The Daily Source of Urban Planning News

City Report: Mission Moratorium Backfires on its Goals

A new report from the San Francisco Office of Economic Analysis shows that Prop. 1, an 18-month moratorium on the development of market-rate housing in the Mission to appear on November's ballot, would not meet the housing goals it seeks to attain.

September 17 - San Francisco Examiner

No Walking

How the Media 'Walk-Shames' Pedestrians

Innocent until proven guilty—unless you're a pedestrian in the court of opinion.

September 17 - Streets MN

On the 'Tree Wealth' of the World's Countries

A closer look at the data of a study revealing the number of trees on the planet shows several ways to compare and contrast the relative resources, in the form of trees, of countries around the world.

September 17 - The Washington Post

Seattle Makes Grassroots Crosswalk Design Official

Seattle will implement a process by which neighborhoods can take the Tactical Urbanism practice of DIY sidewalks a step further—by officially approving local designs for sidewalks.

September 16 - Seattle Bike Blog

Honolulu Rail Transit

Honolulu Rail Cost Overruns Now Exceed $1 Billion

Add another $200 million to the $910 million shortfall already facing Honolulu's rail project. The changing circumstances surrounding the project won't make it any easier to create a viable funding plan to make up the difference.

September 16 - Honolulu Star-Advertiser


Colorado Bike Lane

Colorado Governor Announces $100 Million Program for Bicycle-Friendly Infrastructure

Colorado will call on its Department of Transportation to help make the state "the best state for biking" in the country.

September 16 - The Denver Post

High Bridge

Meet High Bridge—NYC's New Mini-Me of the High Line

The 1848 High Bridge spanning Harlem River emerged in June from a multi-year, $61.8 million renovation—it's reviewed by Architect and former Empire State Development Corp VP Carol Berens.

September 16 - UrbDeZine


Alabama Road Signs

Alabama Bill Would Hike Gas and Diesel Taxes by a Nickel, and Then Some

A bill to increase both gas and diesel taxes by five cents in Alabama has passed its first committee on a voice vote and goes to the full House of Representatives on Thursday. The bill indexes both taxes using only two-cent increments.

September 16 - The Anniston Star

Downtown Houston

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.

September 16 - Philly Voice

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.

September 16 - Urbanize LA

Phoenix Light Rail

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.

September 16 - Houston Chronicle

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.

September 16 - Urban Land Magazine

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.

September 16 - The Cleveland Plain Dealer

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.

September 15 - San Francisco Chronicle

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.

September 15 - The Record

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.

September 15 - Governing

Buenos Aires bus stop

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.

September 15 - The Globe and Mail

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.

September 15 - The White House

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.

September 15 - Green City Blue Lake

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.

September 15 - The Hill

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