The Daily Source of Urban Planning News

Traffic

Will Manhattan's "Central Business District Tolling" Clear the Way for More Congestion Pricing?

Cordon pricing applied to Manhattan's Central Business District, approved by the state legislature on March 31 and signed into law by Gov. Andrew Cuomo on April 1, has the ability to be a game changer for other cities considering similar programs.

April 8 - The New York Times

Young Apartment Residents

FEATURE

In This New Co-Living Partnership, Friendships Are the Ultimate Amenity

Kin, a new partnership between the real estate company Tishman Speyer and the co-living company Common, bets that residents will accept smaller living spaces in exchange for a community borne out of in-house sharing-economy amenities.

April 8 - Lev Kushner

San Diego metropolitan Transit System

Lawsuit Aims to Block San Diego Parking Requirement Reform

A lawsuit against San Diego alleges that the City Council approved an ordinance ending parking requirements on transit corridors without performing necessary environmental review.

April 7 - NBC San Diego

Columbia River Bridge

Reviving the Failed Columbia River Crossing to Connect Oregon, Washington

A project is back from the dead in the Pacific Northwest, at least in the eyes of the governors of Oregon and Washington.

April 7 - The Oregonian

Social Media Apps

A Public Transit App for Knoxville, Tennessee

Years after other cities implemented transit trackers, Knoxville is getting a bus tracker to help commuters move through the city.

April 7 - Knoxville News Sentinel


New York Apartments

Rent Protection Laws Due for Renewal in New York

A law that sets rental protections in New York will expire in June. Negotiations for a replacement law are just beginning.

April 7 - Spectrum News

Badly Needed Light Rail Funding to the Rescue in Buffalo

State budget wheeling and dealing has yielded $100 million in funding for repairs on the Buffalo Metro Rail system, according to reports.

April 7 - The Buffalo News


Rural Community

Small Towns in the Western U.S. Achieving Population and Economic Growth

A small town success story in Montana is indicative of a larger trend in the Western United States. Meanwhile, small towns in the rest of the country struggle.

April 6 - The Washington Post

Japan Shared Space

Zoning in Japan Versus Zoning in the U.S.

Japan's system of zoning appears highly capable of fostering mixed-use, walkable neighborhoods. How does Japanese zoning differ from our own, and what factors caused those differences?

April 6 - Market Urbanism

Skinny Skyscraper

Changes to Proposed NYC Pied-à-Terre Tax Will Yield Less Revenue for Transit

The real estate intervened, and a proposed pied-à-terre tax became a mansion tax.

April 6 - City & State

West Palm Beach, Florida

A Big Week for Virgin Trains USA, Formerly Brightline, in Florida

Virgin Trains USA has the funding to start construction on a rail link between Orland and West Palm Beach, and the system has launched its official rebranding under its new ownership.

April 6 - CBS 12 News

Bowery

Protecting and Growing Cultural Facilities in Expensive Cities

Independent cultural institutions provide so much of what make cities world class, and they are a big part of the appeal for people who choose to live in highly urbanized areas. These days, cultural institutions are having a hard time affording rent.

April 6 - Art News

Energy Factory II

No Good News for Climate Stabilization From a New Worldwide Energy Report

Last month, the Paris-based International Energy Agency released its annual "Global Energy & CO2 Status Report." Energy consumption grew 2.3 percent with fossil fuels accounting for 70 percent on the increase. CO2 emissions jumped 1.7 percent.

April 5 - The Washington Post

Imperial Valley

Editorial Calls for Drastic Actions to Fix the Salton Sea

A Los Angeles Times editorial board sheds light on the ongoing environmental disaster of the Salton Sea in California, and the lack of action by the state to mitigate the worsening impacts.

April 5 - Los Angeles Times

Frederick Maryland

Where Americans Are Most Likely to Live With Housing Cost Burdens

New analysis reveals the geographic patterns of housing cost burdens in the United States.

April 5 - CityLab

Rowhouses in Canada

'Rental-Only Zoning' a Tough Task

Richmond, British Columbia is trying to develop "rental-only zoning" for 60 properties in the city.

April 5 - Richmond News

Chicago Mayor

Mayoral Election Likely to Have Consequences for Chicago Mega-Development

The most recent citywide election in Chicago was considered a referendum on the old way of operating the city. The $6 billion Lincoln Yards project, on the brink of approval, could be included in that referendum.

April 5 - Chicago Tribune

Boulder Colorado

One City Was Skeptical Enough About Opportunity Zones to Declare a Development Moratorium

Boulder declared a moratorium on development in a federally designated Opportunity Zone back in December. Here's how the decision has played out so far.

April 5 - Next City

Gas and Oil Company

Royal Dutch Shell: Big Oil with a Conscience?

Big Oil companies are not all alike. Royal Dutch Shell is the first one to part ways with a major oil industry trade group over differences on climate change. It's also linking executive pay to goals to reduce the company's carbon footprint.

April 5 - The Washington Post

Road Sign

The Idaho Stop Now Legal in Arkansas

The state of Arkansas is now the second station in the nation to completely legalize the Idaho Stop—a frequently practiced maneuver on bikes that advocates say is a key to bike safety and comfort on the streets.

April 5 - Streetsblog USA

Post News

Top Books

An annual review of books related to planning.

Top Schools

The definitive ranking of graduate planning programs.

100 Most Influential Urbanists

The who's who of urbanism, according to Planetizen readers.

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A short list of voices on social, video, and podcasting platforms.

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.