The Daily Source of Urban Planning News

Commuter Rail Showdown: Houston versus Dallas
The rivalry between Dallas and Houston is well known, but Dug Begley recently made a compelling comparison between the two cities: their approach to commuter rail.

National Trust Releases its 27th Annual List of America's Most Endangered Historic Places
The National Trust for Historic Preservation has revealed its annual list of the most endangered places in the country. See anything you might miss when it's gone and can never come back?

FEATURE
What Can a 'Science of Cities' Offer Planners?
Research across a range of fields is beginning to offer useful new guidance for planning policy and practice—and pointing the way to more effective "bottom-up" strategies.

'Consider the Traffic Light'
Dan Saffer asks us to consider the traffic light—and there's plenty to think about.

The Case Against Clogging the Left Lane
June is "Lane Courtesy Month," and Vox used the occasion to describe the sometimes counter-intuitive reasons why drivers should refrain from driving in the left lane except when passing.
Why Would Anyone Want a Smart Home?
A tech columnist reviews the current state of smart home technology and finds that improvements will be necessary before widespread adoption can be expected.
Board Passes on Rent Freeze Despite Mayor de Blasio's Intentions
The New York City Rent Guidelines Board is one of the few ways Mayor Bill de Blasio can influence the price of housing in the city. All sides came away wanting when the board approved a historically low increase.
SFPark Releases Data on Two-Year Pilot Phase
The SFPark two-year pilot has concluded, and the city recently released comprehensive data that make a good case for its success in almost every possible metric of parking management. Now can the city expand the program?
Baltimore's First EcoDistrict: State Center Redevelopment Project
Baltimore's first test of the EcoDistrict green neighborhood program was enabled by a lawsuit that delayed the State Center redevelopment project for four years.
Environmentalists Settle Lawsuit on Plan Bay Area
Two down, two to go. Rarely has a regional transportation/land use plan been sued by so many diverse groups. Environmentalists settled with Bay Area regional planning agencies with assurances that the 2017 plan will better account for GHG reductions.
On the Endangered Value of Taxi Medallions
Emily Badger focuses on the signifier at the middle of the ongoing battle between taxi companies and transportation network companies like Uber, Lfyt, and Sidecar—the taxi medallion.
Re-Evaluating the Dynamic Duo: Olmsted and Moses
Anthony Flint examines the commonalities—and disparities—in the historic legacies of Frederick Law Olmsted and Robert Moses.
Paradox: Congestion May Signify Better Accessibility and Economic Productivity
Although transport planners consider traffic congestion economically harmful, economic productivity tends to increase with congestion and decline with increased road supply. This paradox can be explained by more nuanced analysis of accessibility.
Philadelphia Planners and Police Looking for Pedestrian Safety Solutions
Pedestrian safety in Philadelphia is a mixed bag. While it can often be a pleasant, pedestrian-friendly city, recent pedestrian deaths have highlighted the ongoing need to improve the safety of the Philadelphia's sidewalks and streets.
Is Los Angeles the Museum Capital of the United States?
Los Angeles County Planner Clement Lau continues his case for proclaiming the City of Angels as the museum capital of the United States.

Proliferation of 'Pop-Ups' Irks Washington D.C. Neighborhoods
Washington D.C. is experiencing a "rush" on new construction of renovated townhouses or "pop-ups," which many say do not fit the character of the neighborhoods where they tend to proliferate.
Breaking News: Supreme Court Strikes Down Part of Obama Climate Initiative
In a 5-4 decision on June 23, the Supreme Court ruled that EPA erred in the permitting processes for new carbon-cutting rules. However, most of the Clean Power Plant rule that reduces emissions 30 percent will not be affected.
Reducing the Number of Abandoned Properties in Louisville
Louisville, like many other cities around the country, has been working hard to reduce the number of abandoned buildings. Recent efforts have provided the city with a new road map for blight reduction.

Our Elders are Leading the Bike Boom
While biking might be seen as a young person's cause, new data from the National Household Travel Survey show that American's aged 60-79 are responsible for a huge chunk of new riders.
Dallas the Setting for a Discussion of 'New Cities'
After the New Cities Summit last week, and the U.S. Conference of Mayors this week, Dallas has been the location of a lot of recent discussion about the future of cities.
Pagination
Heyer Gruel & Associates PA
Ada County Highway District
Institute for Housing and Urban Development Studies (IHS)
City of Grandview
Harvard GSD Executive Education
Toledo-Lucas County Plan Commissions
Salt Lake City
NYU Wagner Graduate School of Public Service
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.