The Daily Source of Urban Planning News

Brightline

Brightline Unveils New Orlando Train Station; Service Coming in May

Intercity rail service will soon be available between Miami and Orlando.

April 25 - Click Orlando

 Red brick homes with blooming wisteria in foreground in Arlington, Virginia

Lawsuit Challenges Arlington County Zoning Reforms

A lawsuit brought by residents charges the county with failing to follow statutory procedures and provide accurate information about recently passed ‘missing middle housing’ reforms.

April 25 - The Washington Post

A sign near Dupont Circle gives directions to Florida Avenue and Connecticut Avenue, which are both major roads in the city.

D.C. Rolls Back Connecticut Avenue Bike Lane Plan

After receiving complaints about parking loss and loading zone access, the city will consider revisions to a plan to make Connecticut Avenue safer for people on bikes, pedestrians, and transit users.

April 25 - The Washington Post

Rainbow painted crosswalk next to green painted bike lane on Seattle, Washington street

Poorly Timed Arrival for Seattle’s Long-Awaited Transportation Fee

A proposed transportation impact fee, years in the making, is stirring a controversy at a time of declining permitting and construction activity in the city of Seattle.

April 24 - The Urbanist

View from below of orange tethered hot-air balloon floating in blue sky

New Vision for Southern California’s Great Park

The newly unveiled comprehensive plan includes a botanical garden, museums, and a 22-acre lake system.

April 24 - The Architect's Newspaper


Aerial view at dusk of downtown Austin, Texas with river in foreground

New Zoning Category Proposed in Austin

The ‘town zoning’ category would create more flexibility and encourage developers to build more affordable, transit-oriented housing.

April 24 - Austin Business Journal

Seattle Apartments

Cities Need More Family-Oriented Housing

For many young families, it’s simply impossible to find affordable housing in cities, leading them to the suburbs not by choice, but by necessity.

April 24 - Vox


GIS map of Yosemite National Park

The Growing Importance of Location Intelligence

Location intelligence is transforming decision-making, with an increasing number and type of organizations modernizing operations with a geographic approach to problem-solving, planning, and prediction.

April 24 - ESRI, Inc.

Pile of Lego bricks lined up by color

LEGO Building Carbon-Neutral Factory in Virginia

The Denmark-based toy company just broke ground on a new carbon-neutral run factory in Chesterfield County near Richmond, Virginia.

April 24 - The Construction Specifier

A rendering of the Beltline Streetcar running on a grassy field (with rail tracks) next to a walking and biking path.

Atlanta Streetcar Expansion Still Moving Forward

MARTA has drastically reduced its plans to construct new rail transit, but one project still has political support from the top at City Hall.

April 24 - SaportaReport

Restored white two-story historic home with black trim in Roanoke, Virginia

FEATURE

Restoring the Vacant Middle: Creating Middle Housing Through Historic Preservation

How flexible zoning in historic districts can support preservation and create affordable housing.

April 24 - Maribeth Mills

Man riding cargo bike with large front carrier

Cargo Bikes: A Smart, Sustainable Choice for Urban Transport

Five reasons why cargo bikes are the ‘future of urban transportation.’

April 23 - Momentum Magazine

View of cars on Oklahoma road with green signs signaling tolls ahead

Oklahoma Turnpike Authority Halts $15 Billion Project

After a legal ruling favored resident groups who charged the OTA with illegal practices and a lack of transparency, the authority ordered all work on a major turnpike expansion stopped.

April 23 - Strong Towns

Aerial view of sprawling commercial development with parts still under construction and parking lot in Goodyear, Arizona

FEATURE

The Tragedy of Parking

Parking minimums and other zoning laws have made American cities untenable for any other type of transportation. It’s time we find a new way to zone our cities.

April 23 - Eric Carlson

Bus Service

SEPTA Launches On-Demand Transit

The service will expand SEPTA bus service to the Philadelphia suburbs.

April 23 - NBC Philadelphia

Nighttime view of the last Southern Pacific Lark overnight train leaving Los Angeles Union Station on April 8, 1968

Startup Proposes L.A.-to-San Francisco Night Train

The privately operated train would use existing tracks to provide overnight service.

April 21 - SFGate

Renewable Energy

Major Wind Power Transmission Line Approved by BLM

The new power line will connect the nation’s largest onshore wind project to southwestern states.

April 21 - Grist

Gainesville, Florida skyline with tall water tower against cloudy sunset sky

Gainesville Reverses Zoning Reforms, Reinstates Single-Family Zoning

The Florida city will be the first in the country to rescing zoning changes that would have created opportunities for a wider variety of housing options in residential neighborhoods.

April 21 - WUFT

Proposed map of new D.C. bus system redesign

D.C. Unveils Proposed Bus Network Redesign

The plan includes 24-hour service and expanded bus lines, but Metro has to fill a large budget gap before it can be fully implemented.

April 21 - DCist

Coronado

Coronado Openly Flouts California Housing Law

The affluent island town has failed to submit a housing element that meets the state’s requirements for affordable housing production.

April 20 - Los Angeles Times

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