The Daily Source of Urban Planning News
It's Official: Obama's Clean Power Plan Has Been Replaced by the Trump Administration
It took less than a year for the EPA to finalize the Affordable Clean Energy rule, which will allow older coal-burning plants to continue operating, in the Trump administration's most consequential environmental rollback accomplished to date.
A $5.5 Billion Waterfront Plan for Baltimore Wins Opportunity Zone Status
The Port Covington plan was already in line to receive massive subsidies from the city of Baltimore. Now the plan will be the beneficiary of the new federal Opportunity Zone program as well.
Investment Money Cornering the Real Estate Market
With so many institutional investors buying homes, it's hard for first-time homebuyers to find space in the housing market.
More Skyscrapers Coming Soon to New York City's Skyline
After a decade of skyward expansion, even more skyscrapers are on the horizon in Manhattan.
Texas Preempts Local Rules on Building Materials
Local governments didn't want the Texas State Legislature to approved HB 2439, but now the bill is officially law. Some communities worry that they can no longer control the aesthetics of new development.
Revealed: New Plans for San Francisco's Waterfront
The Port of San Francisco is wrapping up a three-year planning process to chart the ongoing transformation of the city's waterfront.
New Bus Rapid Transit Route Takes Shape for the San Fernando Valley
The Valley helped popularize public transit and bus rapid transit in Los Angeles, after the Orange Line achieved immediate, unexpected success last decade. Now new routes are under consideration.
Op-Ed: Metra Expansion May Encourage Sprawl
The $45 billion transportation bill approved by the Illinois Legislature ended up including more public transit funding than it originally offered, but a Kendall County Metra project raises questions.
'Speed' Turns 25: Planners Think About Fast Buses
In the '90s, Keanu Reeves was hurtling down the roads and freeways of L.A. in a bus; 25 years later, city officials ponder ways to bring the city’s average bus speed above 10 mph.
Community Composting Network Launching in Philadelphia
The city of Philadelphia is seeking 25 locations around the city for composting facilities that will help the city achieve its goals of zero waste and litter.
The Complete Lack of Rental Housing Affordable to People Making Minimum Wage
Rents in 99 percent of counties in the U.S. are not affordable for residents making minimum wage, according to a recent report.
New York Sets Ambitious, Net-Zero Climate Emissions Target
The state of New York's new Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act is described by the New York Times as one of the most ambitious climate targets by any state legislature in the world.
Measuring Job Densification Trends in U.S. Metropolitan Areas
A new report details the trend of jobs densification in U.S. metropolitan areas between 2004 and 2015, finding a few large metropolitan areas leading an overall increase in jobs density. Still, many areas are seeing jobs disperse around the region.
An Investigation of the Nation's Increasing Number of Pedestrian Fatalities
PBS New Hour takes a deep dive into the climbing number of pedestrian deaths in the United States—now at their highest level in almost three decades.
BLOG POST
Immigration and Urban Growth
After growing in the first half of the decade, some cities might be losing population. Is this because of the pace of immigration has slowed?
Debating the Merits of Hydrogen and Batteries for Buses
To switch to fully electric bus fleets, transit agencies can invest in batteries and hydrogen fuel cells. Both have their advantages.
California to Study a Ban on Sales of Cars with Internal Combustion Engines
California Assemblyman Phil Ting has tried unsuccessfully for the last two years to end the sale of new gas and diesel-powered passenger motor vehicles by 2040. He achieved some success by securing funds in an approved budget bill to study a ban.
Orange County Streetcar Project Ignoring Equity Issues, Say Activists
Critics say transportation officials have failed to address the potential equity and displacement effects of the Southern California streetcar project.
Accessory Dwelling Units Legalized, Finally, in San Francisco
Legislation approved this week finally brings the city of San Francisco up to date with state laws approved in 2016.
The Environmental Costs of Slow, Empty Buses
Flagging ridership on Metro buses in Los Angeles redoubles the need to speed buses up with dedicated lanes, hopefully recovering lost riders and finding some news ones along the way, too.
City of Thousand Oaks
City of Wisconsin Rapids
Harvard University Graduate School of Design
The Architects Foundation
University of Cincinnati Online
Northern Illinois Transit Authority (NITA)
The Pocatello Development Authority
The Urban Renewal Agency of the City of Pocatello
FREE Course: Walkable City 1: Why Walkability?
After describing his path towards focusing on walkability as the essence of good planning, Jeff Speck marches through his five principal reasons for making more walkable places.
Reinventing Malls: Planning Alchemy—Turning Gray Fields Into Gold
The course focuses on the opportunities and imperatives that shape reinvention of mall sites.
