The Daily Source of Urban Planning News

Houston on Target to Become Nation's Third Largest City
The Philly Voice provides a primer on Houston's ascendance up the ranks of major U.S. cities as it evolves into a more urban version of itself.
Proposed Santa Ana Branch Light Rail Would Connect Downtown Los Angeles and Artesia
The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro) is exploring alignments for a new light rail line.

Light Rail Leading the Way in the Sun Belt
Cities traditionally thought of as car-centric are putting ambitious light rail plans at the center of ambitious plans for transit.
Surveying the Adaptive Reuse of Detroit
Although it's a favorite tool of urbanists all over the country—Detroit has taken to adaptive reuse with singular aplomb.
Cleveland Considering Innovation District Makeover for University Circle
The city of Cleveland is considering a proposal that would flip five acres of public land in University Circle into a bustling innovation district of residences and a mix of uses.
Semi-Serious Op-Ed Calls for Worker Dorms in San Francisco
A provocative argument or a cautionary tale—an op-ed illustrates the level of conversation surrounding San Francisco's ongoing housing crises and controversies.
Cuomo and Christie Ask for Federal Funding for Hudson River Tunnels
The bi-partisan duo of governors from New Jersey and New York have penned a letter addressed to President Obama asking for a 50-50 funding share on the critical tunnel project for the Amtrak line connecting the two states.
How Social Impact Bonds Close the Funding Gap
The number of social impact bond programs in the United States has expanded quickly, to eight, with examples found in Massachusetts, New York, Ohio, Utah, and, now, California.

North America Needs a New Model for Pedestrian-Friendly Planning
Where pedestrian-only streets have failed to draw business, the problem may be a failure to think big enough.
White House Smart Cities Initiative Uses Connected Vehicle Technology
Secretary of Transportation Anthony Foxx unveiled a $42 million transportation program in Manhattan that is part of President Obama's new $160 million Smart Cities Initiative. Funds will go to NYC, Tampa, and Wyoming to reduce congestion and crashes.
Northeast Ohio Regional Planning Efforts to 'Fix It First' in Urban Areas
The Northeast Ohio Areawide Coordinating Agency (NOACA) has committed to a drastic shift in its transportation planning paradigms.
What's the Rush on the Highway Bill Reauthorization?
Surprise! A three-month transportation funding bill turns out to have funds for nine months! While unanticipated funds certainly sound like good news, it also takes immediate pressure off the House to working on a six-year reauthorization bill.
New York City Housing Authority Launches 'NextGen Neighborhoods'
The New York Housing City Authority launched a program with an ambitious target of 1,000 affordable housing units by selecting two city-owned properties for development.

Walkability: It's About Experience
The Surgeon General's call to action, Step It Up, asks us all to get moving. And that to do that, to clear the hurdles to walkable, bikeable, rollable places. We knew that sitting is the new smoking, and now we have the full admonition to go with it.
Legislators, Newspapers Line Up to Oppose Great Lakes Water Diversion Proposal
A controversial application by the small Wisconsin town of Waukesha would allow treated wastewater to flow the Root River and then into Lake Michigan. The proposal has provoked a far-reaching outcry of opposition.

San Francisco Housing Advocates: 'Sue the Suburbs'
Renters' advocates in San Francisco are building a political and fundraising base to legally challenge suburbs that aren't pulling their weight in constructing the housing to meet the demands of population growth.
Details of Detroit's New Parking System
Parts of Detroit recently upgraded to parking kiosks that enable technologically-enhanced parking enforcement. A few weeks after enforcement began, the Detroit Free Press offers tips for navigating the new system.
Denver Moving Quickly to Preserve Affordable Housing Stock
Denver is considering its first steps toward an affordable housing preservation strategy, with time running out on the covenants that restrict rents on thousands of affordable housing units around the city.

Happy City, Boring City? Why Liveability Does Not Equate With Greatness
A funny thing about the cities that top liveability indexes all over the world: they tend to also lack a few characteristics sought after in more challenging cities.
Another Key Climate Bill Lost in California
On the heels of losing an oil reduction mandate due to lobbying by Big Oil, another key climate bill failed to pass—setting greenhouse gas reduction targets beyond 2020. An oil pipeline safety bill resulting from Santa Barbara spill passed.
Pagination
City of Moorpark
City of Tustin
Tyler Technologies
City of Astoria
Transportation Research & Education Center (TREC) at Portland State University
Chaddick Institute at DePaul University
Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada
Toledo-Lucas County Plan Commissions
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