The Daily Source of Urban Planning News
Atlantic City Could Become Empire of Innovation
Atlantic City, New Jersey, has been down on its luck lately. But, in the wake of Superstorm Sandy, AC could become the ideal laboratory for developing technologies and practices to help coastal cities build resiliency in the face of climate change.
U.S. Census Releases 2013 Commute Data Goodies
The U.S. Census has released data from 2013 that offer planners the most up-to-date data available about where Americans work and how they commute.
Florida County Commissioners to Vote on Increased Gas Tax
Florida counties have their own gas taxes and can raise them without going to a vote by the people. Due to a road budget shortfall, the Santa Rosa County Commission will vote on August 13 whether to raise the gas tax as much as six cents per gallon.
Friday Funny: $2 Billion in Crowdfunding Sought for Replica of Middle Earth's Minas Tirith
If you always thought you'd fit in better in Middle Earth than Anywhere, U.S.A., a group of architects and engineers would like to give you a chance to test your theory.
Why Concentrated Poverty Matters
The Architecture of Segregation: The slums are racially concentrated, on the rise, and spreading to the suburbs.
Gentrification Concerns Raised Around 'The 606' Trail in Chicago
When an exciting and popular addition to the public realm becomes available, like it did in Chicago earlier this year with The 606 trail, concerns about gentrification and displacement are sure to follow.
Designing for Rapid Change and a Cloudy Future
Designing large-scale projects that can take years to build in industries that are constantly evolving run the risk of becoming outdated once completed. Arup's Andrew McAlpine discusses how to design for the long-term while remaining innovative.
Can California Cut Oil Use in Half by 2030?
A bill working its way through the California State Legislature would require the state to reduce petroleum its consumption by half in 15 years. CALmatters, a nonprofit journalism venture, seeks to find out if it is even possible.
How Cities Derive Their Identities
While visiting Paris, San Diego landscape architect David McCullough pondered his own new world city's identity and concluded, counter-intuitively, his city's (and all cities') identity is defined by its diversity.
The Protected Intersection for Bicycles Has Arrived
The city of Davis, California, a college town with extremely high commute mode share for bikes, made history last week as the first U.S. city to build a protected intersection for bikes.
Controversy Precedes Departure of Vancouver Head of Planning
Brian Jackson will retire after stepping down from his position as chief planner for the city of Vancouver.
'Digital Coast' Connects Planners and Data for Coastal Resilience
A new resource created by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration in partnership with the APA makes it easier for planners to access the data necessary to plan for climate adaptation, sea level rise, and other forms of coastal resilience.
The 1989 Roots of Louisiana's Transportation Funding Mess
Incomplete projects proposed in the Transportation Infrastructure Model for Economic Development plan have saddled Louisiana with increasing debt and less money for maintenance.
Survey of 251 U.S. Mayors Reveals 'Unequal Recovery'
A report from the National League of Cities mines the political leadership of 251 cities for insights into the state of local economies.
What Makes a Streetscape Appeal to Pedestrians?
Researchers who studied the appeal of New York City streetscapes find an additionally significant factor on the streets of Salt Lake City: the photo op.
Take a Digital Tour of Pennsylvania's Urban Waterfronts
Keystone Crossroads has produced an interactive series about Pennsylvania's urban waterfronts. A storymap and in-depth reporting provide waterfront access from afar.
Closed Ontario Schools May Be Transformed Into Community Hubs
Schools are part of, and even anchor communities. Good planning requires schools as part of "Complete Communities". Until this proposal is adopted, school boards often close schools due to funding or liability. This is a possible step forward.
A Call for Long-Term Federal Transportation Funding
When Congress recently failed yet again to pass a long-term surface transportation bill, Representative Earl Blumenauer decided it was time for a reality check.
Another Study Shows That Narrow Is Safer Than Wide for Traffic Lanes
Better Cities & Towns gives its imprimatur to the "narrower is better" approach to lane width for traffic safety thanks to a study by Toronto transportation planner, Dewan Masud Karim, presented at the Canadian ITE annual conference.
Lesson from Seattle: Zoning Is a Political Debate, Not a Policy Debate
The swift rejection of a proposal to upzone residential neighborhoods in Seattle inspired The Urbanist to evaluate the lessons of the episode. One takeaway: don't demonize single-family homeowners.
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.
