The Daily Source of Urban Planning News

Southwest Chief

Amtrak Could End Service on Big Stretch of the Southwest Chief

Congress and presidents have threatened Amtrak service on the Southwest Chief, connecting Los Angles to Chicago, in the past. This time the threat is coming from inside Amtrak.

June 27 - The Kansan

Cupertino, California

California's Law to Streamline Housing Already Having a Big Effect

A mega-project adding 2,402 units of housing, including 1,201 affordable units, is on a fast track to approval in Cupertino, California, thanks to a 2017 state law.

June 27 - The San Francisco Chcronicle

The 1960s

Mourning the Loss of the Dairy Queen in Rural Texas

As populations shrink, small towns are losing an important place to get together,,

June 27 - Houston Chronicle

Low Gas Prices

California Gas Tax Repeal Initiative Qualifies for November Ballot

The initiative is much more than whether to repeal taxes and fees enacted by the passage of the Road Repair and Accountability Act of 2017 which brings in over $5 billion a year. The measure is a means to increase GOP turnout to retain House seats.

June 27 - Los Angeles Times

Hoover Boards and Bus Transit

Miami Sends Cease and Desist to Electric Scooter Companies

Two major scooter companies operating in Miami have ceased operations in the city, at least for now.

June 27 - Miami Herald


Regrets of an Accidental Placemaker

My pitches for space usually centered around the developer’s needs and not the needs of the neighborhood or its residents. I didn’t pay much attention to what impact those events would have on the surrounding neighborhoods.

June 27 - Shelterforce/Rooflines

Goose Island Chicago

After Scrutiny Regarding Affordable Housing Policy, Emanuel Proposes New Chicago Department of Housing

Chicago's current housing policies aren't protecting or producing affordable housing in gentrifying areas, so Mayor Rahm Emanuel is proposing a restructuring of the government. Advocates are skeptical of the idea.

June 26 - Chicago Tribune


Wind Turbines

Opinion: Government-Controlled Energy Won't Get Cities to 100 Percent Renewable

A Community Choice Aggregation (CCA) is a key tool for the Climate Action Plan of many California cities. According to one former mayor, they don't work.

June 26 - Sacramento Bee

BART Station Construction

San Francisco Bay Area's Rail Transit Projects Among the Most Expensive in the World

The problem of expensive transit investments isn't unique to New York City.

June 26 - Curbed SF

Expo Line LA Skyline

LA Times: City Council Should Take Responsibility for Lack of Transit Oriented Development

The Los Angeles Times editorial board has strong words for the Los Angeles City Council about planning for transit oriented development.

June 26 - Los Angeles Times

Policing is an Information Business

The NYPD vaunts crime mapping technologies from CompStat maps to a vast networked surveillance infrastructure. Who benefits?

June 26 - Urban Omnibus

King County Metro Transit

Seattle Ready to Give Free Transit Passes to All High School Students

About 16,000 Seattle students would get free transit passes when school starts again in the fall under a plan approved by the Seattle City Council yesterday.

June 26 - Seattle Times

Denver Union STation TOD

To Make the Most of Transit Oriented Development, Include Affordable Housing

Low-income residents are more likely to use transit, and transit needs riders. The relationship seems ripe for mutual benefit.

June 26 - TransitCenter

Fracking

Oil and Gas Industry Lobbyists Promote Carbon Tax

A political action committee representing the energy industry, including fossil fuels, has been formed by two former U.S. senators, a Republican and Democrat, to advance a carbon fee-and-dividend plan on Capitol Hill.

June 26 - Vox

Lawns and Suburban Homes

Learning from Suburban Housing

"Looking at the suburbs, therefore, provides a way of understanding a vast segment of the public without the need to endorse or slander their homes."

June 26 - The Atlantic

Little Rock 1871

The Long-Term Thinking Cities Need

A roundtable of discussion of prominent urbanists examines the questions of urbanism with a long-term mindset.

June 26 - CityLab

Demographics map

Three Ways to Make GIS as Powerful as Possible

These days, cities are expected to make the most of open data and spatial visualization technologies.

June 25 - Smart Cities Dive

First Protected Bike Lanes Coming Soon to Bellevue

Bellevue, Washington is adding its first protected bike lanes, and is planning a lot more bike infrastructure to come.

June 25 - The Urbanist

Florida

Massive Waterfront Investment 'Reinvents' Tampa

After decades of planning, the city hopes several huge developments will draw millenials and empty-nesters.

June 25 - Curbed

Pig Farm

When Pennsylvania's 'Right to Farm' Means Living With the Pigs Next Door

New residents to formerly agricultural area are trying to shut down a hog-feeding operation, but so far without much success.

June 25 - WHYY

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Top Books

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The definitive ranking of graduate planning programs.

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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.