The Daily Source of Urban Planning News

L.A.'s Union Station Turns 80 and Looks to the Future
Ridership is down and the station has struggled in recent years, but new plans could help revive the 80-year-old historic landmark.

New 25-Year Transit Plan in the Works in the Pittsburgh Area
A new 25-year transit planning process for Allegheny County will allow the flexibility to keep up with technological advances.

Living Shorelines for Storm and Flood Protection
More coastal cities and communities are turning to the "soft" solutions of living shorelines—relying on "a combination of oyster reefs, oyster shells, rocks, marsh plants, and other natural materials can be an effective alternative to seawalls."

Memphis Street Goes on a Road Diet
Separated bike lanes and new pedestrian infrastructure have replaced traffic lanes on a mile of Manassas Street in Memphis.

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A (Possible) Case of Suburban Retrofit
Retrofitting suburbia may be a challenge in a small town with high birth rates.

For Many, the Personal Cost of Moving Outweighs Potential Economic Benefit
Another explanation for the declining mobility of Americans is revealed by a new study from the Federal Reserve Bank of New York.

To Fix Roads, Bridges, and Public Buildings, Illinois Decides to 'Think Big'
First-term Democratic Gov. J.B. Pritzker succeeded in building support for his $45 billion, "think big" capital investment agenda in the Illinois State Legislature.

How, and Where, Land Use Regulations Block Multi-Family Housing in the Boston Region
New analysis explores every city and suburb in the Boston region to reveal the tools of multi-family housing obstruction—sometimes it takes more than zoning to block apartments from getting built.

Housing Inequality the Leading Cause of Wealth Inequality
New research and mapping projects reveal how the deeply embedded racism of planning and housing policies of the past are connected to the growing wealth gap of the present.

New Ways to Purchase Transit Tickets Hailed as a Win for Equity
Adding cashless and mobile options for purchasing transit tickets shouldn't necessitate the removal of cash payments.

Property Transfer Taxes Gain Traction as Cities Search for Ways to Address Homelessness
San Jose, California is the latest city to consider raising its real property transfer tax to fund homeless programs.

Copenhagen Update: On-Street Auto Parking Replaced by Bike Parking
Copenhagen may have already met its bicycling goal of 50 percent of modal share for commuting, but it needs to improve the share for all trips. With less funding available, the city is pursuing low cost strategies, such as auto parking removal.

Less Paint, More Barriers, Make for Better Urban Cycling
New research from the University of Colorado Denver and the University of New Mexico sheds light on how to make cities safer for cyclists and other road users and refutes some assumptions about bike safety, such as "safety-in-numbers."

Texas Bans Red Light Cameras
The state of Texas decided to preempt local traffic safety laws by banning all red light camera programs.

New Bus-Only Lanes Arrive in D.C.
The new bus lanes will operate at morning and afternoon rush hours starting today.

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Breaking the Cycle of Automobile Dependency
Many current planning practices reinforce a cycle of increased automobile use, more automobile-oriented community redevelopment, and reduced mobility options. There are good reasons to break this pattern.

New Zoning Code Aims to Remove Red Tape in Des Moines
The city of Des Moines is hoping to update its zoning code for the first time since 1965.

Soccer Stadium Development Opposition Grows to a Neighborhood-Level Movement
Displacement concerns surrounding stadium plans for the FC Cincinnati Major League Soccer team have grown into a citywide call for development approvals reform.

Local Public Housing Agencies Resist HUD's Proposed Section 8 Rule
A proposed rule to disqualify all families living with an undocumented person from receiving federal housing aid is available for comment. We know a few people who oppose the rule.

Evaluating the 2011 'Twitter Tax Break' Along San Francisco's Troubled Market Street
The 2011 "Twitter tax break" was controversial at the time, and remains so to this day. New offices and employees have filled the corridor of Market Street where the tax break is in effect, but massive challenges persist.
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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
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