The Daily Source of Urban Planning News

Behold the First-Ever Regional Transit Map of New York

For anyone not a fan of the Seattle Seahawks, the best result of this year's Super Bowl might have been the first-ever regional transit map of New York.

February 3 - Atlantic Cities

Barrio Logan Community Plan's Political Rift Deepens in San Diego

The city of San Diego adopted the Barrio Logan plan a few months ago, provoking a successful movement to place a referendum on a future ballot. The city’s mayoral race could hinge on the issue, with large military contractors as political donors.

February 3 - San Diego Reader

Harvard Square

Ranking the '10 Most Exciting Suburbs'

Ranking suburbs on metrics of excitement? That’s a zesty response to the suburb-bashing parlance of the times, and the Movoto Real Estate Blog has done just that.

February 3 - Movoto Blog

In Transit, Is Better Station Architecture Worth the Cost?

Do transit stations with sleeker designs boost ridership? Evidence suggests that the answer may be yes. But does that mean that we should spend limited transit funds on better architecture?

February 3 - Atlantic Cities

Woman in Bike Lane, Toronto, Canada

Bike and Pedestrian Infrastructure Financing Bill Introduced in Congress

Rep. Albert Sires (D-N.J.) introduced the New Opportunities for Bicycle and Pedestrian Infrastructure Financing Act of 2014 (H.R. 3978), modeled on TIFIA, to promote investment in bike and pedestrian facilities to make streets safer for all modes.

February 3 - NJ.com


‘Mass-Transit Super Bowl’ Not-So-Super for Attendees

With parking limited around the stadium for yesterday’s Super Bowl, attendees relied on the New York region’s transit system to get to and from the game. After months of worry about the weather, mass transit was the Least Valuable Player on game day.

February 3 - New York Times

Oakland skyline and San Francisco Bay

How to ‘Not Be a Gentrifier’—Oakland Edition

As an urbanist, it can be easy to think of gentrification as a macroeconomic trend or a collection of data points, not as an individual experience. A community organizer in Oakland would like to bring the issue home for the city’s newcomers.

February 3 - Oakland Local


After Tornadoes, Towns Plan for the Future

Dealing with the scars left by past tornadoes, towns like Greensburg, Kansas, have involved the community in planning efforts to rebuild and reimagine the future.

February 3 - Chicago Tribune

Millennials—Saviors of St. Louis?

Writing more than just a defense of the urban proclivities of Millennials, Alex Ihnen argues that starting with Generation X, young people have saved St. Louis from death by contraction.

February 3 - nextSTL.com

Hoboken vanity plates

BLOG POST

The Pluck of Dawn Zimmer

Planners can learn a lot about the havoc money unleashes on otherwise benign development plans from the moral fortitude displayed by Hoboken Mayor Dawn Zimmer.

February 3 - Ian Sacs

Wrestling with the ‘D’ Word (Density)

There are few hot buttons in planning conversation like the word “density.” One writer in San Diego claims that the breakdown inspired by the term originates from concerns with cars, not buildings.

February 3 - Voice of San Diego

BLOG POST

See-Saws, Circles, and Narrative Fallacies

A minor word of caution on statistical inference and the stories it can tell

February 3 - Norman Wright

BLOG POST

The Roots of Snowmageddon

Last week, many Atlantans were stuck in traffic overnight because of fewer than three inches of snow. What went wrong?

February 2 - Michael Lewyn

La City Hall Cycling

8 New Jobs City Hall Needs Now

City Hall isn't what it once was. Here are eight new positions that your local government should be hiring for this year.

February 2 - Future Cities

Proposed design for Glendale-Hyperion Bridge

Bridge Redesign a Victory for Pedestrian, Cycling Advocates

In Los Angeles, months of agitation by pedestrian and bicycling advocates have finally paid off.

February 2 - LA Streetsblog

Stayin’ Alive: The life and death prospects of community ties

Connected communities aren't just about fun and frolic. When the goin' gets rough, they can make the difference between life and death.

February 2 - PlaceShakers

Tax and Borrow Plan Advanced by Delaware Gov. Markell to Fund Transportation

The 10-cent gas tax hike the governor proposed would only meet Delaware's transportation needs half-way. Gov. Markell also endorsed borrowing $50 million a year, matching the additional gas tax revenues. Combined, DelDot's debt load would be reduced.

February 2 - Smyrna-Clayton Sun-Times

Behind the Scenes of Philly's New Land Bank Law

In Philadelphia, an alliance of unusual suspects worked together to convince the city to create the land bank. The law isn't perfect but the new land bank will significantly improve the city’s vacant property process.

February 2 - Shelterforce

Bringing Caltrans Into The 21st Century

Can the nation's largest state department of transportation, long oriented to building highways and fighting congestion, be brought into the modern, multi-modal era? The State Smart Transportation Initiative's report for Caltrans may do just that.

February 1 - The Sacramento Bee

Step Right Up: Play the City Name Game

Nomenclature changes, especially for cities with chronologies spanning centuries and even millennia. Test your knowledge of historic, even ancient, place names.

February 1 - Guardian Cities

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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.