Pennsylvania
Obama Intervenes On Philly Rail Strike
President Obama signs executive order to end SEPTA transit strike, establishes emergency labor mediation board in response to Governor Corbett's request.
Philadelphia-Area Commuter Rail on Strike
Two rail unions have forced a shut-down of the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority commuter rail service on Saturday (June 14), but not affecting SEPTA bus, trolley, subway or high speed rail service. Gov. Tom Corbett may take action.
Pennsylvania's $2.3 Billion Transportation Funding Plan Clearing Project Backlog
In November, Pennsylvania approved the state's comprehensive transportation funding plan, also known as Act 89. The plan will spend $2.3 billion over five years, and has provided a productive signal to regional and local transportation planning.
Why America Need Architecture Critics like Philadelphia's Inga Saffron
The writing of Inga Saffron "makes an ardent plea for more critics willing to take up the mantle of urban citizenship," according to a recent article in The Architectural Review.
The End of 'Slackerdom' in Austin (or Pittsburgh Rich vs. New York Poor)
Yes, that's a lot of cities in one headline. But recent urbanism media has included a lot of writers lamenting the rising cost of living in formerly bohemian locales while noticing former bohemians moving to more affordable regions.
Philadelphia City Council Moves Bikeshare Proposal Forward
A council committee has approved a bill that would pave the way for Bicycle Transit Systems to set up a bikeshare program in Philadelphia. The bill now moves to the full council.
Lessons from Philadelphia's Newest Pedestrian Plaza
Convincing neighborhood stakeholders and local businesses that shutting down a street to cars is a good idea can be a herculean task. After nine years of work to do just that, a group of advocates in Philadelphia has lessons to share.
How 'Hipster Economics' Romanticizes Blight and Compounds Inequality
A recent article refutes arguments used to defend gentrification, and in so doing identifies a culprit in glossing over the negative effects of displacement in areas both urban and suburban: hipster economics.
Pittsburgh's Mellon Square Reopens this Week
Diane Nelson Jones report that Pittsburgh's famous Mellon Square, called the city's "emerald oasis," will reopen this week after closing for renovations in 2011.
Should the 'Master' Be Removed from Planning?
Activists and officials in Philadelphia are currently debating the chosen nomenclature of one of the largest and most influential forms of planning—master planning.
Should Police Write More Jaywalking Tickets in Philadelphia?
A reporter in Philadelphia doesn't hold back the innuendo in a recent article about the city's efforts to improve pedestrian safety. The implication: pedestrians won't be safe until the police start writing jaywalking tickets.
Critiquing Philadelphia's Fairmount Park Master Plan
Architecture critic Inga Saffron describes a new master plan for Philadelphia's signature piece of open space as "important" and "welcome," but still finds that it falls short in addressing some of the park's critical needs.
Philadelphia Continues Zoning Tweeks
The Philadelphia City Council has been busy, proposing multiple bills to rezone a few neighborhoods and parcels around the city. Many of the proposed changes follow the guidance on the city's Philadelphia2035.
Urban America's 'Reconnaissance Mission for Progressive Politics'
Recent commenters have described cities as the locus for a new type of liberalism that benefits a broader swath of demographics. Dissenters wonder whether certain progressive cities, enabled by privilege, are merely drivers of inequality.
Nuisance Liens Persist in Philadelphia—City Owed $423 Million
An investigation by the Philadelphia Inquirer finds that Philadelphia is owed $423 million in "nuisance liens" or unpaid bills for the city's Department of Licenses and Inspections. The city has only collected $15.6 million in owed liens since 2009.
Riverfront Revitalization Rolls On in Pittsburgh
A recent article revisits the accomplishments of the Pittsburgh over the past 15 years in revitalizing the waterfronts of the Monongahela, Allegheny and Ohio rivers.
Happy Ending for Controversial Development Proposal in Philadelphia
Once a developer provokes the ire of the community surrounding a proposed development and the word NIMBY gets bandied about, chances for a mutually beneficial solution are slim to none. Not so with the One Riverside project in Philadelphia.
On the State of Architecture Criticism
Inga Saffron recently joined a very small group of architecture critics to win the Pulitzer Prize. What does her victory say about the state of criticism, especially built environment criticism, today?
Freeway Cap, Penn’s Landing Waterfront Details Emerging in Philadelphia
Project planners estimate that a $200 million investment in an 11-acre cap park over I-95 that will reconnect the city with the Delaware River could return $1 billion in private investment.
Pittsburgh Land Bank Approved—With Compromises
Pittsburgh recently approved a land bank to acquire properties when owners fall behind on property taxes. The question about how much control to grant an independent authority, or maintain with the City Council, remains controversial.
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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City of Laramie
