The Daily Source of Urban Planning News

San Diego metropolitan Transit System

How to Integrate Light Rail and Bus Rapid Transit for Walkability and Housing

Better integration between San Diego's various transit modes—trolley (light rail), bus, bus rapid transit, and active transit—are key to increasing use and housing options, argues AVRP planner Howard Blackson III.

January 29 - UrbDeZine

Commute

The Geography of Commuting and the 'New Urban Crisis'

How people get to work, and the geographic distinctions between trends in those choices, reveals some of the country's more ominous traits, including the trend Richard Florida calls "the new urban crisis."

January 29 - CityLab

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Pittsburgh's Iconic Rachel Carson Bridge Closed for Repairs Until Summer 2020

One of the symbols of Pittsburgh's status as the Steel City and the City of Bridges will be closed for repairs for all of 2019 and a good portion of 2020 as well.

January 29 - Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Houston Metro Bus

Houston's $7.5 Billion Multimodal Transportation Plan

The Moving Forward Plan seeks to improve transportation throughout the region, but funding and project priorities still need to be sorted out.

January 29 - Houston Chronicle

Minneapolis at Night

Minneapolis Liquor License Restriction Lifted

The city’s "7-acre rule" limited liquor licenses to restaurants in a commercial zone, but a repeal of the ordinance last year means that restaurants across the city can now apply to serve liquor.

January 29 - Star Tribune


Capitol Hill

Carbon Tax-and-Dividend Bill to Be Reintroduced

Two members of Congress, a Democrat and a Republican, both from Florida, will reintroduce their bill to put a tax on carbon emissions and return the revenue to the people in the form of a dividend.

January 29 - Washington Examiner

Sports and Entertainment District

$1 Billion Mixed-Use Complex Halts Construction in L.A.

The example of Oceanwide Plaza, which recently halted construction across the street from the Staples Center, raises more questions than it answers about foreign investment in Downtown Los Angeles' revitalization.

January 28 - Los Angeles Times


Sierra Nevada Drought

U.S. Appeals Court: Climate Crisis Justifies California Clean Fuels Rule

California's Low Carbon Fuel Standard, which requires fuel producers to reduce the carbon intensity of transportation fuels by at least 10 percent by 2020, has been opposed by corn ethanol producers and the oil industry since its inception in 2011.

January 28 - Transport Topics

Mixed-Use Development

Silicon Valley Tech Community Commits $500 Million to Fund Housing Crisis

A large group of technology and philanthropic foundations has announced multiple funds to help mitigate the crisis of housing affordability in the Bay Area. It's the second such effort announced already this year.

January 28 - The New York Times

Munich Train

Scarf Depicting Rail Delays Sells for $8,650

A German rail commuter recorded each day’s travel by knitting a scarf.

January 28 - The New York Times

Homeless Services

HUD Announces $2 Billion in Grant Funding for Local Homeless Programs

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development is renewing program support for thousands of local programs that offer support and assistance to the homeless.

January 28 - U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development

Texas

Draft Climate Action Plan Aims for Carbon Neutrality in San Antonio

The city of San Antonio is working on a plan to reduce its reliance on carbon-emitting fuels.

January 28 - San Antonio Express-News

Oregon

FEATURE

Portland Throwing its Pioneering Neighborhood System Under the Bus

A muddled agenda of inclusion seems to be a rationale to eviscerate one of the Oregon city's most lauded civic assets.

January 28 - Michael Mehaffy

Illinois Freeway

Land Use Regulation's Legacy of Racial Segregation

An investigative feature by Governing magazine blames the history of land use regulations like zoning and redlining for the racial segregation of contemporary communities all over the state of Illinois and the country.

January 28 - Governing

Oslo Street

What Happens When a Downtown Becomes Nearly Car-Free?

"Parking spots are now bike lanes, transit is fast and easy, and the streets (and local businesses) are full of people."

January 28 - Fast Company

Urban Careers

BLOG POST

How the City Planners of Tomorrow Will Differ From City Planners Today

The world is changing, and city planners are changing along with it.

January 28 - Kayla Matthews

California Beach Town

California Sues Huntington Beach for Lack of Housing Development

California's new governor has sent a strong signal to local governments: build housing to comply with state law or else.

January 27 - Los Angeles Times

Cincinnati Road

Cincinnati Announces Pedestrian Safety Plans

The mayor wants to implement a series of measures to eliminate traffic fatalities and make city streets safer for pedestrians.

January 27 - Cincinnati CityBeat

Seattle, Elevated Highway

New Marketing Campaign: Pushing People to Drive More in Seattle

Now that Seattle has proven they don't need the new Highway 99 tunnel that will replace the Alaskan Way Viaduct, will enough people use it in the future to cover the costs of construction, operation, and maintenance?

January 27 - The Urbanist

Dog Park

Opinion: Dog Parks Aren't a Priority in a Housing Crisis

"Should DC spend about $2 million on a parcel of land in Columbia Heights to build a dog park?"

January 27 - Greater Greater Washington

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.

Urban Planning Creators You Should Know

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.