The Daily Source of Urban Planning News

Three States Hope to Take Advantage of Low Gas Prices to Boost Gas Taxes
A movement at the state and federal levels would take advantage of low oil prices to boost gas taxes to pay for infrastructure. Michigan, Iowa, and Utah proposals, and a change to the federal Corker-Murphy plan, are described below.

FEATURE
Book Review: 'Culture Crash'
'Culture Crash: The Killing of the Creative Class' by Scott Timberg argues that cities must defend and support local culture in the face of the homogenizing effects of the creative class.

BLOG POST
The Rise of the Development Agreement
The evolution of the development agreement reveals how its proliferation as a land use tool is a symptom of a larger struggle between increasingly complicated land use regulations, the public’s conflicting goals, and developers’ desire for certainty
Nebraska Supreme Court OKs Keystone XL; U.S. Senate has the Next Move
The House voted for the tenth time to approve the pipeline, and a split decision by the Nebraska Supreme Court removes a key objection of President Barack Obama to ruling on Keystone XL. The Senate begins debate Monday.
Sunday Not-So-Fun-Day: More Cities Banning Sledding in Public
Cities simply can't afford the lawsuits that follow sledding injuries. Time will tell how strictly such laws are enforced.

Oklahoma City's Plan to Attract and Retain Millennials
The Oklahoma Gazette takes an in-depth look at the city's efforts to attract and retain millennials.
Gov. Christie Changes Stance on Cross-Hudson Transit Capacity
Buried in the Port Authority's recent report on the future its financing and operations, was a plan to move forward with a project to increase transit capacity across the Hudson River.
Documentary Examines China's 'Back-to-the-Land' Movement
Linda Poon shares news of a short documentary about a Chinese artist trying to "bring economic and cultural development to a village struggling to survive China's rapid urbanization."
How To: Design a User-Friendly Museum Exhibition about Planning
John King writes that the "Gallery + Ideas Forum" at the Presidio in San Francisco provides an excellent model for presenting issues and ideas of planning and urban design to the public.
Safety in Scofflaws: More Research Needed on the Dirty Secret of Biking
An article on Washington Post's Wonkblog says what some bikers were thinking: sometimes it feels safer to break the law.
10 Books for Kids to Spark an Urban Imagination
Next City has published a list of ten "great picture books" that explore urban life for the curious and imaginative children in your life.
A First Look at Riverfront Stadium Proposal for St. Louis
Reports that the St. Louis Rams intend to move back to Los Angeles mobilized an effort by state and city leadership to keep the team in St. Louis.

Milken Institute Ranks 2014's 'Best Performing Cities'
The Milken's Institute report ranked San Francisco-San Mateo-Redwood City at the top of the performance index for the first time in the list's 15-year history.
The Potential Downside of Railroad Electrification—for Motorists
Electrification of the Caltrain will be great for train riders, the environment, air quality, and public health, but it might worsen traffic congestion between San Jose and San Francisco by increasing the frequency of commuter trains.
North Texas Plagued by Earthquakes—the New Normal?
The earth has been moving all week in North Texas. An editorial by The Dallas Morning News calls on the state's new governor to show leadership, even at risk of upsetting the oil industry, to find out more about the causes of the seismic activity.
Urban Agriculture Projects in Chicago Show the Way
Successful Chicago urban agriculture projects on rooftop, in edible lawn, and at a school reviewed by resilience consultant Dave Hampton.
Foreclosures Are Making People Sick
Seven years after the housing bust began, millions of Americans are still suffering. And suffering is the operative word—because both foreclosures and economic inequality impact people’s health.
Gov-Elect Abbott Says Local Regulations 'California-ize' Texas
Texas Gov.-elect Greg Abbott takes aim at local regulations, exemplified by tree-cutting bans in cities like Houston and San Antonio.
Explained: How CTA Heat Lamps Warm Commuters
Much of the United States went through a cold snap in recent days. How many of you transit commuters sought refuge under heat lamps this week?
Brainstorm: What Are the Creative Uses of a Roofless Building?
Becky McCray recently posed the question: "What can you do with a roofless building?"
Pagination
New York City School Construction Authority
Village of Glen Ellyn
Central Transportation Planning Staff/Boston Region MPO
Chaddick Institute at DePaul University
Institute for Housing and Urban Development Studies (IHS)
City of Grandview
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.