The Daily Source of Urban Planning News

Cul de Sac

FEATURE

The Block Fallacy, or How Not to Build a Circulation System

An examination of the Block Ordinance as a panacea for the ailments of modern cities.

November 28 - Fanis Grammenos

University of Pittsburgh

University of Pittsburgh Settles for Pedestrian Improvements on Adjacent Street

The university wanted to limit a section of Bigelow Boulevard to pedestrians, but the city pushed for a compromise: better crosswalks and traffic calming features. Now the challenge is finding the funds.

November 28 - Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Philadelphia DNC

Philadelphia's New Inclusionary Zoning Ordinance Hangs Up in Committee

Philadelphia's controversial "Mixed-Income Housing Program" legislation has run into stiff resistance from developers and builders.

November 28 - PlanPhilly

Parking Meter Fail

Making the Leap From Smart Projects to Smart Cities

Most "smart city" projects to-date are somewhat isolated and are not part of a more comprehensive network.

November 28 - Scientific American

Albuquerque's Recently Opened Bus Rapid Transit Line Sets a New Standard

Overcoming lawsuits and controversy, Albuquerque opened the Albuquerque Rapid Transit to partial service over the holiday weekend.

November 28 - Albuquerque Journal


MTA Bus

Report: NYC Bus System in Crisis

A new report cites decreased ridership and dismal service despite a growing need for more and better routes.

November 28 - The New York Times

Cross-Laminated Timber

Timber Industry 'Bracing' for Soaring Demand

Building with wood is back in fashion, but lumber producers have to reckon with thorny politics and new timber-based materials that have yet to be truly defined.

November 28 - The Architect's Newspaper


Who Opposes New York's BQX Streetcar? Not Who You Think

Brooklyn and Queens need better transit, but activists say this waterfront "luxury trolley" is not the way to get it.

November 28 - Technical.ly Brooklyn

Cleveland

Not Enough Condos to Go Around in Downtown Cleveland

What will it take for the supply of urban condos to catch up with the demand in Downtown Cleveland?

November 28 - The Cleveland Plain Dealer

New Jersey Borough Showcases Town and Gown 'Instant Urbanism'

Glassboro State College became Rowan University and exploded its enrollment numbers. The borough of Glassboro and the university have worked together, and quickly, to accommodate all those new students.

November 28 - Philadelphia

Millennium Atoll

Sea Level Rise Will Not Be Uniform

As the climate warms, the world's glaciers and ice sheets are melting, but sea level increase will be greater in some places due to the earth's rotation and gravity, according to a newly released study by the NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory.

November 27 - NPR

California Aqueduct

$13 Billion in Water Bonds Headed for the California Ballot in 2018

The legislature placed a $4.1 billion water bond on the ballot in June while a privately funded initiative hopes to qualify an $8.9 billion water bond for the November ballot. The state measure would also fund parks and trails.

November 27 - San Francisco Chronicle

New Mexico

Albuquerque Overhauls its Zoning Code for the First Time Since the 1970s

Albuquerque has approved the new Integrated Development Ordinance.

November 27 - Albuquerque Journal

Ambulance

How the U.S. Compares to Other Nations in Road Safety

It's not just death from gun violence where the U.S. is an outlier. The New York Times compiled traffic fatality data showing that other developed nations have greatly lower traffic death rates, which wasn't historically the case.

November 27 - The New York Times

Berkeley, California

$312 Million Corridor Improvement Project Coming to the East Bay Area

Two county transit agencies, seven cities, and three regional transit agencies are joining forces to plan improvements to the growing San Pablo corridor in the East Bay Area.

November 27 - The Mercury News

Detroit

Detroit to Break Ground on a New Tallest Building

A new 800-foot tower is rising from the ashes of the demolished Hudson's store site. Noted Detroit patron Dan Gilbert is developing the new building.

November 27 - Detroit Free Press

Metro Map

Los Angeles to Test New 'Mobility on Demand' Partnership

The Federal Transit Administration has offered the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority a $1.35 million grant to partner with ridesharing app Via on first-last mile solutions.

November 27 - Engadget

Trolley Map

Trolley System Thrives in Houston Suburb

As ridership soars, the "urban circulator" in the Woodlands Township is getting longer routes and more frequent service.

November 27 - Houston Chronicle

Pittsburgh

The Young History of Open Data Leadership in Pittsburgh

The city of Pittsburgh's Open Data project recently released a progress report to commemorate its first two years in operation.

November 27 - Data-Smart City Solutions

Bike Commuter

Senate GOP Tax Cutters Target Bike Commuter Tax Benefit

To help pay for their massive tax cut bill, Senate Republicans have proposed elimination of a small tax benefit that can save bike commuters $240 annually. Unlike the House tax bill, they don't touch parking and transit benefits.

November 27 - Bicycling

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.