The Daily Source of Urban Planning News

More than 80 communities adopted complete streets policies in 2013, bringing the national total to 610 jurisdictions with such policies. The National Complete Streets Coalition examined the newest programs for the best examples.

February 19 - Smart Growth America

Interested in city transportation and mass transit? Here are the Top 10 accounts to follow on Twitter.

February 19 - Future Cities

Outdated and onerous regulations, particularly those found in zoning ordinances, are affecting the availability of housing choice. What can communities do to expand their hosing stock? C.J. Gabbe explains.

February 19 - Community Builders

Energy Secretary Ernest Moniz is expected to announce final approval for an $8.3 billion loan guarantee for the first nuclear reactors to be built in the united States in more than three decades.

February 19 - National Journal

California’s retooling of Level of Service (LOS) analysis is one of the most closely watched regulatory changes in the country. With public comments on the issue closing on Feb. 18, how are planners reacting to the potential changes?

February 18 - LA.Streetsblog

During Tregoning's seven years at the helm of the Washington, D.C. Office of Planning, she pushed the city to adopt smart-growth policies touching all aspects of life--not just land use, but transportation, the economy, and more.

February 18 - Elevation DC

Vancouver’s reputation as a beautiful “mini-Manhattan” is well documented and well earned. But how did the city manage to fend off regrettable fashions in planning over the years, and how prepared is it to continue its success in the future?

February 18 - ULI Urban Land Magazine

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) was signed into law on February 17, 2009, less than a month into President Obama's first term. The Council of Economic Advisers recently presented its final quarterly report on ARRA's impacts.

February 18 - WhiteHouse.gov

So much for switching from diesel fuel to natural gas to protect the environment. A new report concludes that it is best to stick with oil-based fuels because methane leakage from natural gas is much greater than currently estimated.

February 18 - The New York Times - U.S.

The Metropolitan Beaches Commission has improved conditions and facilities at many of Massachusetts' beaches since its inception in 2006. Recently, however, the commission called for funding to be restored to pre-recession levels.

February 18 - Boston Globe

With residential property prices ten times the average salary in Melbourne and Sydney, U.S. forecaster Harry Dent expects the Australian market to mirror the collapse witnessed in the California.

February 18 - The Age (Australia)

Coming soon to Northeast Los Angeles: a "Bicycle Friendly Business District." The Northeast Los Angeles pilot project is expected to clear the way for a citywide program in 2015-16.

February 18 - LADOT Bike Blog

A startup called Placemeter is using public surveillance to track pedestrian traffic in New York City to provide real time information about wait times at services and facilities around the city.

February 18 - Fast Co.Exist

Locality (a self-described "local business search site") has ranked the cost of living for the “yuppie” lifestyle in every American city. It’s no surprise that San Francisco tops the list, but how do 29 cities rank on the "Yuppie Price Index"?

February 18 - Locality

In terms of land area, San Francisco’s a small city. Yet if current policies persist, the city will build 92,000 parking spots for residents by 2040, on just 49 square miles of land.

February 17 - SF Streetsblog

Located less then 15 miles west of Downtown Minneapolis, Lake Minnetonka is already popular, but the 14 cities near the lake have created a regional coalition to improve the lake experience.

February 17 - Minneapolis Star Tribune

A recent guerrilla campaign designed to ease train-to-train transfer on the New York subway displeased both the MTA and regular commuters.

February 17 - Next City

The Feb. 2 spill of coal ash slurry from a Duke Energy containment pond has taken a new turn with a federal grand jury issuing subpoenas for records from both Duke Energy and the state environmental regulator.

February 17 - The Charlotte Observer

Torontonians who have been fighting a Walmart in Downtown’s belovedly indie Kensington Market neigbourhood appear to have won their battle against a goliath developer. A revised development proposal features significantly scaled-down retail units.

February 17 - The Globe and Mail

A recent study by the Pew Research Center shows that despite the increasing use of tablets and e-readers, Americans still love books and still rely on libraries as a central cultural institution.

February 16 - Pew Research Center