Pennsylvania

An Urban Lesson From the DNC's Host City
While Democrats consider the future of the country, the host city of the DNC offers a great urban lesson from the past: the elegant efficiency of rowhouses.

Pondering the Continued Existence of the 'Rust Belt'
A recent spate of articles has pondered the concepts and planning strategies at work in the region of the country described as the Rust Belt.
Effort Underway to Halt Pennsylvania's Gas Tax Increase
Pennsylvania has the nation's highest state gas and diesel taxes, 51.4 cents per gallon and 65.1 cents per gallon, respectively. Both are scheduled to increase up to 10 cents on Jan 1. A bill has been introduced to halt all future fuel tax increases.

Too Much Programming, Not Enough Protesting at Philadelphia's Dilworth Park
The Pulitzer Prize-winning architecture critic for the Philadelphia Inquirer raises pointed questions about the purpose of public space such as Dilworth Park, which has been absent of protests since it was remodeled two years ago.

Families Departing Philadelphia for the Suburbs
That headlining claim is found in a recent research study from Pew Charitable Trust's Philadelphia Research Initiative—more demographic goodies are included.

$9.3M Awarded to Affordable Housing Development in Philly
The Pennsylvania Governors Office announced that eight developers were awarded a total $9.3M in tax credits from the Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency (PHFA) to build 495 affordable housing units in the city of Philadelphia.

Denver's Commuter Rail Cars: Same as SEPTA's But Without the Defects
Denver's transit agency is running very similar Hyundai Rotem EMUs on their new A Line to the airport. The car shells are imported from South Korea and assembled in the same Philadelphia plant as SEPTA's problem-plagued Silverliner V cars.

Philadelphia Discovers the Difficulties of Restoring a Wood-Paved Street
A failed 2012 restoration of South Camac, meant to last five years, only made it until 2015. Now it will have to wait until 2017 to see the historic street paved in wood again.

SEPTA Forced to Take 120 Regional Trains Out of Service for Repairs
SEPTA commuters traveling to and from Delaware will spend the summer in transit gridlock, as 120 trains undergo necessary repairs to a serious structural flaw.

More Residents and Workers Using Fewer Parking Spaces in Philly's Center City
The findings of a report on changes occurring in Philadelphia Center City finds more residents and workers walking, biking, and taking transit. (Thankfully, they aren't all looking for parking every day.)
Connecticut Among States Competing for Federal Grants to Study Mileage Fees
Connecticut state legislators may not like vehicle-miles-traveled (VMT) fees, but that hasn't stopped the state Department of Transportation from joining other states in applying for $2.1 million from the U.S. DOT to study the road user fee.

National Initiative to Address Structural Racism in Cities
Five U.S. cities will examine how their government operations impact people of color, and come up with solutions to advance racial equity.

Pennsylvania Legislators Propose New Commercial Development in State Parks
A pair of legislative proposals in the Pennsylvania State Legislature would open the door to private development in the state park system.

Pennsylvania Legislation to Address Billboard Impacts
Residents in towns around Pennsylvania are calling for regulations to better understand and mitigate the impacts of large digital and static billboards.
All the Ways Section 8 Vouchers Go to Waste
With a lack of suitable rental units and a lack of willing landlords, the city of Pittsburgh provides a case study for the failure of the Housing Choice Voucher Program to live up to its potential.

Plans Released for $6.5 Billion Development in Philadelphia
Planners have completed a two-year study of the area around the 30th Street Station in the University City neighborhood in Philadelphia.
Pittsburgh Suburb Rejects Zoning Change for Proposed Power Plant
A zoning controversy could continue into a legal appeal.

660 Acres Donated to Pittsburgh to Become City's Largest Park
The city of Pittsburgh is celebrating the conveyance of 660 acres of property known as Hays Woods. The property will one day become the largest park in the city.

7 'Smart Cities Challenge' Proposals
The Washington Post details each of the seven proposals competing for $40 million in the U.S. Department of Transportation's Smart Cities Challenge.

Are Ride-Hailing Services Complementing or Competing with Rail Transit?
A news report on Charlotte's Lynx Blue Line looks at whether ride-hailing services are complementing rail transit by providing vital first mile-last mile service or whether customers are forgoing the transit trip entirely. Ridership has been falling.
Pagination
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.
New York City School Construction Authority
Village of Glen Ellyn
Central Transportation Planning Staff/Boston Region MPO
Chaddick Institute at DePaul University
Institute for Housing and Urban Development Studies (IHS)
City of Grandview
Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada
Toledo-Lucas County Plan Commissions