The Daily Source of Urban Planning News

San Francisco Tunnel Boring Machine

Seattle's Envy? San Francisco's Big Alma Outperforms Big Bertha

Big Alma is one of two boring machines used to tunnel under the streets of San Francisco to construct the new Central Subway to Chinatown. Big Bertha, Seattle's infamous tunnel borer, has been stalled since December. Big Alma emerged on June 11.

June 16 - The San Francisco Examiner

Study: American Housing Preferences Mimic American Politics

Emily Badger pulls particularly salient information from last week's Pew Research Center's report on political attitudes: liberals prefer the city while conservatives prefer small towns and rural areas.

June 16 - The Washington Post - Wonkblog

Twin Cities' Green Line Emphasizes Community Integration

Funding from a nonprofit initiative provides concrete measures to prevent displacement due to the construction of the Green Line in the Twin Cities.

June 16 - FastCompany Exist

A SEPTA R5 commuter train heading for Doylestown, Pennsylvania from Lansdale station.

Obama Intervenes On Philly Rail Strike

President Obama signs executive order to end SEPTA transit strike, establishes emergency labor mediation board in response to Governor Corbett's request.

June 16 - The Philadelphia Inquirer

Empty Parking Garage

BLOG POST

A Parking Paradox

Minimum parking requirements affect developer behavior most where they are most controversial: in downtown neighborhoods. In suburbs where they may just mimic the market, the arguments for such rules are paradoxically even weaker.

June 16 - Michael Lewyn


Who Should Pay for Highways: Motorists or Oil Companies?

A new transportation funding option proposed by Rep. Peter DeFazio (D-Ore.) would repeal the 18.4-cent gas tax, unchanged since 1993, with a "small" tax levied against oil companies on each barrel of oil used to make gasoline.

June 16 - The Oregonian

Street Art Tells the Other Side of the World Cup Story

In the many cities hosting the month-long FIFA World Cup tournament, street artists share their criticisms in vibrant, powerful murals located in public spaces.

June 16 - The Guardian


Orlando Street

Nation's Most Dangerous City for Pedestrians Becoming Safer

A Smart Growth America report put the spotlight on Orlando and the entire state of Florida as leading the nation in pedestrian deaths per capita. NPR investigate what is being done to lose the infamous title.

June 16 - NPR

Traffic Jam 1970s

Study: Traffic Forecasts Are Often Inaccurate

In a recent review of the state-of-the-art, two planning researchers conclude that traffic forecasts often fail to accurately predict that demand for new transportation infrastructure.

June 16 - Transport Reviews

Philadelphia-Area Commuter Rail on Strike

Two rail unions have forced a shut-down of the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority commuter rail service on Saturday (June 14), but not affecting SEPTA bus, trolley, subway or high speed rail service. Gov. Tom Corbett may take action.

June 15 - Philadelphia Inquirer

Straight Talk in Maine on Roads, Bridges, and Rail Maintanence

A Democrat and a Republican who serve on Maine's Joint Standing Committee on Transportation make a strong case for "finding the money" to keep roads, bridges, rail lines, and ports in good repair. They skirt around the issue of raising taxes though.

June 15 - Portland Press Herald

Santa Monica Route 66

Anatomy of a NIMBYcide in Santa Monica

A look at how the previous approval of the Hines Bergamont Transit Village project was rescinded after pressure from community activists, by real estate developer and consultant Michael Russell.

June 15 - UrbDeZine

Personal Air Quality Sensors Compare Pollution Levels

Ben Schiller reports on two new air quality sensors that show you pollution comparisons of the air you are breathing right now.

June 15 - FastCompany Exist

When is Density Beneficial in Disasters?

Comparing cities versus suburbs in disaster resiliency and recovery.

June 15 - UrbDeZine

Toll Road Truck

The Dawn of the Toll Era in Dallas

Some are calling it a political crisis, but no matter the cause of the trend, toll roads are about soon to be a ubiquitous fact of life in North Texas.

June 14 - Dallas Morning News

Work Begins on Atlanta's Liberty Plaza

Liberty Plaza will replace a parking structure across from the George State Capitol. The plaza could also one day become home to a monument to Martin Luther King, Jr.

June 14 - Curbed Atlanta

Brooklyn Bridge Beach

Urban River Revitalization Across the Globe

Urban Times offers a list of 13 urban river renewal projects spanning from Medellin to Manila.

June 14 - Urban Times

Will Manufacturing and Trade Work for Florida's Recovery?

Adie Tomer challenges local and state leaders in Florida to leverage its strengths in trade and logistics for a more production-oriented economy—to the benefit of the long-term economic prosperity of the state.

June 14 - Brookings

Artists Feel Gentrification Pressure in Bushwick

The Brooklyn Brief attended the recent eighth edition oft the Bushwick Open Studios annual art event. There the blog heard from artists concerned about the growing expenses of living in the neighborhood.

June 14 - Brooklyn Brief

Banksy Sweeping

No Fix for Rundown Sidewalks and Streets in Los Angeles

The city of Los Angeles has been searching for years for a fiscal solution to the deplorable conditions of its streets and sidewalks, but a recent proposal to increase sales taxes by a half-cent to 9.5 percent is now dead.

June 13 - Los Angeles Times

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Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.