The Daily Source of Urban Planning News
CA Senate Approves HOT Lane Legislation
The CA Senate voted to approve the HOT lane/transit investment plan of the LA MTA for two freeways, making LA eligible for $210 million in federal congestion pricing funds if the governor signs the bill.
'Collision Course' for Toronto's Competing Transportation Plans?
The City of Toronto and Ontario's transportation agency Metrolinx are offering competing long term transportation plans for the Toronto region.
BLOG POST
The Accidental Planner
I clearly remember the day that I received a call from MIT faculty notifying me of my acceptance into the Master of City Planning (MCP) program. I could not believe that a department within the illustrious MIT (and I do not say that facetiously), the epitomic bastion of computer geeks, rocket scientists and the like selected me for its MCP program. Moreover, the path that led me to that moment was somewhat accidental. My interest in urban planning, though earnest and fervent today, was not grounded in even the slightest exposure to urban planning or urban design in my pre-MIT life. <br />
The Printable Home
Engineers at USC have developed a new technique for '3-D printing' houses.
Hong Kong Sprawls Into the Ocean
One man's personal quest to save the beauty of Hong Kong's Victoria Harbor from rampant development.
School Closures Hurting Canadian Communities
Its birth rate declining, Canada is facing an unprecedented drop in school enrollments, leading to a wave of closures.
A Big Idea: Solar-Powered Cargo Ships
Toyota has hired two firms to build solar panels to augment the diesel engines on their car-carrying behemoths. The result will be a cut in CO2 emissions of 1 to 2 percent per year, or about 20 tons.
Community Participation Shapes Katrina Recovery
Steven Bingler of Concordia Planning and Architecture discusses the process and thinking behind the Unified New Orleans Plan, which engaged large numbers of citizens to plan the recovery of their neighborhoods in the wake of Hurricane Katrina.
FEATURE
The Black Cloud: Using Games to Understand Air Quality
Human behavior and land use affect air quality, and those effects are very distinct at the local level. A new environmental game fusing public participation, air quality sensors and web technology shows how.
The Middle East's 'Urban Prison'
In this article from <em>Progressive Planning</em>, Tom Angotti looks at Gaza and the land use regulations that have imposed an "urban apartheid".
The Quest for the Perfect City
The director of the Design Museum in London reflects on the mostly unfortunate quest for perfection in city planning and architecture, as the museum's new exhibit, <em>Design Cities,</em> opens.
China Takes Bus Rapid Transit Seriously
China is investing in complete Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) systems in cities from Beijing to Kunming.
Can Land Trusts Keep Housing Affordable?
At a time of extreme housing market volatility, community land trusts are seen as a more sustainable form of tenure.
Architect Says 'Stop Planning For Cars'
Columnist and architect Arrol Gelner comes to grips with the end of the automobile era.
The Disappearing American Barn
Historic barns are disappearing across the country, along with the way of life they represent. But a growing number of towns and citizen groups are working to preserve them.
Housing Discrimination Adding to Post-Katrina Hardships
People of color are finding it more and more difficult to secure housing in New Orleans, as new and old forms of housing discrimination -- and overt racism -- are conspiring to keep them out.
Instant Cities in the Persian Gulf
Rami Khouri of the Issam Fares Institute for Public Policy and International Affairs notes the unprecedented phenomenon of the "instant" cities of the Persian Gulf which, for all their wealth, lack civil societies.
Forget Everything You've Learned
Bill Thompson of the ASLA reports on a public space in Silver Spring, Maryland that upends everything landscape architects and planners think they know about what makes a successful public space.
New York Full of Possibility for Green Roofs
The Governor of New York recently signed off on tax abatements for developers who install green roofs
Gas at 87-Cents a Gallon? Yes, But it's GAS!
Utah appears to be just what Texas oilman, T. Boone Pickens, had in mind with his new energy plan that calls for widespread use of natural gas to replace gasoline and diesel, even though only one vehicle is manufactured to run on it.
planning NEXT
Appalachian Highlands Housing Partners
Mpact (founded as Rail~Volution)
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
City of Portland
City of Laramie
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.
