The Daily Source of Urban Planning News

Julie, the computerized answering system with a personality , has saved Amtrak $13 million.

December 2 - The New York Times

James Howard Kunstler says today's young people are owed an apology from the last two generations for how badly they've wrecked the built environment, and in the process committed "the greatest misallocation of resources in the history of the world."

December 2 - James Howard Kunstler

Environmental groups fear the worst during the second Bush administration.

December 2 - The Seattle Post-Intelligencer

Neighbors are protesting construction of a New York City building, claiming it would make an especially explosive terrorist target.

December 2 - The New York Observer

Can a dedicated source of funding be found for the DC Metro?

December 2 - Associated Press

A new academic article in JPER critically examines the relationship between sprawl and health.

December 2 - Peter Gordon's Blog

Most important goods movement freeway in America will mimic American children-the freeway is expanding.

December 1 - Eastern Group Publications, Inc.

Texas courts uphold a controversial ruling on privately-owned shopping centers to regulate solicitation on center properties.

December 1 - PlainVanillaShell.com

As condo owners buy up Florida's marinas, recreational boaters are left in the cold.

December 1 - The Orlando Sentinel

Will a San Francisco bus plan beneficial for the city as a whole be stopped by the protests of a few?

December 1 - San Francisco Weekly

There's a science to making a pedestrian-friendly streetscape.

December 1 - MetroWest Daily News

Raising rents could destroy the musical culture of the mariachis in East Los Angeles.

December 1 - The Los Angeles Times

3.4 million Americans who endure a daily "extreme commute" are the fastest growing segment of commuters.

December 1 - USA Today

Oregon cities gear up to fight Measure 37, a voter-passed property rights law. Is this a response to overly restrictive planning, or property rights run amok?

December 1 - The Oregonian

Representatives from China's Ministry of Construction have announced an ambitious sustainable growth plan for the country.

December 1 - MetropolisMag.com

The academic journal, Atmospheric Environment, includes an article on the air pollution effect of congestion charging in central London.

December 1 - Atmospheric Environment

BLOG POST

The best English-language science magazine, <em>New Scientist,</em> reports this week that London's congestion pricing -- 5 pounds to drive into downtown -- lowered emissions last year. The story's not online yet (next week it'll be in the archive at <a href="http://www.newscientist.com">New Scientist.com</a>) but I've thoughtfully copied out the salient bits:<br /> <blockquote>...nitrogen oxides and particulates fell by 16 per cent. A fall in the number of cars and an increase in speed of 4 kilometres an hour were responsible for three-quarters of this fall, with greener technology in cars making up the rest. Carbon dioxide emissions fell by 19 per cent. Even an increase in the number of buses, whose diesel engines are among the worst polluters, could not offset the drop, partly because modern buses are fitted with particulate traps.</blockquote>

November 30 - Anonymous

A Washington development mogul assess the District's real estate priorties and its future.

November 30 - The Washington Post

Most U.S. cities have many buildings with strong echoes of Islamic architecture and design traditions.

November 30 - The San Francisco Chronicle

Auckland, the largest city in New Zealand is sprawling at a rapid rate.

November 30 - The New Zealand Herald