The Daily Source of Urban Planning News
U.S. Armed Forces Predicting Peak Oil
Surplus oil production capacity could go away in the next two years and shortages could get serious by 2015, says a new report from the U.S. Joint Forces.
The Perfect Neighborhood
What makes a model neighborhood? GOOD Magazine devotes an issue to the topic, beginning with a list of traits that make a neighborhood great.
High-Density Development Nixed in Ann Arbor
In Ann Arbor, Michigan, a high-density, 62 unit apartment complex was approved 6-4 by the city council, but a local law requires a supermajority to pass if members of the public file an 'opposition petition.'
Smart Parking
A comparison of Brainerd, Minnesota's downtown parking and that of the planned town of Celebration, Florida shows what a big difference a parking plan can make.
How to Solve America's Water Crisis
Robert Glennon, author of the new book "Unquenchable" outlines the nature of America's emerging water crisis, and how ending water subsidies could encourage efficiencies and conservation.
Turning an Aging Train Station Into a TOD Hub
Wyandanch, in Babylon, NY is using an old asset to become new urban.
BRT Hits the Las Vegas Strip
Last Thursday, Las Vegas broke ground on the ACE Green Line, a new BRT corridor that will connect downtown Las Vegas and Henderson.
Parity for Bicycles Criticized
Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood's announcement that federal transportation policy will give parity to bicycling and walking is being criticized by some conservatives and industries dependent on trucking.
Conservation Efforts Straining Water Infrastructure
Water conservation efforts that limited when Los Angeles County residents could water their lawns may have caused a spate of water main bursts last summer and fall.
Transportation Technologies and Expectations
The optimal transportation systems of the future will not be the result of utopian reinvention, but of incremental technological revolutions, opines Michael Schrage.
Radical Growth Management
Who should pay for growth? In the crunchy enclave of Bolinas California, newcomers pay a steep entrance fee. Fair or not, it's a good anecdote to share among planners and budget analysts.
Indianapolis Gets Urban
In the 1970s, civic leaders articulated a vision for Indianapolis that included a new public university, sports venues and a riverfront park. Their vision is now reality. Steven Litt reports on the successes and failures of the plan.
Underground Business District
<em>The Atlantic</em> guides a tour through the underground business zone of SubTropolis, a 5-million-square-foot complex 100 feet below Kansas City, Missouri.
Does New York's PlaNYC 2030 Need Community Participation?
In this commentary, Tom Angotti questions if New York's sustainability plan can be effective if the process remains remains top-down and Mayor-controlled.
Streetcar Coming to Detroit, But Locals Call for Broader BRT
Funding seems locked for a planned streetcar line in Detroit, but some locals argue that what the metro region really needs is a wider-reaching bus rapid transit system. <em>The Transport Politic</em> profiles the proposals.
The Design Behind St. Louis' Downtown Park
<em>Landscape Architecture</em> Magazine looks at the design behind the new downtown art park in St. Louis and calls it a "hybrid oasis" in the city.
BLOG POST
Healthy Community Planning - What's It Worth?
<p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt" class="MsoNormal"> <span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small">We live in a wonderful age! Scientists have proven that many simple, affordable, and often enjoyable activities make us healthier and happier: breath fresh air, avoid dangerous driving, be physically active, eat fresh fruits and vegetables, maintain friendships, play games, and avoid excessive stress. Even chocolate, red wine and sex are perscribed, in moderation, for health sake. </span> </p>
Dublin's Bike Sharing System Finding Early Success
A new bike sharing system in Dublin is turning out to be a surprise success in the Irish city.
Recognizing and Addressing Safety Issues for Women in Cities
Safety is a major concern for the world's women on a day-to-day basis. From riding the bus to walking at night, if women don't feel safe, they won't do it. Cities need to take a more active role in addressing this challenge, according to this post.
FEATURE
The Agora from Athens to Atlanta: Public Space as Marketplace, Park and Center of Urban Life
The popularity of the agora, or central marketplace, has waxed and waned throughout the centuries. Park designer Richard Light looks back at the history and meaning of the agora from Ancient Greece to today.
One Hundred Miles
County of Mendocino
planning NEXT
The Architects Foundation
University of Cincinnati Online
Montrose County
Northern Illinois Transit Authority (NITA)
The Pocatello Development Authority
FREE Course: Walkable City 1: Why Walkability?
After describing his path towards focusing on walkability as the essence of good planning, Jeff Speck marches through his five principal reasons for making more walkable places.
Reinventing Malls: Planning Alchemy—Turning Gray Fields Into Gold
The course focuses on the opportunities and imperatives that shape reinvention of mall sites.
