The Daily Source of Urban Planning News

Cities Take New Approach To Housing The Homeless

<p>Many American cities are looking to new ways of handling their homeless populations, including programs that provide assistance in renting permanent housing rather than pouring money into temporary shelters.</p>

August 21 - The Christian Science Monitor

Suburban Officials Try To Build Sidewalks Amid Local Opposition

<p>Facing residential opposition, city officials in suburban Minneapolis are having trouble getting sidewalks built in many neighborhoods. The residents argue that sidewalks are not needed in the suburbs.</p>

August 21 - Minneapolis-St. Paul Star Tribune

New Weight Tax Suggested To Repair American Roads & Bridges

<p>Columnist Neil Peirce writes on the need to address the road infrastructure crisis illustrated by the I-35W bridge collapse. Rather than boosting the federal gas tax, he advocates a 'Big New Tax' based on 'weight per wheel' of new vehicles.</p>

August 21 - Newport News, Va., Daily Press

Fewer Drivers Can Create Benefits For Local Economies

<p>A new report looks at how reducing the amount of driving can create sizable economic benefits for cities.</p>

August 21 - The Oregonian

Post-Katrina Revival In Jackson

<p>A flood of developments are rejuvenating downtown Jackson, Mississippi.</p>

August 21 - Architectural Record


UK Is Big Winner In New 'Carbon Market' Industry

<p>Great Britain has emerged as the center for the new ‘carbon market’ industry that will play a key role in providing the funds necessary to produce clean energy and fight global warming.</p>

August 20 - AP via San Mateo Daily Journal

Outsourcing City Hall

<p>Four unincorporated communities in Atlanta have become new cities...and outsourced neary all government services to private corporations.</p>

August 20 - The Los Angeles Times


Utopian Industrial City Becomes Model For Urban Disarray

<p>Planners intended Ciudad Guayana to be the "Pittsburgh of the tropics". Today, the city has lost its former prosperity and is grappling with a array of urban epidemics.</p>

August 20 - The New York Times

BLOG POST

'Civic Theater' at Its Best

<font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman">Like many others, I tuned into the CNN/YouTube debate a few weeks ago. As a firm believer in citizen involvement, to the point of recently writing a book* full of case studies of public process in action, I found CNN’s broadcast of real people with real questions in real time to be utterly fascinating. The public taking hold of technology, influencing candidates with their frank questions, and getting answers that sounded less scripted and on message—it was a sight to see. YouTubers’ questions of the nine Democratic candidates were succinct and to the point. And no, I did not hear the other 3,000 submitted questions, but the ones that aired on live TV were brilliant. Anderson Cooper even quipped that it might be the end of newscasters.</font></font>

August 20 - Barbara Faga

Architect Turned TV Host

<p>Responding to an internet ad, architect Danny Forster won the chance to host the Discovery Channel's 'Build It Bigger' series.</p>

August 20 - USA Today

The Traffic Jam Forecast

<p>Traffic sensors on Germany's Autobahn enable researchers to predict traffic jams a day in advance -- with surprising accuracy.</p>

August 20 - Der Spiegel

Push For Light Rail, BRT On Bridge Replacement Meets Resistance

<p>The city of Minneapolis wants plans for the collapsed Interstate 35W to include the possible future implementation of space for light rail and bus rapid transit. The state department of transportation, however, has a differing vision.</p>

August 20 - Pioneer Press

What Are The 'Fastest' Cities?

<p>A recently-compiled list commends the world's "fastest" cities -- those that are moving forward and benefitting their citizens and businesses along the way.</p>

August 20 - Fast Company

New Orleans Pump Testing Could Result In Reduced Flood Risk

<p>The Army Corps of Engineers is testing the pumps on an isolated section of a canal in New Orleans to see if water can be pumped from the canal to nearby Lake Pontchartrain faster -- a development that could minimize flooding during future hurricanes.</p>

August 20 - New Scientist

Aspen To Encourage Transit Use By Keeping Congested Highway As Is

<p>A plan to keep an Aspen-area highway congested to encourage transit use is catching flak from locals who are fed up with crowded streets. But city officials say adding more lanes is a temporary solution.</p>

August 20 - Aspen Daily News

Flood Victims Call On Government To Limit Flood Plain Development

<p>Residents of a British town that was recently flooded gathered to demonstrate against governmental housing plans that do not advise against building in flood plains.</p>

August 20 - BBC

Beijing Proposes Plan To Limit Growth in City Center

<p>A detailed plan proposed by Beijing's city planning agency would closely manage growth, limit construction in the central city, and relocate people away from heavily congested areas.</p>

August 20 - Forbes

U.S. Secretary Peters Says Bikes 'Are Not Transportation'

<p>U.S. Secretary of Transportation Mary Peters implies that federal money is wasted on cycling infrastructure.</p>

August 20 - Streetsblog

Go Big To Go Green

<p>New research suggests that the bigger a city is, the greener it can be.</p>

August 19 - Architect Magazine

Don't Say 'Density', Say 'Walkability'

<p>The concept of increasing density has been given a negative connotation of causing crowdedness and eliminating privacy. This article argues that people will respond more favorably to plans that improve walkability.</p>

August 19 - Crosscut

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