The Daily Source of Urban Planning News
America's Largest 'Crop': the Lawn
A NASA study finds that no irrigated vegetation covers more surface in the United States than the collection of lawns that are so important to the American identity.
The Passing of One of the Bay Area's Most Effective Bicycle Advocates
Deb Hubsmith, who went from executive director of the Marin Bicycle Coalition to state and federal bicycle advocacy positions, passed away on August 18. She was known throughout California as being a tireless force for the advancement of bicycling.
An Interview with HUD Secretary Julian Castro
"We use housing as a platform to create greater opportunity in people's lives."
Housing Choice Voucher Holders Still Face Barriers to Mobility
Voucher recipients live in slightly better neighborhoods than the average poor household, but they still live in economically and racially segregated neighborhoods with poor-performing schools.
America's Speed Limits Visualized
America's quilt of speed limits now reaches 85 MPH in some states, with increases possible in some western states. MetricMaps has produced a visualization of the top speed limits across the country and even in detail in urban areas.
Terror On-Board European High-Speed Train
Massacre on a Paris-bound train was averted in France on Friday due to the courageous actions of three Americans, one in the Air Force another in the Oregon National Guard, who rushed and subdued a Moroccan man armed with an AK-47 and a handgun.
Bikeshare on its Way to Honolulu
Bikeshare Hawaii is seeking public input on the technology of choice for the eventual roll out of the city's bikeshare system.
Santa Monica Nixes Mixed-Use Development in Favor of Suburban-Style Office Park
A hotly contested development in the coastal enclave of Santa Monica, CA—soon to be blessed with light rail access to the rest of the region—has produced less-than-ambitious results.
St. Louis NFL Stadium Plans Clear Initial Funding Hurdle
A proposal to build a new NFL stadium in St. Louis received its first clearance for tax credits—$15 million from the Missouri Development Finance Board. Additional requests for $17.5 million will follow in 2016 and 2017.
When a Freeway Goes Bad
At some point, in places all over the country, freeways stopped working as they were intended. What can be done to improve one of the great frustrations of life with a car?
Interventions for Urban Youth: Can Summer Jobs and Mentorship Really Affect Violent Crime Rates?
The effects of the program are striking: Sixteen months after the initial lottery, youth offered OSP were arrested for 43 percent fewer violent crimes than the control group.
The Incredible Sinking Central Valley
Parts of the nation's food basket, the San Joaquin Valley in California, are sinking at two inches per month, not per year. Known as subsidence, it results from over-pumping of groundwater by farmers desperate to save their crops in the epic drought.
Making Traffic Circles Safe for Pedestrians
A post for Greater Greater Washington details the ongoing conversation about how to improve pedestrian safety around Grant Circle.
U.S. DOT Offers Guidance for Bike and Pedestrian Funding
Planning for new pedestrian and bike projects in your community? The federal government recently released a report providing guidance on the Safer People, Safer Streets Initiative.
HUD Grants $24 Million for Community Development Pool in North St. Louis
The federal government offered to $24 million to create a loan pool in struggling areas of North St. Louis County—most infamously displayed to the country over the past year in the intense racial conflicts centering around Ferguson.
The Most Popular Forms of Alternative Transportation
When it comes to the Census, the term "alternative transportation" makes perfect sense. Eric Jaffe looks at the 15 metropolitan areas with the lowest auto commuting and describes the most popular alternatives.
Terms and Concepts for Understanding Land Banks
Clarifying some of the jargon that drives the land bank process in Cuyahoga County, Ohio reveals the importance and scale of neighborhood stabilization in some parts of the country.
Should Architects Be Citizen Scientists?
Can self-contained urban food systems exist in the core of our cities? Architect Darrick Borowski of New York based firm ARExA developed a model to determine just that.
Roosevelt Island's Pneumatic Garbage System
On New York City's Roosevelt Island, residents have long lived free from the roar of garbage trucks. Instead they use Avacs, an island-wide system of pneumatic tubes that moves trash to a central location for processing.
Friday Funny: Banksy Spoofs Consumerism with 'Dismaland' Theme Park
Maybe it's not funny in the traditional sense, but someone is surely having a laugh.
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
Transportation Research & Education Center (TREC) at Portland State University
Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada
Toledo-Lucas County Plan Commissions
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.
