The Daily Source of Urban Planning News

A railroad that spans 22 states on the East Coast as well as in the South and Midwest plans to spend a record $2.4 billion on capital improvements this year.

March 2 - Norfolk Southern

The design reveal is more than just a showcase for architects Bjarke Ingels and Thomas Heatherwick. The project also raises tough questions about how far suburban cities in the South Bay Area are willing to go to support the current tech boom.

March 2 - New York Times

Once again, rather than increasing the state's 20-cent gas tax (29 percent below the national average of 28-cents), policy makers seek to divert revenue to the state's ailing highway fund at the expense of the state's general fund.

March 2 - The Dallas Morning News

The Urban Land Institute just rolled out How Housing Matters, an online portal for news, research, infographics, and multimedia examining how housing affects community health.

March 2 - Architect Magazine

The recent glut of luxury development, gentrification, and high rents has been frequently condemned. But what factors affecting affordability might that discussion miss?

March 2 - New York YIMBY

BLOG POST

A recent property professors' conference discussed a variety of issues of possible interest to planners including tightened home lending standards, municipal policies affecting the homeless, the Fair Housing Act, and inclusionary zoning.

March 2 - Michael Lewyn

Increased awareness of sprawl’s negative effects has not led to a drop-off in its construction. Developers say they only build what the market demands.

March 2 - The Atlantic

Data from Washington D.C. shows how the demographics of eastern neighborhoods have shifted heavily toward childless singles over the past decade.

March 1 - District Measured

What they may lack in peace and quiet, crowded cities more than make up for by requiring residents to live smaller. Tangible environmental benefits follow.

March 1 - The Washington Post - Wonkblog

Scientists from the Santa Fe Institute have discovered basic patterns underlying the way cities have always grown. The mechanics of "urban scaling" may have something fundamental to tell us about how large settlements evolve.

March 1 - Christian Science Monitor

The Little Free Library movement is a well-intentioned overture to literate neighborliness. In spite of lacking obvious drawbacks, certain officials argue it should undergo more stringent permitting.

March 1 - CityLab

Peak VMT reportedly occurred in 2007, but that may not stand long according to updated DOT estimates of 2013 travel. According to the data, Americans drove nearly three trillion miles. Another finding is the large increase in number of vehicles.

March 1 - U.S. DOT: Office of Public Affairs

The rise of shale oil in Alberta over the past decade has made Calgary one of the most vibrant cities on the continent. But with oil slumping around $50 per barrel, the fortunes of an industry town look less rosy.

February 28 - The Wall Street Journal

A coalition of public and private interests have come together in Albuquerque to launch New Mexico's first bikeshare program.

February 28 - Albuquerque Business First

The world of Pandora, created by James Cameron for the blockbuster film Avatar, will be the next addition to Disney's Animal Kingdom park in Orlando, Florida.

February 28 - Variety

If there's a solid take-away from the California Field Poll, it is not to ask residents how they feel about raising gas taxes, or any one option for that matter. Rather, offer a menu of funding alternatives and the results become more meaningful.

February 28 - Sacramento Bee

It's unclear who exactly is behind the Philly Parking Wasteland website, but it is clear that the site exists to excoriate the mismanagement of land for the purposes of parking around the city of Philadelphia.

February 28 - Philly Parking Wasteland

Urban planners like the nightlife. They like to boogie. But one researcher argues that planners should better understand how to balance the positive and negative effects of a bustling nightlife.

February 27 - Deutsche Welle

Cities are becoming the new economic engines due to growing sectors in technology and knowledge production. Yet, cities must recognize with that transformation there comes not only opportunities but also new challenges.

February 27 - Common Place

As free-range children become an increasingly rare species, designers and psychologist are also questioning the effects of the sterile, innocuous playgrounds currently in fashion. How can play, and kids, get liberated again?

February 27 - The Philadelphia Inquirer