The Daily Source of Urban Planning News
FEATURE
The Most Popular Planetizen Posts of 2014
We've been collecting data on the posts you made the most popular for the year 2014.
Study: Trip Generation Manual Produces 'Phantom Trips'
Research suggests that the Trip Generation Manual—a familiar tool for planners calculating the vehicle trips expected to be generated by developments of various sizes and uses—produces "phantom trips" and unneeded automobile infrastructure.
Study: 'It's hard to beat gasoline' on Air Quality
A University of Minnesota study published in PNAS looks at alternatives including ethanol and electricity and determined that "it's hard to beat gasoline." Even electric vehicles can do better or worse depending on how utilities source electricity.
Kansas City Proceeding with the First of (Possibly) Many Road Diets
Mike Hendricks reports on road diet plans for Grand Boulevard in Downtown Kansas City.
Redevelopment Plans Finalized for Site of Detroit's Defunct Tiger Stadium
Tiger Stadium was demolished in 2008 after a failed bid to preserve the historic ballpark. Recently, however, a new mixed use development, including a baseball diamond for youth sports programs, was approved to take its place.
Survey: Downtown Denver Commuters Drive Less than the Average American
A new survey of 4,962 respondents finds tremendous mode share in Downtown Denver. For instance, Downtown Denver commuters are 11 times more likely to commute by bike than the average U.S. commuter.
CEQA and High-Speed Rail Foes Dealt Setback by Federal Board
Faced with seven CEQA lawsuits from rail opponents threatening to delay the high-speed rail project, the California High-Speed Rail Authority sought preemption of the California environmental law. The Surface Transportation Board agreed.
New Designs Revealed for $50 Million Renovation of Minneapolis' Nicollet Mall
The public recently got a first look at a new design proposal from James Corner Field Operations for the $50 million improvement of Nicollet Mall in Minneapolis.
Mapping the Locavore's Food Supply
FiveThirtyEight and ESPN recently produced a short documentary about the creators of Falling Fruit—a website that maps food sources in cities around the world.
Citizens in Central Arkansas Imagine the Future with Interactive Online Plans
How do you create a plan document that grabs the attention of your audience and generates feedback? In Central Arkansas, citizens are exploring and experiencing an interactive online draft plan that makes participation easy and fun.
Op-Ed Critiques Architecture: from 'Infinitesimal Specks' to 'Sprawling Dreck'
Steven Bingler and Martin C. Pedersen pen a withering critique of the architecture profession's obsession with glamorous contracts at the expense of context-sensitive, community-focused designs.
Public Transit Increases Safety, Reduces Crime
Public transport is overall very safe (low crash rate) and secure (low crime rate). However, experts seldom promote transit as a traffic safety strategy, and advocates seldom emphasize safety as a transit benefit. It's time for a new narrative.
Uber Expands to Lower-Density Florida Coastline Despite Controversies
The popular ride share service Uber launched service in Brevard County, Florida last week, a sign that the company is not putting the brakes on growth while it confronts difficult issues.
Parisian Traffic, Air Pollution Reduction Plan Caught on Political Snag
Parisian clean air politics turn out to be something of a class issue, even for a socialist mayor. The plans are seen as penalizing low income Parisians while benefiting elitist city dwellers who dislike traffic, overshadowing public health benefits.
BLOG POST
The Economist and Suburbia: A Fistful of Myths
A recent set of articles in the Economist argued that the continued spread of suburbia was inevitable and perhaps desirable. But the article's arguments are not always applicable to North America.
Urban Mobility Plans Key To More Efficient and Integrated Planning
"Urban Mobility Plans – National Approaches and Local Practice," a new guidebook by the Sustainable Urban Transportation Project, describes specific policies and planning practices to maximize urban transport system efficiency.
Mind the Gap: Media, Researchers Identify Gentrification Differently
A new study by a sociologist at Louisiana State University examines the differences between qualitative and quantitative descriptions of gentrification. Even the New York Times, according to the study, reveals its bias.
Bus Rapid Transit Key To Improving Urban Transport in India
Buses are the backbone of urban mobility in India. Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) is the key to creating efficient and attractive bus services that attract increasingly affluent residents.
International Climate Accord Reached in Lima
Known as the Lima Accord, after the capital of Peru where representatives from 200 nations met for two weeks, a deal was reached to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in preparation for talks to be held in Paris in December. But is it strong enough?
Federal Spending Bill Passes—TIGER Trimmed But Still Alive
With most of its funding intact for 2014, and a proposed ban on funding for active transportation projects off the table, fans of TIGER grants can take a deep breath.
City of Clovis
City of Moorpark
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.
