The Daily Source of Urban Planning News
The World's Water-Smart Cities
This collection of city profiles looks at cities around the world that are making major improvements to the way they handle and provide water.
The New Terrorist Threat: Bike Lanes
Jess Zimmerman, writing for Grist, takes a look at the absurdly overheated rhetoric coming out of New York concerning that city's new bikelanes.
Car Ban Proposed in Central Park
A lawmaker in New York has introduced a plan to ban cars from Central Park and Prospect Park.
Combating Gas Prices with Transit and Urban Design
As gas prices rise, more voices are calling for increased investments in transit and more multi-modal city planning.
Reusing Empty Office Space
Through a rule that allows landlords to financially benefit from allowing charities and non-profits to use their spaces, empty office buildings in the UK are being utilized by groups for a variety of projects, including an art exhibition.
Cities Losing Black Populations
Cities with high populations of black Americans are losing them, according to figures form the U.S. Census Bureau.
BLOG POST
A War On Cars? Let There Be Peace!
<p class="MsoNormal">Our job as planners is ultimately to <a href="http://www.vtpi.org/tdm/tdm114.htm">manage change</a>, which is often fun but occasionally ugly. A good example is a current debate over a supposed <a href="http://daily.sightline.org/daily_score/archive/2011/01/03/war-on-cars-a-history">“war against the car.”</a> </p>
Streetcar Success in New Orleans
The experience of rebuilding a streetcar line in New Orleans and the subsequent neighborhood growth that followed offers lessons to other cities considering streetcar plans, according to this piece from <em>Architect Magazine</em>.
Lagos to Expand Bus Rapid Transit System
Lagos, Nigeria's bus rapid transit (BRT) system, established in 2008, will expand its services more than 13 miles from Oshodi to Ikorodu, announced Dr. Dayo Mobereola, the managing director of Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority (LAMATA).
24 Hrs. In Terrible Traffic
Data from mobile app Waze is used to create a visualization of the throbbing, insistent pulsing of Los Angeles traffic.
Environmental Justice Advocates Deal Major Setback To AB 32
Environmental justice advocates have been able to do in court what oil companies unsuccessfully attempted at the polls in November: deal a severe blow, if only temporarily, to CA's landmark climate law AB 32 by challenging the cap & trade provision.
Detroit Census Confirms Unprecedented Desertion
Detroit's population plunged by 25% over the last decade, according to census figures - the largest decline of any major city in American history.
New York's Zoning Needs An Update
On the 50th Anniversary of New York City's 1961 Zoning Resolution, President of the Municipal Art Society of New York Vin Cipolla argues that New York "needs a new zoning resolution for a new era."
Making Retail Work in TODs
Built around a BART station in 1999, Oakland, California's Fruitvale Village has had a tough time keeping its retail space alive (as have many TODs). The property managers have learned some lessons over the years about how to overcome the challenges.
FHWA Approves Contraflow Bike Lanes
The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) confirmed contraflow bike lanes with proper signage and pavement markings as permissible under the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD).
More Techno-Travelers on Transit - Unless It's Crowded
The Chaddick Institute for Metropolitan Development made over 16,000 observations of portable tech usage on airplains, trains, and buses. Their findings show that there is a increase of tech use on transit, but usage is reliant on users having space.
Interactive Map Tracks Growth of Manhattan Grid
This interactive map from <em>The New York Times</em> overlays historic maps with modern-day maps of the city, and shows how the city and its street grid has developed.
Traffic Plan Offers Potential for Downtown Cleveland
Traffic plans for a new casino in downtown Cleveland could create a major improvement for the neighborhood -- or an indelible sore spot.
London Approves Aerial Tram Over River
An aerial gondola system will be built over the Thames River in London ahead of the 2012 Summer Olympics.
Physically Modeling and Understanding Floods in the U.S.
Despite efforts to stop them, floods hammered the U.S. in the early 20th century. A now abandoned model of the Mississippi river, its tributaries and surrounding lands was built to better understand how to combat those floods.
Smith Gee Studio
City of Charlotte
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
Transportation Research & Education Center (TREC) at Portland State University
US High Speed Rail Association
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
Municipality of Princeton (NJ)
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.
