The Daily Source of Urban Planning News

Atlanta Plans for Transit Hub While Ridership Tumbles

Despite falling ridership numbers on the region's public transit system (bucking the nationwide trend), the Georgia Department of Transportation is studying options for building a multi-modal transit hub in downtown Atlanta.

April 2 - The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

6 Keys to a Better Life in L.A. - On Foot

Traversing Los Angeles without a car can be a pain compared to cities like New York or Boston. But avowed "foot soldier" Alissa Walker offers 6 simple ways to live a healthier, happier, and wealthier life in Los Angeles simply by ditching the car.

April 2 - Los Angeles Magazine

Vision for Chicago Riverwalk Set to Get Big Check from Feds

An ambitious vision for transforming a six-block segment of the Chicago River into six themed recreation areas looks almost certain to become a reality now that Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood has promised the project a $100 million federal loan.

April 2 - Chi.Streetsblog

Chinese Cities Take Steps to Tame the Housing Dragon

According to Michael Pettis, who teaches finance at the University of Beijing and is a senior associate at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, China "is awash in cash and credit," stoking fears of an out of control housing bubble.

April 2 - The New York Times

In Bloomberg, NYC Preservationists Find a Friend

During Michael Bloomberg's time in office, New York City has protected more historic sites than under any of his predecessors. The 41 new or expanded historic districts have developers fuming over what they see as planning overreach.

April 2 - The Wall Street Journal


Transportation Secretary on Spending Binge Before Leaving Office

Bus rapid transit projects, separated bike lanes and a collection of streetcar systems are being unexpectedly funded by outgoing Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood, who's relishing his final days in office with an unprecedented spending spree.

April 1 - Planetizen April 1st Edition

Broken Traffic Light

IBM Toughs Destroy Cleveland's Traffic Lights After City Pirates Smart City Technology

The tech giant discovered an illegally obtained version of its smart city application running in the beleaguered Ohio city, optimizing traffic signals. IBM's Enforcement Division responded immediately.

April 1 - Planetizen April 1st Edition


Crumbled Skyscrapers Found Floating in Chinese River

Just days after the carcasses of thousands of dead pigs were found floating down two different rivers in China, residents along the banks of the Pearl River are reporting huge chunks of crumbled skyscrapers floating downstream.

April 1 - Planetizen April 1st Edition

Traffic Jam in Bangkok

New Study Finds Asthmatic Children Cause Inner City Traffic Congestion

In the face of countless scientific studies showing that areas with large amounts of car congestion can lead to higher rates of asthma in children, a new study finds the correlation to be flipped: asthmatic kids are creating congestion in cities.

April 1 - Planetizen April 1st Edition

Hoping to Lure Natural Gas Industry Money, Pennsylvania Town Creates 'Fracking Zones'

Officials in the small town of Plainton, Pennsylvania are hoping that a new zoning designation and loosened permitting rules will convince energy companies to come search beneath their town for the new black gold: natural gas.

April 1 - Planetizen April 1st Edition

SimCity Imposes Congestion Pricing

Game developer Electronics Arts has implemented congestion pricing for playing the newly-released version of its popular city-building game SimCity.

April 1 - Planetizen April 1st Edition

Urban Issues Prioritized as Politicians' Children Come Out as City-Dwellers

In a week when the children of three separate members of congress revealed publicly that they are living in cities, lawmakers are shifting their ideologies about where federal resources should go and how to effectively target new policies.

April 1 - Planetizen April 1st Edition

APA Launches New Citizen Certification Program

Following the success of it's professional certification program called American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP), the American Planning Association (APA) has announced a certification program for selected citizens as well.

April 1 - Planetizen April 1st Edition

Pope Bus

Transit-Riding Pope Mothballs Popemobile, Opts for Pope Bus

Eschewing the opulence and excess of more recent pontiffs, the newly elected Pope Francis has decided to decommission the bullet-proof single-passenger Popemobile in favor of a Pope Bus.

April 1 - Planetizen April 1st Edition

Florida Concedes to Kotkin: 'You Were Right'

In a stunning turnaround, longtime advocate of the importance of urban economies Richard Florida has reversed his stance on the suburbs, finding them as economically essential and appealing as urban theorist Joel Kotkin always said they were.

April 1 - Planetizen April 1st Edition

Kotkin Concedes to Florida: 'You Were Right'

In a stunning turnaround, longtime sprawl apologist Joel Kotkin has reversed his stance on Richard Florida's "Creative Class" theory, finding it to be a true example of the way clusters of creative people can synergize and catalyze a vibrant economy.

April 1 - Planetizen April 1st Edition

IMF: Cut Subsidies to Cut Emissions

A new IMF report recommends cutting energy subsidies globally to reduce overall fossil fuel emissions, reports Brad Plumer.

March 31 - The Washington Post

Urban Careers

10 Hot Urban Careers

Cities are cool again! The increased interest in urban issues, and rapidly evolving technological landscape, have multiplied the ways in which professionals can create more livable places. Nicole Ferraro looks at ten such positions.

March 31 - Future Cities

Is a New Cobblestone a Better Cobblestone?

In Brooklyn's Dumbo neighborhood, NYCDOT is looking to replace the area's historic cobblestones with artificially aged new ones to improve accessibility and bike-friendliness. Preservationists and residents are aghast at the "phony urbanism."

March 31 - The New York Times

Is This America's Next Great Train Station?

Remember this past week when we asked where America's next generation of grand transit hubs would be built? It turns out one may be destined for San Francisco.

March 31 - Fast Company Co.Design

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