The Daily Source of Urban Planning News
Is A London 'Tech City' Viable?
British Prime Minister David Cameron wants to build a Silicon Valley-like "tech city" at the site of the 2012 Summer Olympics. But some question whether his plan can work.
Abandonment and Opportunity in Rural Areas
As the world's population urbanizes, rural areas are being abandoned. But they don't have to sit empty and unused, according to this piece from <em>GOOD</em>.
BLOG POST
How Would MLK, Jesus or Che Plan?
<p style="margin-top: 6pt" class="MsoNormal">I spent last week at the <a href="http://www.adb.org/">Asian Development Bank</a> (ADB) headquarters in Manila, in the Philippines, where we are starting on an exciting but humbling project: developing a more comprehensive framework for transport project evaluation. Among other factors, this project will develop better methods for incorporating <a href="http://www.vtpi.org/equity.pdf">social equity</a> impacts into transport planning. This is important in any community, and particularly in developing countries where many people are extremely poor. What transport policies and planning practices respond to their needs?</p>
BLOG POST
Internet Presence for Job Candidates
<p><span><span style="font-size: small"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'">The internet has great potential as a means of professional marketing for many soon-to-be and recent graduates. Not everyone in planning, however, uses it well. The following tips aim to help you realize its potential and avoid its pitfalls.</span></span></span><span><span style="font-size: small; font-family: 'Times New Roman'"> </span></span> </p>
Fake Park, Real Impact
An art gallery in New York City currently has an installation called Park Here, which is an indoor parkspace made up of fake grass, trees and sunlight.
Hybrid Batteries for Boats and Ferries in the Works
Hybrid technology for marine transportation is a growing industry, as startup business in New Brunswick, Canada attests.
Delhi Expands Metro System
A new 20-km metro line has just been completed in Delhi, India.
The 'Encyclodictionary" of Planning
The Language of Towns & Cities: A Visual Dictionary, by Dhiru A. Thadani is a doorstopper of a book. Philip Langdon looks at this giant guide to New Urbanist ideas.
FEATURE
A Night At Arcosanti
Making Transit More Social
Quiet cars are spreading to subways and trains across the country. But what about conversation cars, for people who WANT to talk? Alex Marshall says cars for socializing would be great for creating community.
Transit Could Decide Chicago Mayor's Race
Columnist Jon Hilkevitch writes that a new public-opinion poll on mass-transit issues found that the Chicagoans care deeply about them. Though the candidates haven't taken sides yet, it could be a deciding factor.
Sushi from Walgreens?
The New York Times reports that retailers more used to selling aspirin and greeting cards are now offering more elaborate grocery options.
Historic Preservation Funding in Danger
Part of a new proposal to cut billions from the federal budget includes eliminating the historic preservation programs Save America's Treasures and Preserve America.
Ray LaHood Responds To High-Speed Rail Critics
DOT Secretary Ray LaHood responds to a Washington Post editorial that condemned not only the California High Speed Rail project, but President Obama's vision for a national high-speed rail network.
Technology & Fuels Are Key To Reducing Transportation Climate Impacts
A second Pew Center report on transportation and climate change has been released. It places most emphasis on vehicle technology and fuel, less on transit and smart growth. However, urban planners should note that pricing policies are stressed.
Booze Ads on Buses
The Council of Edmonton, Alberta is considering allowing liquor advertisements on their buses, which a report estimates could bring in an extra $1 million in revenue.
The Problem With China's High-Speed Rail
Patrick Chovanec, an economics professor in Beijing, explains that the majority of Chinese have more time and less money, so prefer slower, cheaper modes of travel than the new, expensive bullet trains.
DC Streetcars to Be a Shot in the Arm
It was nearly 50 years ago, when streetcars were seen on the roadways of downtown Washington, DC. Dan Tangherlini, the former transportation director for the District discusses why streetcars matter in the United States capital.
Where is the Coverage of Landscape Architecture?
Charles A. Birnbaum bemoans the lack of quality journalism covering landscape architecture, which often gets overshadowed by architecture criticism and shunted into the Home & Garden section of the paper.
Superstreets To The Rescue
Randal O'Toole points to a thesis paper that proposes a new approach to traffic flow at major intersections.
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.
