The Daily Source of Urban Planning News

Cambridge Studying its Vulnerability to Climate Change

The Cambridge Climate Change Vulnerability Assessment is based on detailed climate projections, heat island mapping, and precipitation driven flood modeling. Over 1,000 physical assets and social factors are assessed for vulnerability.

December 8 - CCVA Report

Development

BLOG POST

Does Wendell Cox Realize He Just Supported Smart Growth?

Smart Growth critic Wendell Cox recently endorsed White House Economic Advisor Jason Furman's criticisms of zoning codes that limit infill development, essentially endorsing Smart Growth policy reforms.

December 8 - Todd Litman

Grand Central

BLOG POST

Mr. Kimmelman's Metropolis

The New York Times architecture critic is making good on his promise to focus on the social context and redemptive qualities of urban architecture and design. A recent lecture in Denver identified several imperatives for the planning profession.

December 7 - Dean Saitta

Amtrak Acela

Changes Ahead for Amtrak

New pilot projects authorized by the FAST Act include allowing private operators to bid on operating three of Amtrak's 15 long-distance lines for up to eight years "provided they reduce the need for taxpayer support" and allowing pets on trains.

December 7 - The Wall Street Journal - Business

Tukwila Intl Blvd Station Park and Ride

King County Metro Looks to the App to Solve the First Mile Problem

An app is helping to bring transit riders from their home to the nearest park-and-ride in King County, Washington.

December 7 - Crosscut


Charrettes

A New Guide to Participatory Planning

A new guidebook by the Montréal Urban Ecology Centre can help improve a critical part of the job for all planners.

December 7 - Project For Public Spaces

Dallas Streetcar

Dallas Has Nation's First Hybrid Streetcar

At critical points, Dallas' streetcar system runs without overhead cables. Two batteries underneath the car store enough power to propel the train across a mile-long bridge.

December 7 - Houston Public Media


For Rent

When Discussing Median Rents, Let's Make Sure We Have All the Data

Reports about the median rents rising or falling in a community garner a lot of attention, but it's a good idea to understand where the data is coming from.

December 7 - City Commentary

walkable street

Demand for Walkable Neighborhoods Outstripping Supply

Millennials and an aging Baby Boomer population have put a premium on "the hottest trend in real estate": walkability.

December 7 - The Huffington Post

Vacant Home, Cleveland

Cleveland Counts Its Vacant Homes, Finds Hope in Shrinking Numbers

Surveyors hitting the streets in Cleveland have found that the problem of vacant homes in the city isn't as bad as first feared.

December 7 - Cleveland Plain-Dealer

Atlanta 24-27 Feb 2010

The Nation's Most Equal (and Unequal) Cities

In the United States, urban wealth and poverty are often quite segregated. But they can also be next-door neighbors. This article looks at cities with the highest and lowest levels of income inequality.

December 7 - Atlanta Business Chronicle

Death of the Federal Transportation User Fee

The passage of the five-year FAST Act, the first long-term transportation bill since 2005, solidifies the trend that has been in place since 2008, when General Fund transfers to the Highway Trust Fund first began. Such transfers are now the new norm.

December 7 - the transport politic

La Rambla

BLOG POST

Pro-Walking, or Anti-Car?

The line between being pro-pedestrian versus being anti-car can be hard to distinguish, at times. A new experiment to ban cars from the inner city of Oslo, Norway, however, could reveal more about the distinction.

December 6 - Erling Fossen

Public-Private Partnership Anticipated for Amtrak Gateway Program

Similar to high-speed rail projects throughout the nation, Amtrak will be looking to the private sector to help pay a portion of the expected $20 billion tab to build two new tunnels under the Hudson River and expand New York's Penn Station.

December 6 - Reuters

Opa-Locka, Florida

Germane Barnes' Vision for Opa-Locka

Known for its unique Moorish Revival architecture, and beset by a host of urban problems, the Miami suburb may have found its savior in Germane Barnes. The young architect and planner aims to revitalize the area without gentrifying it.

December 6 - Curbed

Using Instagram to Create a Blight Inventory

The Innovation Team in Mobile shows that sometimes innovation can be delivered through commonplace technology.

December 6 - Governing

Study: Resurgent in the U.S., Bike Ownership Stagnates Worldwide

Of the 7.3 billion people living on the planet, one in every 12 owns a bike. Despite appearances, however, that number has not increased much in recent years.

December 6 - Fusion

Famous Mexico City traffic

Gondola Monorail Could Ease Mexico City Traffic

Mexico City is considering a novel transit idea: two-person gondolas gliding along an aerial track. The costs of such a system may be far lower than extending the subway system.

December 5 - Quartz

Can Jerusalem's Light Rail Pull the City’s Past Into the Future?

Since 2011, the controversial Jerusalem Light Rail system has been a driving force behind the renewal and reintegration of some areas of the old city. In addition, the Jerusalem Business District is being planned as the city's new economic hub.

December 5 - Cities of the Future

Wild Horses BLM

Ranchers and Activists Face Off Over Wild Horses

Tens of thousands of wild horses still inhabit the western states. The Bureau of Land Management is caught between two camps: ranchers who want them contained and advocates who want them to roam free.

December 5 - Pacific Standard

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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.