As cell phones, GPS systems, dashboard computers, and roadside sensors create more accurate traffic reports, the ubiqituous AM radio helicopter traffic report could be a thing of the past.
"...Decades after radio stations put spotters in helicopters, new methods of gathering and disseminating traffic data are emerging, methods that combine roadside sensors, automobile navigation systems, and wireless connections to provide real-time customized traffic information.
"'Charlie in the Chopper is a marketing guy,' said Doug Finlay, chief executive of SpeedInfo. 'He says traffic's heavy on 128.' And you say, 'Boy, am I glad I'm not there.' He's not providing information, but entertainment."
"But WBZ-AM (1030) general manager Ted Jordan said he's not concerned that the new technologies might threaten BZ's 'Traffic on the 3's' franchise, the traffic reports that air every 10 minutes through much of the day."
"As long as I can remember, people have been predicting the end of AM radio," Jordan said. "Television was going to kill it, then FM radio. But AM just kept morphing."
FULL STORY: Traffic reports without choppers
Florida Considers Legalizing ADUs
Current state law allows — but doesn’t require — cities to permit accessory dwelling units in single-family residential neighborhoods.
HUD Announces Plan to Build Housing on Public Lands
The agency will identify federally owned parcels appropriate for housing development and streamline the regulatory process to lease or transfer land to housing authorities and nonprofit developers.
Manufactured Crisis: Losing the Nation’s Largest Source of Unsubsidized Affordable Housing
Manufactured housing communities have long been an affordable housing option for millions of people living in the U.S., but that affordability is disappearing rapidly. How did we get here?
Research: Walkability Linked to Improved Public Health
A study reveals that the density of city blocks is a significant factor in communities’ walkability and, subsequently, improved public health outcomes for residents.
Report Outlines Strategies for Resilient Wildfire Recovery in LA
Project Recovery offers a roadmap for rebuilding more sustainable and climate-resilient communities after wildfires and other disasters.
New Executive Order Renews Attack on Public Lands
An order issued late last week pushes for increased mineral extraction on federally owned public lands.
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.
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Institute for Housing and Urban Development Studies (IHS)
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