The Daily Source of Urban Planning News
In Absence of Gas Tax Increases, States Look to Tolls
States are increasingly looking to alternative transportation revenue sources due to the failure of state and federal gas taxes to keep up with inflation and transportation needs. More states are turning toward tolling to make up the gap.
Bloomberg Loses Battle for Ambitious Midtown Upzoning
It was supposed to be the crowning land use achievement in a mayoral reign that saw 40 percent of New York City rezoned. But statements indicate the City Council is set to shelve Mayor Bloomberg's controversial Midtown East upzoning.
Affordability Must Measure Transportation Costs, Say Feds
A new tool launched by the U.S. DOT and HUD builds on the Center for Neighborhood Technology's innovative Housing + Transportation Index to give Americans a better picture of the complete costs of their housing choices.
Struggling Cities Demolish Their Way to Growth
Saddled with thousands of vacant buildings, and little hope of recovering lost population, cities such as Baltimore, Buffalo, and Cleveland are pursuing large-scale demolitions. Shrinking cities are changing the very practice of urban planning.
Southern California's Great Park Gets a Colossal Cut
Landscape architect Ken Smith's bold vision for a Central Park-like open space in Irvine has been hobbled by funding shortfalls. Seeking a way to move forward, the city is considering cutting key elements in favor of a developer-led proposal.
Pro-Car Campaigns Target Copenhagen Election
Copenhagen's bike-friendly policies have become the envy of the world, but some of the city's residents are unhappy with anti-auto "discrimination". Opposition parties are hoping to ride that discontent to victory in next week's local elections.
Pocketbook Power to the People: Chicago Expands Participatory Budgeting
Five years after Chicago's Rogers Park neighborhood pioneered participatory budgeting in the United States, the bottom-up budgeting practice is gaining adherents across the country. Can Rogers Park's experiment find success citywide?
Proposed Bike Lane in Alexandria Provokes (one) Cry of "Bike Wars"
A weekend op-ed in the Wall Street Journal rallying against a proposed Alexandria, Va. bike lane has likened the fight to save 37 parking spaces on par with the Revolution and the War of 1812. Could this be the revenge of Dorothy Rabinowitz?
Brazilian Boom Town's Troubles are a Warning for Emerging Cities
One of Brazil's most prosperous cities is experiencing a highly visible decline in the quality of life for many residents. Rising crime, stalled infrastructure projects, and general dissatisfaction are turning Salvador into a “failed city”.
The Super Typhoon and Climate Change
The head of the Philippines delegation at the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change in Warsaw suggests climate change is responsible for Typhoon Haiyan. Is he right? Quartz investigates the connection.
It's Time to Bring Bold Planning Back to Boston
As a reaction to the excesses of urban renewal, Boston has refrained from comprehensive planning for nearly 40 years. With a new mayor set to take office, it's time to create a new master plan for the city, argues a commentary in the Globe.
Why New York's Inequality Is a Good Thing
Though he may not find a lot of agreement among the 750,000 residents who voted for Bill de Blasio, Ed Glaeser argues that New York City's extreme inequality is a sign of its economic diversity and success, and is nothing to be ashamed about.
Bucking Trends, Atlanta's Baseball Team Decamps for the Suburbs
After playing just 17 seasons at downtown Atlanta's Turner Field, which was built for the 1996 Olympics, the city's baseball team is giving up their urban home for a new stadium 14 miles northwest of the city.
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How Many Bicycles Can Park In The Space Required By One Car? Don’t Ask PolitiFact.
PolitiFact holds politicians accountable for their claims, but how accountable is PolitiFact? Not very. It inaccurately answered a simple planning question, and was unwilling to clarify or correct its false judgment.
Life in the Bubble: D.C. Area Becomes "A Megalopolis of Eggheads"
Washington D.C.'s suburbs, where so-called "super zips" of highly educated and highly paid households abound, have become an extreme example of the growing physical segregation of American metros into areas of poverty and affluence.
In China's Model New Town Urbanization Equals Ghettoization
Outside of Tianjin, in northern China, a model new town has become a symbol of something less exemplary - the country's struggles with urbanization. Broken promises and scant opportunities are creating trying conditions for former farmers.
Sickened by Site Visit, Feds Want to Halt Drilling at Central L.A. Oil Field
Sen. Barbara Boxer is calling for an oil field owned by the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of L.A. to suspend operations after EPA officials were sickened during a recent site visit. The field has been the subject of hundreds of neighbor complaints.
Did Sesame Street Help Spark America's Urban Revival?
At the height of America's suburban expansion, a children's show premiered that was set in a dense urban environment. Steve Patterson wonders if the young adults now embracing urban lifestyles learned to love cities by watching Sesame Street.
Will an Attack on Inequality Sway London Voters?
Concerns over growing inequality swept Bill de Blasio into New York City's Mayor's office last week. Could an election campaign based on the same theme help David Lammy become London's first black mayor?
Ohio State Senators Want to Ban LEED
If two Ohio state senators get their way, the Buckeye State will be the latest on the anti-LEED bandwagon.
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