The Daily Source of Urban Planning News
Getting Off Oil Without the 'C' Word
Amory Lovins, co-founder and chairman of Rocky Mountain Institute, believes that governments and the private sector need to identify and remove barriers to energy efficiency, rather than simply promoting "conservation."
Zoning Out Bikini Car Washes
San Antonio's city council attempts to make it harder for bikini carwashes to attract oglers by forcing them to accept a new zoning category.
Feds To Allow Rail Between D.C. and Airport
Federal officials have reversed their earlier decision and are now pushing for the extension of Washington D.C.-area metro rail to Dulles International Airport -- a plan that's been in the works for nearly 40 years.
Friday Funny: Eulogy for the Hummer
A victim of soaring gas prices, a slumping economy and a changing public consciousness, the Hummer appears headed for extinction.
Urban Design Studio To Transform Glendale
Glendale, California, has recently established an Urban Design Studio within its planning department to help developers create more appropriate, aesthetically appealing projects.
Economic Crunch Puts Toronto's Blue Boxes in Red
The current economic downturn has meant a drop in commodity prices, including for recycled materials. Now Toronto is facing the prospect of warehousing their collected recycleables until the market improves.
Draft EIR on SF's Bike Plan Released
A court order prohibits new bicycle infrastructure in San Francisco, but its Municipal Transportation Agency and Planning Department have crafted a 1,353-page Draft Environmental Impact Report to make a case against it.
Obama Reaches Out to Governors for Infrastructure Funding Support
Presdient-elect Obama addressed the nation's governors at a meeting of the National Governors Association on Tuesday, building solidarity between officials at the state and federal levels for an infrastructure-based stimulus package.
Rural Town Brings in Students for Preliminary Planning
Middlebury College students have been commissioned to simply get to know Starksboro, Vermont for a semester. The hope is that their findings will help develop a plan that embraces growth while upholding the things unique to the small town.
UNESCO on UK's Back for Indadequate Preservation
UNESCO's World Heritage Committee has issued the UK a warning that it must start doing a better job of preserving its heritage sites. A number of development projects have gotten the green light without any consultation from the committee.
Cemetery Moved For Landfill?
Elected officials in the Atlanta area decide to relocate a historic cemetery to make room for a landfill. NAACP officials believe the relocation fits a pattern of racial discrimination.
The Budget and Billy the Elephant
Los Angeles' budget shortfall could mean sending its zoo's only elephant to a Northern California sanctuary. Over time, funding for city services are also predicted to get slashed.
The Urban Shortcomings of 'L.A. Live'
L.A. Live, the city's new megadevelopment, does little to engage the growing downtown area and ends up being little more than another separate commercial enclave in a city desperately needing closely-knit urbanism, according to Christopher Hawthorne.
MTA Stimulus Plan Announced
Relatively modest fair hikes, in places where fares previously did and did not exist, and a regional mobility tax are a part of the plan to rescue the Metropolitan Transportation Agency from further debt.
City Tackles Coyotes
Austin officials are wrestling with how to confront coyotes encroaching on suburban and urban neighborhoods.
Chicago Privatizes Parking
For $1.16 billion, Chicago Parking Meters LLC, has won the rights to manage Chicago's parking meters. This is one step the city has taken to ease budget shortfalls.
Hawaii is Game for Electric Cars
The state is on board for a new plan that involves building an electric vehicle transportation system, complete with a slew of web-based battery recharging stations.
Relaxing Sign Rules
The city of San Angelo, Texas bucks a regional trend towards stricter regulations for signs used as advertising.
This Season, Some Light Displays Sacrificed
Around the country, cities have been forced to scrimp by cutting back on holiday-themed light displays.
New Bridge Tolls and Payroll Tax Proposed For NYC Transit
A rescue package for New York’s debt-ridden M.T.A. includes two new revenue generators: first-ever tolls for the East and Harlem River bridges, and a 12-county, corporate payroll tax, to supplement fare and toll increases and transit service cuts.
City of Moorpark
City of Tustin
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
Transportation Research & Education Center (TREC) at Portland State University
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.
