Oregon

Oregon Capitol

Oregon Moves to Lift Inclusionary Zoning Ban

By a vote split (nearly) down the party line, the Oregon House passed a bill to end state restrictions on inclusionary zoning. Municipalities may soon be able to require below-market pricing.

April 24, 2015 - Bike Portland

Farmland 'Blight' to Make Way for Industrial Uses Near Portland

Looking to add some industrial heft to the Portland, Oregon region's economy, a recent study makes the case for the North Hillsboro Industrial Area to be built on what is currently farmland.

April 14, 2015 - The Oregonian

Businesses Want Vermont to Adopt Nation's First Carbon Tax

Vermont's legislature will take up the carbon tax proposal this week. The tax is construed as largely revenue neutral, i.e., offset by tax decreases and credits, and apply to heating and transportation fuels. Gov. Peter Shumlin has doubts.

April 13, 2015 - WCAX-TV

Counties Seek State Aid as Drought Deepens in Oregon

California's drought is getting all the press, but much of Oregon is in the fourth year of drought, with this year now qualifying as "exceptional drought."

April 10, 2015 - The Oregonian

Controversial Propane Export Terminal Moves Forward in Portland

The city of Portland is considering a propane export terminal project for the Port of Portland. The export terminal is just one of many energy export facilities under consideration in the Pacific Northwest.

April 8, 2015 - KUOW

Water Pipelines Powering Homes in Portland

A new subterranean turbine technology is now generating enough electricity to power 150 homes in the city of Portland.

April 5, 2015 - Citymetric

Portland-Milwaukie Light Rail Connection Due On Time, Under Budget

The thing of legend will come to pass: the TriMet Portland-Milwaukie light rail construction project is expected for delivery on time and between $10 and $40 million under budget.

March 30, 2015 - Progressive Railroading

North Carolina Struggles to Prevent Deep Gas Tax Cut

The News & Observer's "road worrier" (not a typo!), Bruce Siceloff, provides ongoing coverage of the sad saga of North Carolina's gas tax, set to be adjusted downwards by statute.

March 23, 2015 - The News & Observer

Alberta Arts District Mural Portland

A Response to the Loss of Black Communities in Portland

A five-minute video funded by the James F. and Marion L. Miller Foundation tells the story of black communities struggling to preserve their traditions in what's been called the whitest city in the United States.

March 17, 2015 - Oregon Humanities

Urban Renewal District Ready to Pay Off in Beaverton

An urban renewal district established in 2011 in the city of Beaverton, Oregon has so far fallen short of its 150-million potential. But as the local economy improves, so too does the tax increment and bond financing potential of the district.

March 12, 2015 - The Oregonian

GPS Technology Chosen for Oregon's Road Usage Charge

Oregon's much heralded mileage fee program, known as OReGO, has selected the technology to record the miles driven by participants. A French and Canadian company will collaborate to provide a telematics road usage charging framework to begin July 1.

March 11, 2015 - Automotive News

Oregon Bill Would Require Reflective Clothing for Bikers

State lawmakers in Oregon are the latest to consider a law that would require bikers riding at night to wear reflective clothing.

March 9, 2015 - Bike Portland

Another California First: the End of the Carbon Externality for Motorists

California's cap-and-trade market saw its largest carbon sale, $1.02 billion, thanks to millions of motorists now paying about a dime a gallon for the right to emit carbon for the first time since the program began in November 2012.

March 3, 2015 - The Sacramento Bee

Portland Bike Safety Signage

Portland Planners Asked to Say 'No' More Often

The head of Portland's Bureau of Development Services is asking that planners raise standards for discretionary review of development proposals. Among the points made to planners in a recent memo: customer service is not the same as getting to "yes."

February 18, 2015 - The Oregonian

View of Portland, Oregon from Pittock Mansion

Portland Tops Gentrification Study

Research published by Governing Magazine finds that Portland, Oregon is the U.S. city with the highest degree of gentrification in this century.

February 17, 2015 - Fusion

Transitmix Finds Professional Applications, Municipal Partners

Transitmix, an online tool for sketching out and testing fantasy transit routes, has evolved beyond its original mass appeal to become a trusted tool for transportation planners around the country.

February 9, 2015 - CityLab

Netherlands Homes

5 Ways to Add Density (High Rises Not Included)

In some cities the idea of adding a high rise is always dead on arrival, even if the city desperately needs to add density. For those communities facing similar challenges, a post on Blooming Rock offers five ways to think outside the high-rise box.

February 8, 2015 - Blooming Rock

California Committee to Consider Road User Charge

Gov. Jerry Brown has an environmental goal that conflicts with an infrastructure goal: reducing oil consumption and raising funds to pay for deferred road needs. The solution may be the Road User Charge, which lies in the hands of a new committee.

January 26, 2015 - Inside Bay Area.com

Bikeshare in Eugene Looking Like a Winner for 'ConnectOregon' Grants

Bike Portland reports that a state committee recommended a Eugene bikeshare system as a top priority for a new round of "ConnectOregon" grants.

January 14, 2015 - Bike Portland

Anatomy of a Failed Infrastructure Project: Columbia River Crossing

Bloomberg Businessweek examines the failed Columbia River Crossing project as a poster child for how political dysfunction is derailing critically needed infrastructure.

January 12, 2015 - Bloomberg BusinessWeek

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.

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.