The Daily Source of Urban Planning News

Mapping the U.S. 'Turkey Belt'

Don't worry; we're not mentioning belts to make you feel too guilty to enjoy today's meal.

November 26 - Vox

Analyzing the Impacts of Choice Neighborhoods Grants

A new study examines the question of how to achieve neighborhood transformation through the Choice Neighborhoods federal grant program.

November 25 - Urban Institute

Like Amazon, but for Gas

Never go to a gas station again. We're not talking about transit—we're talking about an app that sends people to your car to fill it up with gas with no service charge.

November 25 - Los Angeles Times

New Oil and Gas Drilling Rules Proving Thorny in Colorado

A goal for the Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission to have established new rules for oil and gas drilling is looking less likely with each fruitless hearing.

November 25 - The Denver Post

Why Only 330,000 Electric Vehicles on the Road?

The answer to the question posed by the New York Times is surprising. Hint: Don't blame the customer if the sales force isn't trying to sell them on vehicles that never need to go to a service station to purchase fuel.

November 25 - The New York Times - Science


Bus Riders, Bus Drivers Unify in Memphis

The unions of two groups sometimes pitted against each other in seeking their agenda for the bus system in Memphis have joined together against a common foe: the management of the Memphis Area Transit Authority.

November 25 - The Memphis Flyer

Parking Sign

Mapping the End of Parking Minimums

The high cost of free parking is almost, but not quite, common knowledge. Many, but not all, people realize the pernicious effects of parking requirements. A map can help illustrate this spreading awareness.

November 25 - Strong Towns


Convention Center Arms Race Heats Up in Texas

Four major cities in Texas are either considering or constructing convention center upgrades.

November 25 - Community Impact Newspaper

For Economic Stabilization Amidst Suburban Poverty: Maximize the Earned Income Tax Credit

The diffuse structure of suburbs makes it more efficient, according to this Brooking Institution post, to invest in individuals rather than places to fight poverty.

November 25 - Brookings

APA Awards Funding to Local Projects Combating Chronic Disease

$2.25 million in funding exemplifies the broadening focus of the American Planning Association on public health outcomes at the local level.

November 25 - American Planning Association

Alberta Announces Landmark Climate Protection Strategy

Alberta Premier Rachel Notley announced a transformative three-pronged climate protection plan on November 22 that will cap greenhouse gas emissions from oil sands development, add a carbon tax, and phase-out coal power plants.

November 25 - CTV

Bike Commuter

U.S. Still Lags Behind in Bike Commuting

Triple Pundit takes a step back to gather some perspective, asking why the U.S. commuters are still so resistant to getting on bikes.

November 24 - Triple Pundit

Seattle Rental Market Trending Toward the Affordable

The Puget Sound Business Journal is reporting that landlords and developers are concerned about the effects on the market from a wave of new housing supply ready to come online in the region.

November 24 - Puget Sound Business Journal

Downtown St. Petersburg Ready for Bus System Changes

St. Petersburg will overhaul its bus system in early 2016, expecting improved efficiency from operating on the downtown city grid as well as upgrades to the area that serves as the current hub of the system.

November 24 - Creative Loafing Tampa Bay

Skid Row

Los Angeles Declares Shelter Crisis Ahead of El Niño

Facing winter storms and flooding, the city of Los Angeles is opening public buildings as temporary shelters for the homeless. Mayor Garcetti also has the option of declaring a state of emergency around the 26,000 people without housing.

November 24 - Los Angeles Times

Old Man Cyclist

Middle-Aged White Americans Take a Significant Turn for the Worse

Why are mortality rates increasing for this group in the United States and not others? The usual suspects—obesity, heart disease, diabetes, smoking are not the killers, The findings resulted in the 2015 Nobel Memorial Prize in Economic Science.

November 24 - The New York Times - Health

405 Traffic

The 50 Worst Traffic Bottlenecks in the United States

This list of the worst places for traffic congestion in the country might cause some rubbernecking of its own.

November 24 - The Washington Post

Los Angeles Streetlights

Los Angeles Changes Color

Adam Rogers chronicles Los Angeles' long and intimate relationship with the electric light. The city's recent choice to adopt LED streetlights has transformed a classic nighttime into something new.

November 24 - BOOM: A Journal of California

Dallas Area Ready for More Greenfield Developments

A pair of articles details two new, massive greenfield developments on the way in North Texas.

November 24 - The Dallas Morning News

Critiquing the 2015 TIGER Grants: More Isn't Always Better

According to a scathing critique of the most recent round of TIGER funding, many of the awarded projects fall far below the quality that transit advocates expect.

November 24 - The Century Foundation

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.