The Daily Source of Urban Planning News

Road Construction

The Two Faces of Trump's Infrastructure Plan

The president spent Infrastructure Week touting a $1 trillion infrastructure investment plan that has yet to materialize, unlike the elimination of an essential grant program in his 2018 budget that will be detrimental to over 50 transit projects.

June 13 - The Washington Post

Austin

How State Governments Can Support Urban Revitalization

States have tremendous power to constrict or enable policy at the local level. A new report offer guidance in getting states and localities on the same page for the sake of urban revitalization.

June 13 - Lincoln Institute of Land Policy

Crosswalk

'Green Light for Great Streets' Initiative Aims to Remove Traffic Safety Roadblocks

Too often, the word "streamlined" is applied to transportation projects at the expense of safety and liveability. The National Association of City Transportation Officials (NACTO) would like to switch that dynamic.

June 13 - National Association of City Transportation Officials

Uber Dumbo

New York Lawmaker Would End New Marketing Nicknames for Neighborhoods

There will be no SoHa (South Harlem), if the state approves new legislation that allows the city to block real estate brokers from assigning new shorthand to neighborhoods in the hopes of boosting real estate listings.

June 13 - New York Post

Ohio

Awarding the Best Ideas for Successful Cities

The Knight Foundation asked: "What’s your best idea to make cities more successful?" When it came time to pick the best ideas, design and planning ideas for places like Wichita, Biloxi, and Akron emerged.

June 13 - The Architect's Newspaper


Main Street

New Web Based Tool Helps to 'Design Your Town'

A new tool produced by the Regional Plan Association, the Orange County Department of Planning, the Pace University Land Use Law Center, and the Lincoln Institute of Land Policy offers a starting point for people with big ideas.

June 12 - Regional Plan Association

Chester County, Pennsylvania

Huge Swath of Land Preserved in Pennsylvania's Fastest Growing County

Preservationists have bought one reprieve from the ongoing expansion of developed land in Chester County, Pennsylvania.

June 12 - The Philadelphia Inquirer


Family Parking

The Next Baby Boom: Urban Millennials with Children

Affordable urban living for millennial families with children has the potential to become one of the largest market demands in the near future.

June 12 - Modern Cities

Coulmbia, Maryland

60 Years On, the Planned City of Columbia, Maryland Holds Up Against Change

The design for the planned city of Columbia, Maryland continues to influence new developments around the world.

June 12 - The Baltimore Sun

Renewable Natural Gas and Electricity Should Power Los Angeles Bus Fleet

It's not one or the other but both, argues Denny Zane of Move LA in a guest commentary for the Los Angeles Daily News about the decision that Los Angeles County Metro will make on June 22 on the future of the nation's second largest bus fleet.

June 12 - Los Angeles Daily News

Gas Pump

Voter Backlash Expected From Gas Tax Hike

There's a reason it can take decades to increase gas taxes — and many California legislators may soon found out why in November 2018, if not earlier. On November 1 of this year, state gas taxes will increase 12 cents per gallon.

June 12 - The Mercury News

Seattle Public Art

The Best of the Best Complete Streets Policies

Complete streets policies are keeping planners busy across the country. An annual report features the best of the best when it comes to transforming city streets for the safety and activity of all users.

June 12 - Next City

Texas

Commuting by Kayak Across Lake Austin

This story about man whose commute to work involves "water like glass" and chirping birds might make car commuters and straphangers envious.

June 12 - KUOW

Iowa Women of Achievement Bridge

Des Moines Has a Plan to 'Connect Downtown'

Des Moines is considering an ambitious complete streets makeover of its downtown streets.

June 12 - The Des Moines Register

Rainbow Crosswalk

Gay Neighborhoods Are Getting More and More Expensive

Trulia has created a "Neighborhood Pride Score" to determine the communities with the largest gay populations. Access to those neighborhoods comes at a high price.

June 12 - Trulia

Washington

Seattle Releases Draft Rezonings for its 'Urban Villages'

Seattle is planning to add height and density in "urban villages" around the city—part of the growth and affordability goals targeted by previous planning efforts by the city.

June 11 - The Urbanist

The Silent Expansion of Fiscal Control Boards in the U.S.

The power and process of boards that take control of a city or territory's finances is becoming more generalized, although they affect local democracy, impose austerity measures without controls, and lack mechanisms to evaluate their efficiency.

June 11 - Shelterforce/Rooflines

71 Street South Side Chicago

Downzoning in the Hopes of Attracting Prestige Businesses

South Side Chicago Alderman Leslie Hairston says downzoning 71st will help 'take control of our corridor,' but some worry the move is a power grab that will ultimately stifle prospects for the neighborhood.

June 11 - WBEZ

Highway Construction

Trump Ends Infrastructure Week by Streamlining the Permitting Process

President Trump made a compelling case for reducing the length of time needed to construct major infrastructure projects to justify the creation of a new White House council to streamline permitting. Only one problem: it already exists.

June 11 - U.S. News & World Report

FEMA Hurricane Sandy

New York Unveils Design Guidelines for Climate Resiliency

New York is piloting new building design guidelines aimed at improving the city's climate resiliency.

June 11 - Architectural Record

Post News
Senior Manager Operations, Urban Planning

New York City School Construction Authority

Building Inspector

Village of Glen Ellyn

Manager of Model Development

Central Transportation Planning Staff/Boston Region MPO

Top Books

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Top Schools

The definitive ranking of graduate planning programs.

100 Most Influential Urbanists

The who's who of urbanism, according to Planetizen readers.

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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.