The Daily Source of Urban Planning News

Ever dream of traveling from Rockland, Maine to Charlotte, North Carolina without using a car? With the Northeast Rail Map you can plan your journey via the East Coast's long-distance, regional, metropolitan, and heritage rail lines.

November 5 - Greater Greater Washington

New data from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey shows that the percentage of commuters driving to work alone neared an all-time peak last year. State and national trends are working against progress being made by cities.

November 5 - The Wall Street Journal

Off-year elections rarely generate much interest from voters. But at a time when those in D.C. can't seem to get much done, local elections are, in many ways, deciding the direction of the U.S. Mike Riggs examines some of compelling storylines.

November 5 - The Atlantic Cities

A collection of satellite photos reveals the planet's beauty and vulnerability from threats such as desertification, sprawl, and pollution.

November 5 - Wired

When the Townhomes on Capitol Hill replaced the Ellen Wilson public housing project 14 years ago, mixed-income housing was a novel strategy. Now that such projects are common, what lessons can the Townhomes provide for developing affordable housing?

November 5 - The Washington Post

New York State received good news on Oct. 31: A $1.6 billion loan has been approved toward the $4 billion replacement of the Tappan Zee Bridge. The remainder will be borrowed from the private sector. A commission will offer ways to repay the loans.

November 5 - The Buffalo News

The arrival of "one of the technology industry’s next big things" has been just the medicine needed to help turn around one of San Francisco's most stubbornly downtrodden areas.

November 5 - The New York Times

As New York's City Council considers lowering the speed limit in the city's residential neighborhoods to 20 miles per hour, advocates can look to the Claremont neighborhood in the South Bronx where such a move has been well received.

November 5 - Crain's New York Business

Was the demise of plans for high-speed rail in several states run by Republican governors the result of fiscal prudence or a case of political collusion? A new report in the Tampa Tribune suggests the latter.

November 5 - The Atlantic Cities

Robert A.M. Stern doesn't get much respect from the architectural avant-garde. In a time in which sleek glass and curves are all the rage, Stern goes against the grain with his use of stone and nods to history. Does that make him a lesser architect?

November 5 - New York Magazine

With prices at Manhattan's new luxury towers such as One57 reaching $6,000 a square foot and up, these sky-high mansions are actually a bargain compared to other sought-after cities. The "deals" are attracting buyers from around the world.

November 4 - The New York Times

City leaders are constantly told technology is making the world smaller, and they need to make sure their city competes on a world stage, but how? Here are 10 traits cities must have in order to be "globally fluent."

November 4 - Future Cities

A pilot project launched in August hoped to follow the successes of similar efforts in New York and San Francisco by turning Oakland's Latham Square into a pedestrian plaza. But after only six weeks, the area has been reopened to autos.

November 4 - SF.Streetsblog

Chuck Wolfe comments on this week's mayoral election in Seattle, suggesting the pending populist model for New York City is already on display.

November 4 - myurbanist

Motivated in part by the E.P.A.'s proposed rules to reduce power plant emissions, Minn. Power is burning a greener variety of coal by adding wood to the fuel, helping to meet its renewable power goal and reduce conventional air pollutants and CO2.

November 4 - The New York Times - Business Day

With smartphone use eclipsing 60% of mobile subscribers, "distracted walking" is a growing problem in communities across the United States. Portland is testing out several technologies to prevent pedestrians from walking in front of buses.

November 4 - Governing

While Canada’s most populous province continues its heated transit funding debate, Premier Kathleen Wynne recently suggested green bonds as a potential revenue tool. Don Curren sheds light on the bonds and how they might get transit projects rolling.

November 4 - The Wall Street Journal

A private company, backed by $50 million in funding and some well connected supporters, hopes to kick start a plan to build a magnetic levitation train route from Washington to New York. The technical and financial obstacles are many.

November 4 - The Washington Post

They are fees, ruled the court on Oct. 31, overturning a May 1, Portsmouth circuit judge ruling in a major victory for both tolling and public-private partnerships. It allows tolls to fund the Elizabeth River Crossings, VDOT's P3 tunnels project.

November 4 - Bloomberg

Cities designed for one type of mobility - the car - result in residents impaired by multiple types of ailments. To create a happier and healthier city, the solution is to facilitate many ways of getting around, especially alternatives to the auto.

November 4 - The Guardian