The Daily Source of Urban Planning News
Detroit Residents Plant 15,000 Trees in a Day
The story of Hantz Woodlands—and a local philanthropist's vision to transform urban blight into an urban forest.
Gil Penalosa's 14-Point Prescription to Make St. Paul Great
Gil Penalosa was in the Twin Cities recently as part of the annual Placemaking Residency, convened by the Saint Paul Riverfront Corp. At the end of his stay, he prescribed 14 action points for Saint Paul.
Why School Integration Requires Neighborhood Integration
Emily Badger examines the role of housing segregation in obstructing the promise of Brown v. Board of Education.
Transportation Reauthorization Bill Breezes Past First Committee
Receiving a resounding vote of confidence from the Environment and Public Works Committee, the $265 billion, six-year MAP-21 reauthorization bill advanced on its path to keep federal transportation payments going to states through the summer.
The Case Against Bike Helmets
Should helmets be an optional accessory, rather than an absolute requirement? Or are helmets a sign of a culture not yet ready to embrace biking as a normal, safe activity?
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Planning For More Than Sports
The recent attempts to lure a NFL team to Los Angeles shows how successful site design will depend on the cultural characteristics of the uses of the site as much as it will depend on planning for land use and logistics.
The Need for Services for Denver's Suburban Homeless
Like in many other metro areas in the country, homelessness and poverty are spreading to the suburbs in Denver. And like in other suburban areas, homelessness hides better in the suburbs, so services can be scant for a problem that is large.
Missouri Legislators Vote to Cut Income Tax, Raise Sales Tax for Transportation
After voting to override Governor Jay Nixon's veto of an income tax cut, legislators agreed to allow voters to determine whether to increase the state sales tax by .75% in November for ten years to increase funding for transportation programs.
Dispersing Transit Commutes with Financial Incentives and Data
Urban Engines uses real-time transit data, and raffles, to encourage transit riders to commute during non-peak hours.
New Urbanism's Impact on Mid-Sized and Smaller Cities
Birmingham, Michigan; Albuquerque, New Mexico; Providence, Rhode Island; and others that adopted a new urban approach 15 or 20 years ago have transformed themselves.
Texas Outpaces California in Promoting Alternative-Fuel Vehicles
In the state of Big Oil, all types of electric cars, propane, and natural gas fueled vehicles qualify for a $2,500 cash incentive, thanks to a bill passed last year that broadens the current alternative-fueled truck program to light duty vehicles.
San Francisco Initiative Preempts Prop B—Asks Voters for Additional Height at Pier 70
Developer Forest City is getting a jump on the ballot box zoning trend in San Francisco. According to reports, the developer will go to the voters to ask for increased height for a large development at Pier 70 in the neighborhood known as Dogpatch.
Defending Atlanta from Anti-Sprawl Malcontents
Robert Bruegmann, professor emeritus of art history, architecture, and urban planning at the University of Illinois at Chicago, defends the recent attacks against Atlanta, especially regarding its sprawling footprint.
How To: Car-Free Jersey Shore
Atlantic Cities has a rich history in train transportation. Recently, visitors to the Jersey Shore have benefitted in a revival of car-free options for getting to—and around—the area.
Measuring Urban Design's Impact on Our Brains
Columbia University's Cloud Lab aims to measure participants' brainwaves and figure out their state of mind of as they experience their surroundings.
How Planning is Preserving Los Angeles' History
Los Angeles is coming of age, and with many cultures inhabiting many waves of development over the course of its settlement, the city's history is deep and rich. Recent articles detail multiple planning efforts aimed at preserving the city's history.
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.
Questioning the Privileges of Tactical Urbanism
Does tactical urbanism too-often benefit the point of view of a privileged population, leaving behind more pressing needs?
Calling for National Investments in Transportation Infrastructure
President Obama visited the Tappan Zee Bridge earlier this week to argue for a renewed commitment to transportation infrastructure.
How to Set Up a Real-Time Traffic Display in the Office (or at Home)
A post on the iStrategyLabs website describes some of the software and hardware requirements for building signs that display the arrival and departure of transit in your area.
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.
