The Daily Source of Urban Planning News

Turning Abandoned Railways To Greenspace In Indiana

<p>The state of Indiana has announced plans to purchase more than 150 miles of abandoned railways, much of which is slated to become greenspace.</p>

December 5 - The Indianapolis Star

Bikes on Trains: The Downside Of A Popular Program

<p>Caltrain's bicycle program has proven so popular that bike riders are regularly 'bumped', i.e they are left at the platform because the bike capacity has been reached, and relief doesn't appear to be forthcoming.</p>

December 5 - Palo Alto Daily News

Heat Islands or Hot Air?

<p>Sprawlmeisters take warning, advises Rob Steuteville's red-sky-at-night commentary from <em>New Urban News</em>. Your days of high pressure spin are numbered.</p>

December 5 - New Urban News

Eminent Domain In The Spotlight

<p>With the recent multi-million dollar settlement over a Connecticut town's abuse of eminent domain, the land acquisition practice is facing increasing scrutiny nationwide.</p>

December 5 - The New York Times

BLOG POST

Vancouver's EcoDensity Initiative Takes Next Step

<p> <span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial"> </span><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial">In an earlier post, I wrote about how the EcoDensity Initiative here in Vancouver has been transforming the public dialogue about density<span style="color: blue"> ( <a href="/node/25399">http://www.planetizen.com/node/25399</a> ). </span>Since then, over autumn, the conversations have intensified, with Vancouverites from all perspectives weighing in. Just Google &quot;ecodensity&quot; for a flavour of what’s being written, in media, articles, and blogs, etc. The community is very aware and engaged in this important initiative, and that’s a great thing.</span><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial; color: blue"> </span> </p>

December 5 - Brent Toderian


TOD Should Not Be Transit Agency's Business

<p>This editorial from the <em>Rocky Mountain News</em> argues that the Denver-area Regional Transportation District needs to stay true to its promise that it will not use eminent domain to acquire land for transit oriented development.</p>

December 5 - The Rocky Mountain News

Criticism Causes San Diego Politicians To Rethink Plan

<p>California Attorney General Jerry Brown's criticism of San Diego's regional transportation plan has some politicians in the area considering a major revision of the region's smart growth strategy.</p>

December 5 - The North County Times


After City Inaction, Philadelphia Casino Construction Approved By Court

Calling out the Philadelphia City Council for "deliberate inaction" on a casino developer's zoning requests, the state Supreme Court has overstepped the city authority to approve the casino's construction.

December 5 - The Philadelphia Inquirer

Project Approved Under Measure 37 To Test Measure 49

<p>A subdivision project enabled by Oregon's Measure 37 and already under development when the state's voter passed the counteractive Measure 49 in November may be allowed to continue, raising questions about how to interpret to competing measures.</p>

December 5 - The Oregonian

Mobility More Of A Concern As Boomers Age

<p>Access to transportation for the elderly is of increasing concern as baby boomers approach retirement. Though the problem is major, many communities already have some programs in place to improve mobility for seniors.</p>

December 5 - USA Today

Your Land Is Now My Land: The Doctrine of Adverse Possession

<p>Squatters' rights dispute in Colorado causes public outrage.</p>

December 4 - The Los Angeles Times

Can America's Passenger Rail System Ever Catch Up?

<p>As Europe and Asia invest in high-speed rail, the U.S. continues to play politics with Amtrak -- leaving customers unhappy and taxpayers footing the bill.</p>

December 4 - The Washington Post

Exploring Boston's New Public Space

<p>A Boston Globe correspondent takes a walk along the still unfinished Rose Fitzgerald Kennedy Greenway that has replaced the I-93 freeway.</p>

December 4 - The Boston Globe

The Most Walkable Cities In America

<p>A new report from the Brookings Institution ranks the 30 largest U.S. metro areas according to the number of walkable places per capita.</p>

December 4 - The Houston Chronicle

How To Reduce Greenhouse Gases At Low Cost

<p>Study finds U.S. "brimming" with opportunities for reducing greenhouse gas emissions while saving money with small innovations and modest cost.</p>

December 4 - The New York Times

Greening Up The Airport

<p>As one of the most notorious polluters of greenhouse gas emissions, airplanes and airports are increasingly being called on to green their operations. This interview from <em>VerdeXchange News</em> looks at some efforts being made in Los Angeles.</p>

December 4 - VerdeXchange News

TDRs Making Preservation Possible In New Jersey

<p>In the southern New Jersey community of Chesterfield, a state-sponsored transfer of development rights program is proving successful at preserving the historic character of the small town.</p>

December 4 - The New York Times

Easier To Love A Streetcar Than A Light Rail

<p>The engineering jargon name "light rail" is just not lovable. Maybe that's why the more familiar streetcar is gathering support in cities across the country, writes Alex Marshall in this column from <em>Governing</em>.</p>

December 4 - Governing

Incentive To Recycling Saves Landfill Space

<p>A recycling incentive program that awards households based on the amount of material they recycle has doubled the recycling rate in one city after just one week.</p>

December 4 - Environmental News Network

Ciclovía: A Moving Experience in Bogotá, Colombia

<p>Every Sunday from 7am to 2pm, up to 2 million residents of Bogotá, Colombia enjoy over 70 miles of car-free streets. The event is called Ciclovía. StreetFilms brings you along for the ride.</p>

December 4 - Streetsblog

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