The Daily Source of Urban Planning News
Roads On Sale
As business slows down, road construction contractors are slashing their prices. They're offering lower bids to states across the country for road work, leading many transportation officials to foresee more work able to be funded by the stimulus.
Growth Estimates Predict 300,000 More Households in Portland Region by 2030
Population estimates mean that the Portland region will need about 300,000 additional homes by 2030. Where they should all go is up for debate.
Replacing Kyoto
This report from <em>KQED</em> radio looks at efforts to craft a replacement for the Kyoto Protocols.
Insufficient Funding for High Speed Rail?
The stimulus plan includes $8 billion for investments in high-speed rail, but some critics point out that this isn't nearly enough to bring these plans to fruition.
A Blueprint For Making Cities Efficient, Sustainable And Livable
Nicolai Ouroussoff, architecture critic for The New York Times, argues that the time is right for a new vision of rebirth for America's ailing cities. He applies this new vision to the challenges of New Orleans, Los Angeles, the Bronx, and Buffalo.
Small Gardens Have Room to Grow
Small farms are getting some attention from the Obama Administration, but what's still holding them back is the proper infrastructure, according to this piece from <em>Citiwire</em>.
One City, Two New Stadia
Paul Goldberger looks at the two new baseball stadia opening in New York this Spring.
The Work of Historical Ecology
This piece from the <em>San Francisco Chronicle</em> takes readers inside the world of a historical ecologists -- one who tries to document what landscapes used to be and how they've evolved over time.
Despite Drama, Signs Can Have a Role in L.A.
L.A. is boiling with billboard drama right now. <em>Los Angeles Times</em> architecture critic Christopher Hawthorne looks at the debate and argues that signage can have a positive role in the urban landscape.
Ports Weather Recession as Investments Pour In
The entire country is in recession, but the nation's ports are experiencing a flood of interest from investors, according to this article from <em>Reason</em>.
BLOG POST
Whither the Regional Planning?
Over a year ago <a href="/node/28197" target="_blank">I blogged about</a> a conference of urban historians where the group debated a talk, titled "Whither the Region?," where historian Greg Hise observed the group was talking about regional history less. In my response, I suggested several causes: limited decision-making at the regional level in America, center city biases among historical sources like newspapers, and metropolitan areas growing to encompass entire regions due to urban sprawl. I also observed that although it may go <em>unstudied</em> by the group, a good number of regional planning organizations and agencies do exist.<br />
Brookings to Congress: Integrate Housing and Transportation Planning
In this testimonial to Congress, the Brookings Institution's Robert Puentes argues that housing and transportation are irreversibly linked and that, in the face of the current recession, more integrated planning is needed.
Water Problems Call for Action from Obama
Global water shortages are an issue the Obama Administration will need to address, according to this piece from <em>Citiwire</em>.
Without Rail, Sydney Will Fall Behind Global Cities
Without a proper light rail system, Sydney will get left behind as other global cities progress into a diverse transit future, according to planning expert Peter Newman.
Smart Grid Not As Complicated As Some Say
The smart grid is not as hard to define as some have suggested. Jesse Berst, managing director of Global Smart Energy says making it work will be tough, but it's really just a matter of coordinating three crucial aspects, according to Worldchanging.
New York City: Light it Right
What light is right? How much is too much? These questions don't typically get asked in cities, as they simply rely on what they've always done. But now the Municipal Art Society in New York is bringing these issues to the table.
BLOG POST
Traveling beyond LOS (By foot? On a bike?)
<p> Let me start with a disclaimer: I am not a transportation planner. At the points where transportation planning shares borders with engineering, I tend to zone out and start doodling in the margins. I do, however, have a lifelong interest in transportation, which is why I share the excitement of some of my more transportation-focused colleagues about potential changes in how California measures transportation impacts of projects. </p>
TOD Districts Approved in Honolulu
Honolulu Mayor Mufi Hannemann has signed a law that allows for the creation of transit oriented districts around the city's recently approved regional train system.
Facing Climate Change, U.N. To Propose Major Economic Reforms
In response to the widening threat of climate change, the United Nations will release a note of suggestions that propose a dramatic change in global economic relations, tarriffs, and taxes, according to this piece from <em>Fox News</em>.
Starting Up Small
Though typically centered in bigger cities, this piece from Business Week looks at the best small cities to locate startup businesses in every state.
New York City School Construction Authority
Village of Glen Ellyn
Central Transportation Planning Staff/Boston Region MPO
Chaddick Institute at DePaul University
Institute for Housing and Urban Development Studies (IHS)
City of Grandview
Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada
Toledo-Lucas County Plan Commissions
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.
