The Daily Source of Urban Planning News

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.
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.
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.

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.

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.
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.
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.

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.

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.
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.
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.

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.
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.
When is Density Beneficial in Disasters?
Comparing cities versus suburbs in disaster resiliency and recovery.

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.
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.

Urban River Revitalization Across the Globe
Urban Times offers a list of 13 urban river renewal projects spanning from Medellin to Manila.
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.
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.

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.
Pagination
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.