economic Inequality
New research from Trulia finds that an "economic convergence" of housing markets is not happening: the housing rich are getting richer, while the housing poor are getting poorer.
Is a Massive D.C. Project Transit Oriented Development Done Well?
Greater Greater Washington gives positive reviews for the Rhode Island Center project, planned for the Edgewood neighborhood in D.C.

Compromise Reached on $1.4 Billion in California Cap-and-Trade Proceeds
An earlier announcement awarded almost $400 million to transit agencies, but left a larger chunk of these funds still unsettled. On Wednesday, leaders agreed on a $900 million expenditure plan to cut emissions and address social concerns.

The Price of Solar Power Keeps Falling
It's getting a lot cheaper to install solar power, and a lot easier to imagine a solar-powered future.

Some Cities Choose Uber and Lyft Over Buses
Subsidizing rides through the companies has turned out to be cheaper than running bus routes in some places.

Mapping L.A.'s Zoning Changes Finds Little Room for Upzoning
A new study makes a visual case against the narrative that spot zoning and a broken development approval process are running roughshod over the entire city.

West Las Vegas Attempts to Balance Revitalization and Gentrification
As Las Vegas focuses attention on the city's West Las Vegas neighborhood, residents worry about possible displacement.
Local Leadership and Civic Networks: What History Can Tell Us About Urban Success
The next time a city or community is struggling, rather than looking only to macroeconomic forces or national policymakers for reasons, we should equally examine the strength of local leadership and the texture of their networks.

Friday Funny: Sheep View Goes Where Google Street View Can't
Some local residents of the Faroe Islands created Sheep View 360 to document the 18 rocky islands that make up their home—and now Google is lending a hand.

Hot Off the Press: The National Transit Map
The U.S. Department of Transit has released its first ever National Transit Map.

Texas Would Need $24 Billion to End Highway Tolls
Texas politicians are wondering how much it would cost to remove tolls from hundreds of miles of roads around the state. Though the political cost of tolling is high, the actual cost, it turns out, is higher.

Los Angeles Wants to Use Housing Money to Boost MLS Soccer Stadium
Critics say the HUD program is meant to fund more direct anti-poverty measures, like affordable housing—not office, retail, and attractions.

One Man Reports a Quarter of All Tech Shuttle Infractions in San Francisco
A 70-year-old San Francisco resident is on a one-man mission to keep tech shuttles on the straight and narrow.

All Eyes on California's New Emissions Reductions Requirement
As difficult as it was for the legislature to pass SB 32 on Aug. 24, reducing emissions 40 percent below 1990 levels by 2030 will prove far more challenging. Brad Plumer, senior editor of Vox, explains the bill and what it will take to meet the goal.
Pagination
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
Transportation Research & Education Center (TREC) at Portland State University
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.