The Daily Source of Urban Planning News

Cities struck by the foreclosure crisis are implementing a number of measures to help prevent foreclosures and stabilize neighborhoods already racked by vacancies.

May 5 - The Planning Report

<em>Grist</em> lists the top 15 green-leaning mayors in America.

May 5 - Grist

This segment form Oregon Public Broadcasting looks at the rise of wind farms in rural Oregon.

May 5 - Oregon Public Broadcasting

A documentary focusing on Portland's urban growth boundary begins airing this month on public television stations across the country. It includes interviews with proponents on all sides of the smart growth issue.

May 5 - PR Web

The stimulus package is jump-starting smart grid projects, says Jay Birnbaum, Senior Vice President of CURRENT Group.

May 5 - Focus Washington

Richard Florida compares the Obama administration's suggest HSR corridors to the mega-regions they will serve and likes what he sees.

May 5 - The Atlantic

Art 'on the scale of architecture' is cropping up in Los Angeles, enticing passing drivers out of their cars and onto the street. Chris Burden's 'Urban Light' installation at LACMA is a notable example.

May 5 - The New York Times

In terms of global urban livability, American cities are not so hot. The highest ranking city, Honolulu, comes in at 29 in the results of the Worldwide Quality of Living Survey.

May 5 - The Independent

The Town Council of Ealing, U.K. is experimenting with covering up its traffic lights at certain intersections, which they believe will increase safety and awareness.

May 4 - The Times of London

That was the title the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science & Transportation chose for a hearing on April 28. Panelists: Ray LaHood, DOT Secretary; Steve Heminger, MTC; Jame Corless, T4America; Ann Canby, STPP, and Ned Holmes, TX Transp. Comm.

May 4 - Streetsblog

The American Lung Association has failed 2/3rds of California's counties in a recent study of levels of smog and soot.

May 4 - San Jose Mercury News

Pricing road use by vehicle miles traveled (VMT) with higher fees for using congested roads could reduce travel time, claim researchers at Brookings.

May 4 - Brookings

In Boston for a conference, Mary Newsom reflects on the lessons that Sun Belt cities can take from historic cities like Cambridge to prepare for the future.

May 4 - The Charlotte Observer

BLOG POST

<p> I missed the APA national conference for the first time in 15 years -- but I quickly heard reports that one of the hot topics focused on banning electronic message boards.  I dissent. </p> <p> What would Times Square be without the colorful, multi-message, oft-changing signs?  Would Las Vegas have become the tourist definition that it has without the colorful signs?  I am not a huge fan of Las Vegas, but I certainly think it has the right to define itself as it wishes.   </p>

May 4 - Eric Damian Kelly

Infrastructure and technology are blending together, creating infrastructure and infrastructural management more responsive and intelligent.

May 4 - The New York Times

FEATURE

Planetizen has teamed up with <a href="http://www.nationaljournal.com/">National Journal</a>, a weekly politics and policy magazine, to explore transportation issues. As part of National Journal's <a href="http://transportation.nationaljournal.com/">Transportation Experts blog</a>, we've asked Planetizen Interchange bloggers and National Journal's Transportation Experts whether money from the Highway Trust Fund should be used for non-highway projects like bike lanes and pedestrian walkways.

May 4 - Planetizen

Anchorage, Alaska recently completed a citywide bicycle master plan. Despite the costs of the projects in the plan, this oped argues it's exactly the blueprint the city needs to put into action.

May 4 - Anchorage Daily News

A bill that passed the Oregon House last week directs TriMet to hire 'greeters' to work at light-rail stations.

May 4 - The Oregonian

Builders, architects and designers are increasingly looking to nature for guidance as they try to build greener and more sustainably.

May 4 - The Oregonian

Nine new sites have been selected by New York City's Department of Transportation for conversion into public plazas.

May 4 - Streetsblog