The Daily Source of Urban Planning News

Transit Oriented Development Gaining Post-Recession Momentum in Maryland

A recent article describes the transit oriented development market in Maryland, where recession blues have given way to a boom.

June 9 - Baltimore Sun

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.

June 9 - Philadelphia Daily News

'Innovation Hubs' Called a Manufacturing Silver Bullet

A recent Wall Street Journal editorial calls for "Topic-specific, industry-led, and place-based…public-private hubs" as the key to a manufacturing renaissance. The idea is already being tested in four cities.

June 9 - The Wall Street Journal

Greenfield Multi-Family

Supply, Demand, and Affordable Housing

Bill Witte, president of Related California, one of the most active developers of residential and commercial properties on the West Coast, talks about real estate, affordable housing, and a squeezed middle class with The Planning Report.

June 8 - The Planning Report

Alibaba

BLOG POST

E-Commerce And The Future Of The City

Chinese cities have grown at an astounding pace over the past few decades, wholeheartedly embracing the automobile. The upcoming IPO of Alibaba and the rise of e-commerce heralds a new, possibly troubling chapter in China's urban development.

June 8 - Josh Stephens


Green Light for Red Light Cameras in California

A decisive California Supreme Court ruling on June 5 made life easier for jurisdictions to enforce red-light laws using traffic camera technology by stating that the photos have the "same presumption of validity as other types of photos and videos."

June 8 - KTVU.Com

Seattle Turns Streets to Play Areas

Seattle Department of Transportation launches "Play Streets" program to encourage some fun in the streets.

June 8 - Streets Blog


Bike Commuter

French Employees Get Paid to Bike to Work

French companies attempt to boost bike commutes by paying employees who cycle to work.

June 8 - Reuters

When Cleveland Gives Away Public Parking, the Browns Profit

The Cleveland City Council this week approved a new ordinance that gives away city-owned parking for free for the Cleveland Browns to use—and charge for—during games. High cost of free parking indeed.

June 8 - 19 Action News

Adaptive Reuse Driving San Francisco's Tech Boom

Tech firms have taken over more than three million square feet of existing office and industrial space in San Francisco—nearly the equivalent of New York City's new 1 World Trade Center building.

June 7 - New York Times

Will Obama's Climate Initiative Become the Obamacare of Regulations?

EPA's new Clean Power Plan Rule has taken on a political life of its own, with coal states adamantly opposed, helping those who allege that the administration is waging a "war on coal." We also look at the basis of the rule in the 1970 Clean Air Act.

June 7 - Politico Pro

'Structurally Deficient' Bridges on the Decline—Can States Continue the Trend?

All but nine states have decreased the number of "structurally deficient" bridges since the 2007 Minneapolis bridge collapse. That improvement, however, is far from permanent. Can the federal government and states maintain their progress?

June 7 - Governing

Tracking the Rate of Sprawl for U.S. Cities between 2000 and 2010

Many studies have measured and compared the sprawl of U.S. metropolitan areas. A recent study tracks the rate at which the same cities grew either less compact or more compact for the decade between 2000 and 2010.

June 7 - CityLab

How to Prevent National Forests Becoming 'National Ashtrays'

An editorial calls for innovative policy in post-fire recovery and reforestation. The recent release of the Environmental Impact Statement for the recovery of the Rim Fire should serve as a barometer for a "new public forestry."

June 7 - Sacramento Bee

Commute

Arguing for Cars, Not Transit, as a Poverty Solution

Data show that cars are more effective than transit in providing poor people to jobs and economic opportunity. But does that mean transit systems are fundamentally inadequate or just currently inadequate?

June 6 - The Daily Beast

MARTA's 2015 Budget Expands Rail Service

While many transit agencies around the country have increased fares in recent months to deal with budget deficits, Atlanta's MARTA has reported good financial news and has even proposed a 2015 budget that expands rail service.

June 6 - Atlanta Business Chronicle

Study Evaluates Protected Bike Lanes in the United States

The National Institute for Transportation and Communities released a new study this week called "Lessons from the Green Lanes: Evaluating Protected Bike Lanes in the U.S."

June 6 - Oregon Transportation Research and Education Consortium

The McMansion Strikes Back: New American Homes are Larger than Ever

According to new date from the U.S. Census, McMansions are back. In fact, the data indicates that the housing crash and recession was a temporary pause in the long-term trend of the always-expanding American home.

June 6 - The Washington Post - Wonkblog

California Water Suppliers Respond to Drought and Climate Change

Jeff Kightlinger, General Manager of the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California, details the ongoing preparation and response his regional water agency has championed in the face of the driest calendar year in the state's history.

June 6 - The Planning Report

Meet Boston's New Tech-Enabled 'Pop-Up' Bus Service

A private bus service launched this week in Boston that decides service based on crowdsourced data on where and when people need to travel.

June 6 - New York Times

Post News

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.

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.