The Daily Source of Urban Planning News

Gas and Bikes

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.

July 14 - Marketplace

Brewery

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.

July 14 - Pantagraph

Homeless

'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.

July 13 - Urban Milwaukee

Concrete Stormwater

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.

July 13 - Houston Chronicle

Horse and Buggy

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.

July 13 - Wired


Bus Schedule

New Report Targets the Sacred Cows of Transit Planning

Next City introduces the key concepts included in TransitCenter's "Who's on Board" report.

July 13 - Next City

New York Manhattan Chinatown

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.

July 13 - Market Urbanism


Boston T

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.

July 13 - Progressive Railroading

Pokémon Go

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.

July 13 - Jennifer Evans-Cowley

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.

July 13 - The New York Times

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!

July 13 - The New York Times - Opinion

Birmingham, Michigan

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.

July 13 - Robert J. Gibbs

Twins Logo Sign

More Transportation Options Needed to Connect Workers and Jobs in the Twin Cities

A new study identifies the disconnect between employees and employers in the Twin Cities region. The report also predicts dramatic improvements if the region's long-term transportation plans are realized.

July 12 - Star Tribune

Google Headquarters

Google, LinkedIn Complete 'Blockbuster' Land Swap

Big development news for two of the biggest names in the Silicon Valley.

July 12 - Silicon Valley Business Journal

Dayton, Ohio

The Common Traits of Successful Inner Ring Suburbs

Two suburbs of Cleveland provide a case study in how older, inner-ring suburbs can compete with the newer suburbs on the fringes of the region.

July 12 - Cleveland.com

Growth Chart

Population Analysis—Explained and Exemplified

Yonah Freemark provides a comprehensive explainer of the nuts and bolts of population analysis, applying that expertise to an examination of downtown population change.

July 12 - the transport politic

Disneyland

Anaheim—Home to Disneyland—Bans All Short-Term Rentals

Reports about the decision by the Anaheim City Council to ban all short-term rentals, through companies like Airbnb or VRBO, described it as a victory for homeowners.

July 12 - CBS Los Angeles

Fred Hartman Bridge

Development Still Going Strong in Baytown During Houston's Oil Downturn

The city of Baytown, located just east of Houston, is the location of several bright spots for the regional economy.

July 12 - Houston Chronicle

Zoning Amendment Allows Changes to Privately-Owned Public Spaces in Manhattan

Privately-owned public spaces on Walter Street in Manhattan could get a little more private and a little less public under terms of a new zoning amendment approved by the City Council.

July 12 - amNew York

Railroad

Virginia Railway Express Wants to Upgrade its Transit Status

How do you take regional commuter rail and turn it into rail transit? Just add frequencies.

July 12 - Greater Greater Washington

Post News

Top Books

An annual review of books related to planning.

Top Schools

The definitive ranking of graduate planning programs.

100 Most Influential Urbanists

The who's who of urbanism, according to Planetizen readers.

Urban Planning Creators You Should Know

A short list of voices on social, video, and podcasting platforms.

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.