The Daily Source of Urban Planning News

Taco Bell Making a Run for the Urban Border
Popular millennial-focused chain plans to open up to 200 locations of a new urban-focused concept serving craft beer and fresh, upscale food.

Trump Administration's Draft Budget Raises New Concerns About Data Collection
President Trump has made no secret of his disdain for many of the traditional data points used to represent the health and prosperity of the country. The budgetary process offers an opportunity to match words with action.

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Most Livable Cities Revisited
This "livable cities" ranking considers transit, walkability, and bikeability.

Electric Vehicle Fees: Where's the Controversy?
Some may find it silly to get worked up over an annual fee of about $100 to pay for road maintenance when electric vehicle purchasers receive a $7,500 federal tax credit, on top of generous state perks, but electric vehicle supporters object to them.

Trump Administration Budget Draft Could Cut HUD Budget, Planning Grants, More
The Washington Post has a big scoop about the early draft of the Trump Administration's budget for the Department of Housing Urban Development.

Houston's First Bike Plan Since 1993 Will Wait a Few More Weeks
Houston bike advocates were hoping the City Council would act on the city's first new bike plan since 1993. Instead, the plan will have to wait while councilmembers decide about how to approach funding for the plan's proposed projects.

California Pushing Out Low Income Residents
California has lost a quarter million low income residents over the last decade, in large part because of the high cost of housing.

Incentives and Non-Traditional Strategies Solving Common City Problems
Small reminders and suggestions can add up to big changes for cities that "nudge" citizens.

Too Much Parking in Boston
A Massachusetts regional planning agency says many of Boston's neighborhoods have too many unused parking spaces.

Rust Belt Cities Shouldn't Demolish Their Way to the Future
In a piece for CityLab, Richey Pipparinen argues that trigger-happy city officials need to slow down their push to demolish homes.
Albany, New York, Putting Finishing Touches on Comprehensive Zoning Reform
Earlier this week, Albany Mayor Kathy Sheehan sent a draft of the city's new Unified Sustainable Development Ordinance to the city's Common Council.

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Early Exposure to Public Transportation Can Lead to More Sustainable Travel Later in Life
Michael Smart and Nicholas Klein guest blog about their recent article in the Journal of Planning Education and Research.

A Design-Focused Reading List for International Women's Day
A reading list inspired by International Women's Day delves into subjects like "empathy in design to the challenge of defining diversity."

L.A. Planning Referendum, Measure S, Soundly Defeated
Measure S and an oddly timed election brought planning and development to the center of the public consciousness in Los Angeles for a few months. The voters resoundingly supported one side of the issue.

As Development Booms in Downtown Boise, Easy Parking Gets Tougher
The influx of new workers and residents in Downtown Boise has lead to a parking crunch, raising parking rates and leaving city officials searching for alternative solutions.

Uncertain Future for Electric Vehicles if Fuel Efficiency Standards Relaxed
The U.S. EPA has signaled that it will withdraw an earlier decision to maintain the 54.5 miles per gallon target. Should that happen, a major casualty will be electric vehicles, according to one prominent EV advocate interviewed on NPR.

Sand: Another Victim of Global Urbanization
Headlined by vertical (and horizontal) sprawl in China, India, and elsewhere, the global building boom requires vast quantities of concrete and asphalt. And to get those materials, sand must be taken from the environment.

Sun Belt Sprawl Might Not Be Forever
Will sprawling cities stay sprawled? Starting in their downtowns, some Sun Belt behemoths are embracing denser, more walkable forms.

Wicker Park, Bucktown Gets New Master Plan
The Wicker Park and Bucktown neighborhoods in Chicago will update their master plan to keep pace with the north side Chicago growing wealth and popularity.

Civil Right Groups, Environmentalists Team Up to Block Milwaukee Highway Expansion
An already troubled proposal to widen the I-94 Freeway in Milwaukee has now encountered a legal setback.
Pagination
Tyler Technologies
New York City School Construction Authority
Village of Glen Ellyn
Transportation Research & Education Center (TREC) at Portland State University
Chaddick Institute at DePaul University
Institute for Housing and Urban Development Studies (IHS)
Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada
Toledo-Lucas County Plan Commissions
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.