The Daily Source of Urban Planning News

Metro Transit

2017 Twin Cities Rail Ridership Up

Light rail ridership increased in 2017 in Minneapolis and St. Paul, despite a decline in bus ridership.

February 8 - Star Tribune

One Native American Family, Two Housing Crises

In Oakland, California and Torreon, New Mexico, Julian Brave NoiseCat reports that "[f]or Indigenous people, the crisis of the home is intergenerational."

February 8 - High Country News

French Density

Demand For Higher Density Development Slowing Down

Will 2018 signal the end of the latest real estate cycle as we know it?

February 8 - Modern Cities

London Truck

Factoring Freight into Complete Streets Plans

The goods movement industry wants a seat at the table.

February 8 - InTransition Magazine

Walkable Street

New Tools for Making Walkable Places

Eleven ways to make a city more walkable.

February 8 - Institute for Transportation and Development Policy


Detroit Sports Arena

Saying No to Surface Parking in Downtown Detroit

Multiple proposals to demolish downtown buildings and put up surface parking lots are meeting resistance.

February 8 - Detroit Free Press

Sixth Street, Austin

Catch Up With Austin's CodeNEXT

CodeNEXT is one of the most ambitious, and controversial, zoning reform projects ongoing in the country, with lessons to offer planners all over the country in code writing, public outreach, and planning outcomes.

February 8 - CodeNEXT


Portland, Oregon

Portland's Division Street Express Likely Delayed to 2022

To close a $14 million budget shortfall, TriMet may scale back aspects of the planned bus line.

February 8 - Oregon Live

Messena, New York

Bitcoin Mining as Economic Development

The New York Power Authority is considering a new kind of economic development scheme.

February 8 - Watertown Daily News

Northwest Mall

Reclaiming Malls: How About a High-Speed Rail Station?

A Texas mall that opened in 1968 and largely closed ten months ago has been picked by Texas Central Partners as the Houston terminal of the Dallas-to-Houston high-speed rail. The site is far from downtown and distant from public transit.

February 8 - Houston Chronicle

Free Floating Bikeshare

Dockless Bikeshare and Racist Dog Whistles: 'Why are you assuming that bike is stolen?'

Urbanist and advocate Kristen Jeffers decries the thinly veiled racism underlying complaints about D.C.'s dockless bikeshare program.

February 7 - Greater Greater Washington

Youngstown, Ohio

Saving America's Small Cities

Small cities are an asset to the country, so politicians and thinkers on the left and right would do well to stop calling for their inhabitants to flee, Henry Garbar argues in Slate.

February 7 - Slate

Los Angeles Planning

L.A. Tenants Link Planned 'Design District' to Displacement

Community leaders say a design district in Westlake could pave the way for the erasure of L.A's Historic Filipinotown.

February 7 - Curbed LA

Carpool Lane

FEATURE

How Lyft and Uber Can Fix—Not Cause—Congestion

While evidence mounts that Uber and Lyft are stealing rides from public transit, there's still a chance for ride-hailing apps to do more to help than hurt congestion. The key: using ride-hailing apps to carpool.

February 7 - Dan Sperling

Amazon Warehouse

Amazon Holding Down Wages for Warehouse Employees in Small Towns

Small cities around the country with high unemployment are desperate for jobs, but when an Amazon distribution center moves into town, it's not all good news.

February 7 - The Atlantic

Hudson Yards Subway Station

Lowering the High Costs of Transit Investments

A new report from the Regional Plan Association identifies the nature of the problem with the New York MTA's construction costs, and recommends 11 possible solutions.

February 7 - The New York Times

ADA Sidewalk

Curbs Have the Power to Transform Cities

Curb design and management play a huge role in other aspects of city life. Put simply, what happens on the curbside directly impacts what happens on the street, both in terms of social and business connectivity.

February 7 - Longitudes

Downtown Columbus

'Smart Columbus Operation System' Looking for Developers

"Smart City" plans for the city of Columbus are taking shape.

February 7 - Smart Cities Dive

Boulder Colorado

Mapping the Fastest Growing Companies in the United States

Here's a helpful tool for understanding economic growth.

February 7 - Brookings Institution

Queen-Spadina

Study: Mixed-Use Neighborhoods Fail Affordability

A study published recently in the Journal of the American Planning Association finds that mixed-use neighborhoods in Toronto are only delivering benefits to those who can afford to pay a premium.

February 7 - CBC News

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.