The Daily Source of Urban Planning News
BLOG POST
Arbitrating Fairness: Potty Parity
Planners are often involved in social equity analysis. How issues are defined and measured can affect what seems fair and just. Consider, for example, the fairness of toilet access.
Bay Area Activists Mobilize to Ban Big-Box Stores
The latest front line of the battle to prevent the spread of big-box stores is the city of Pleasanton, California.
The Sharing Economy Comes to Urban Public Schools
How one firm is integrating sharing economy principles to bolster Chicago's public schools.
Better to Appease Irate Neighbors Than Decrease Car Commuting
A San Francisco Chronicle editorial supports the decision by the Municipal Transportation Agency to 'bow' to complaints from residents about the large tech buses by reducing their stops in their neighborhoods even if it means increasing car trips.
Seattle Mayor Proposes a More Inclusive Department of Neighborhoods
The leadership at the city of Seattle has noticed that the people representing neighborhoods on the city's district councils don't reflect the population of the city.
Why it Matters When Protesters Shut Down Highways
Emily Badger, writing for The Washington Post's Wonkblog, doesn't let planners off the hook for the racist history of highway planning around the country.
Clearing the Path for Tiny Houses
Clocking in at less than 500 square feet, tiny houses are in greater and greater demand. They've been touted as a means to address affordability, inequality, homelessness, and environmental concerns. But regulatory issues are holding them back.
Changing This Law Could Reduce Traffic Deaths
In California and much of the rest of the country, says Andrew Said, the laws governing speed limits and enforcement are dangerously outdated, especially where pedestrians and cyclists are concerned. What could we change?
Charting the Precise Relationship Between Gas Prices and Transit Ridership
When gas prices fall, discretionary transit riders also spend less on transit according to an analysis of credit and debit card bills by the JP Morgan Chase Institute.
Bloomington Allows Artisanal Production in Retail Zones
Craft beer aficionados take note. Bloomington, Illinois now allows businesses selling artisanal products to manufacture their goods on-site. The ruling blurs a distinction between industrial and commercial zoning.
'Housing First' Program Reduces Homelessness by 70 Percent in Milwaukee County
The "housing first" approach to homelessness is building a track record of success in Milwaukee.
Study Considers the End of Concrete in Houston's White Oak Bayou
The White Oak Bayou in Houston joins a growing list of urban watersheds that could be freed from its concrete shackles.
The Latest Trend in Transportation Infrastructure: Un-Paving Roads
A recent study discovered that towns and cities around the country had removed the pavement on thousands of roads in the last five years.
New Report Targets the Sacred Cows of Transit Planning
Next City introduces the key concepts included in TransitCenter's "Who's on Board" report.
Supreme Court to Decide on Interpretations of Historic Preservation
A brief by the Cato Institute describes historic preservation laws as arbitrary and ambiguous. A case before the Supreme Court could decide on either side of the issue.
Plan Released for South Station Rail and Bus Terminal Expansion in Boston
A proposed expansion project is intended to expand passenger rail capacity around the Boston area.
BLOG POST
Time to Try Pokémon Go: Augmented Reality Connecting People to Places
Planners across the globe have been exploring opportunities to use augmented reality to enhance the way the public engages with the city. Over the last few days Pokémon Go took off, and now people are wandering across cities to catch Pokémon.
Horrific Head-On Train Crash in Southern Italy Leaves 25 Dead
Two commuter trains traveling toward each other on a single track crashed in the Puglia region of southern Italy on Tuesday morning. Human error is suspected. The trains and track lacked automatic train control and automatic braking.
Designing for Physical Inactivity
In this New York Times opinion, health issues correspondent Meera Senthilingam writes that too much of New York City is not designed for physical activity, including walking. Imagine what the suburbs and less vibrant cities are like!
FEATURE
20th Anniversary of the Birmingham Master Plan: City Planners Created an Industry Standard
It has been 20 years since the city of Birmingham, Michigan approved the Birmingham 2016 Master Plan. Robert J. Gibbs, one of the planners on a team that included Andrés Duany, describes the decisions and process that contributed to the plan.
City of Moorpark
City of Tustin
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.
