The Daily Source of Urban Planning News
'Mobility for All' Responds to Growing Need for Quality Paratransit Service
Accessible technology and a centralized database and call center will help deliver a one-call, one-click transportation information system for seniors and people with special needs in the Portland region.
Smart Meters and AI take on Electrical Grid Load Forecasting
With the recent development of IoT, smart meter technology, and advanced weather forecasts by machine learning, we have the ability to analyze usage and load patterns and estimate future needs to help balance the electricity grid.
Light Rail From Durham to Orange Finds Final Funding Piece
Planners behind a new 17-mile light rail system that will connect the cities and employers in the Research Triangle in North Carolina overcame a change of funding plans by the state.
Tar Sands Oil Just Lost Another Outlet, For Now
It was viewed as a "David vs. Goliath" pipeline fight: the city of South Portland, Maine against a pipeline company backed by Big Oil. The city had passed a zoning ordinance preventing the export of oil which would have impacted public health.
How Bus Systems Compare When Using the Same Definition of 'On Time'
The definition of "On Time" varies from transit system to transit system, making comparisons difficult. When compared using the same standards, a more accurate portrait of transit performance emerges.
Property Taxes Due on Chicago's $1 Large Lots
So you bought a lot for $1 under the city of Chicago's Large Lots program. Expect your bills to go up a lot more than that measly sum.
FEATURE
The Local Journalists Who Keep City Planning in the News
Planetizen's 2018 "Top Twitter" list focuses on the local journalists who work hard to keep planning projects and processes in the public eye.
For Less Displacement, Build More Housing
New research finds lower displacement rates in neighborhoods with more new housing development. Slowing or stopping new development has the opposite of the desired effect, constricting housing supply, driving up rents, and displacing residents.
Lessons from Seoul's Bus Redesign
Seoul simplified its routes and kept its key bus lanes clear of traffic to revitalize it's transit system.
Cleaning-Up the World's Dirtiest Fuel by 2020
A 2016 rule approved by a specialized agency of the U.N. is forcing large ships that burn bunker oil, the dirtiest type of fuel, to either burn a more costly low-sulfur variety, apply scrubbers, or turn to LNG.
Community Benefit Agreements Help University Expansions Benefit Everyone
From USC to Columbia University, "town and gown" collaborations regarding university expansion have proven to benefit all parties, writes planning activist and affordable housing developer Murtaza Baxamusa.
'Rebuilding California': Controversy Over Signs Telling People Their Tax Dollars Are at Work
Caltrans says signs on transportation projects are nothing more than a useful way to show taxpayers that gas tax funds are being put to good use. But not everyone agrees.
Arizona Revisits Plans for Withdrawing Water Reserves
Arizona has excelled at storing water in preparation for future droughts. The challenge now is how cities will access that water when they need it.
Family Money Boosts Chances of Homeownership for Californians
Buying a home in California is increasingly a matter of generational wealth.
Rural Studio’s 20K Homes and the Complexities of Affordable Housing
A research program at Auburn University in Alabama seeks to go national, but experience from the program’s evolution means a cautious move forward.
An App to Fight the Eviction Crisis
In "America's Eviction Badlands," universities are developing web apps to help tenants stay in their homes.
Bridge Closure Will Reroute Traffic in St. Louis for a Year
The Martin Luther King's daily trip load has been greatly lessened by the opening of the Stan Musial Memorial Bridge in 2014, but all the drivers currently using the bridge will have to find another way to go.
Another Summer of Wildfires and Air Quality Emergencies
A third straight summer spent in a haze of smoke from nearby wildfires is taking a psychological toll on Seattle residents. A political response is also taking shape.
Gov. Dayton Wants to Build 300,000 New Homes in Minnesota
Minnesota Governor Mark Dayton recently issued a call to action to citizens, the private sector, and the public sector, to work together in ensuring the state has housing for everyone.
Maybe 'Bike Lanes' Should Be Called 'Narrow Lanes' Instead
With the popularity of electric scooters, it seems like non-automobile travel is gaining a large new constituency. Making room for scooters raises big questions of infrastructure that might not be answered first by nomenclature.
Smith Gee Studio
City of Charlotte
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
Transportation Research & Education Center (TREC) at Portland State University
US High Speed Rail Association
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
Municipality of Princeton (NJ)
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.
