The Daily Source of Urban Planning News

New Orleans Streetcar

Lessons in Public-Private Transit Service Contracts

A new report from TransitCenter and the Eno Center for Transportation evaluates public-private transit service contracting, finding a cautionary tale in New Orleans among its six case studies.

October 18 - The Times-Picayune

Columbus Crew

Major League Soccer Team Playing Austin Against Columbus for a New Stadium Deal

The Columbus Crew could become Austin FC if a new stadium doesn't materialize in Ohio's capital city.

October 18 - USA Today

Dallas City Hall Begins to Ponder a New Future for the I-345

A proposal once too controversial to consider is gaining traction at several layers of government.

October 18 - The Dallas Morning News

Hollywood

Blade Runner Goes Back to the Future

Los Angeles appears in Blade Runner 2049 in name only. But the film still provides an arresting vision of a high-density future and is a reminder of the eternal ambiguity that surrounds Los Angeles.

October 18 - California Planning & Development Report

Welcome to Detroit

How People Talk About Blight and Vacancies

The kinds of words and arguments people use to describe blight, foreclosure, and eviction reveals a lot of society's biases.

October 18 - Rustbelt Anthro


Miami Mall

Is Miami's Brickell City Centre the Mall of the Future?

Miami's Brickell City Centre represents the evolution of the shopping mall as a mixed-use social gathering place.

October 18 - Modern Cities

Bogota, Colombia

BLOG POST

Is It Time to Rethink the Legacy of Enrique Peñalosa?

Negative responses to the "Most Influential Urbanists" list published last week overwhelmingly focused on one name on the list: Enrique Peñalosa.

October 17 - James Brasuell


Ford GoBike

Dockless vs. Docking Bikeshare Showdown in San Francisco

When Ford GoBike took over Bay Area Bike Share last year and promised to expand the number of bikes ten-fold, they entered into an exclusivity contract with San Francisco. So why is the city going to issue a permit to a competitor?

October 17 - San Francisco Examiner

A Three-Story House That Fits in a Parking Space

There's a design for a 400-square-foot house spread over three floors.

October 17 - New Atlas

San Diego Metropolitan Transit System

San Diego's Journey From First to Worst in Public Transit and What Could Turn it Around

For much of the 20th century, San Diego led the nation in public transit firsts. Unfortunately, the region has slipped to the bottom of national transit rankings. Planning activist Murtaza Baxamusa explains how it happened and the needed reform.

October 17 - UrbDeZine

San Francisco

Increased Tolls for Bay Area Bridges Headed for a Vote

It is now up to the Bay Area's transportation planning agency to determine when to ask voters to hike tolls on seven Bay Area bridges, by how much, and whether to phase the increase. A bill to allow voters to fund Caltrain was also signed.

October 17 - SF Gate

Phoenix is Crane City

Is Population Growth Worth Fixating On?

While mayors of shrinking cities do all they can to buoy a discouraging metric, others ask whether population growth is all it's cracked up to be.

October 17 - Governing

South L.A. Housing Project First to Use New 'Transit Oriented Community' Incentives

The city's new guidelines incentivize the development of affordable housing near transit.

October 17 - Urbanize LA

Ross Dress for Less

Ross May Be Immune from the Amazon Effect

Ross Stores continues its expansion in the face of a much-foretold retail apocalypse. The shopping experience it provides may be one reason it can stand up to Amazon.

October 17 - The Business Journals

For Rent

Study: Urban Renters Move Often, and Voluntarily

The usual narrative of gentrification and displacement often assumes a static population. According to this study, urban renters move around very frequently, and most (but not all) of their moves are voluntary.

October 17 - City Observatory

Isafjordur, Iceland

Icelandic Town Hopes to Slow Traffic with 3-D Illusion

The small town of Isafjordur, Iceland is hoping an optical illusion painted onto a street will work to slow down drivers.

October 17 - Visir

Under Construction: An Elevated Pedestrian Path on the Chicago River

The new 312 RiverRun will connect three parks on a two-mile elevated pedestrian path.

October 16 - DNAinfo Chicago

Internet Infrastructure

Governor's Veto Gives Locals Control Over 5G Infrastructure in California

A bill designed to streamline the implementation of 5G Internet infrastructure onto public poles and lights has been vetoed by California Governor Jerry Brown.

October 16 - Los Angeles Times

Gaslamp Quarter

Power Shifts to Cities in San Diego County's Embattled Regional Planning Agency

Larger cities in California's second most populous county will be given more power thanks to a bill that reforms the San Diego Association of Governments (SANDAG). One result may be that more public transit measures appear on the ballot.

October 16 - The San Diego Union-Tribune

Rail Transit North Bay Area

New Commuter Train Comes Through for Fire-Ravaged Santa Rosa

Sonoma-Marin Rail Transit (SMART) has been operating almost continuously at full schedule, collecting no fares since the epic wildfires began in Sonoma County on Oct. 8. Two stations in the fire-zone are shut down due to lack of access.

October 16 - Marin Independent Journal

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.