The Daily Source of Urban Planning News

Accessory Dwelling Unit

Appetite for ADUs Rises in San Jose

San Jose has issued a steadily-rising number of ADU permits in recent years. Now, Mayor Sam Liccardo has implemented measures to ease the process for homeowners who want to build granny flats.

August 30 - The Mercury News

Las Vegas strip

Nevada to Embark on 7-Year Program to Record Mileage of Motorists

Nevada is one of 15 states in the Western Road Usage Charge Consortium that are considering a transition from funding their transportation budgets largely by taxing the gallons of fuel that vehicles burn to charging drivers for miles driven.

August 30 - Route Fifty

California Governor

Governor Calls for 1.3 Million New Homes in Southern California

Local governments in Southern California have chafed at a call from Governor Gavin Newsom for 1.3 million new homes over the next decade. The Southern California Association of Governments has proposed only 430,000.

August 30 - The Los Angeles Times

Cattle Ranch

Tough Market for Luxury Ranches? Blame Generational Differences

Ranches aren't the only segment of the luxury market having a hard time selling at asking price.

August 30 - The Wall Street Journal

Highway Construction

$225 Million in Federal Funding for Rural Bridge and Highway Projects Announced

The U.S. Department of Transportation this week announced the recipients of $225 million in project funding under the Competitive Highway Bridge Program. The program is reserved for projects located in mostly rural states.

August 30 - U.S. Department Of Transportation


Seattle

What Are America's Fastest-Growing Cities?

Views about urban growth and decline often rely on statistics for metropolitan regions rather than cities proper. Here, Richard Florida looks at the fastest- and slowest-growing cities in America, separate from their metro areas.

August 30 - CityLab

Protest

Gender Bias in Urban Systems

A list of all the ways cities and infrastructure are designed for men, and at the expense of women.

August 29 - Streetsblog USA


Gold Coast and Old Town

Mortgage Lending in Homogenous Neighborhoods

A new study examines mortgage lending practices in racially homogenous neighborhoods for clues about how those neighborhoods differ from the aggregate, national market.

August 29 - Housing Policy Debate

Chicago skyline

New Energy Rating System for Chicago Buildings

The city will evaluate all buildings over 50,000 square feet and make the energy performance ratings and information easily accessible.

August 29 - Smart Cities Dive

Homelessness

Atlanta Reaches Fundraising Goal to Fund Homeless Housing

The United Way of Greater Atlanta partnered with the city to raise private money to help pay for 550 homes for the city's homeless.

August 29 - The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Metro Bus

Bus Ridership Declines Challenge Los Angeles

The Wall Street Journal reports that bus riders on the Los Angeles County Transportation Authority system has declined significantly in recent years.

August 29 - The Wall Street Journal

San Francisco Construction

A Plan to Fix the Leaning Tower of San Francisco

A luxury residential high rise, conspicuously located near the Bay Bridge in a quickly growing section of the city, could finally have a plan to fix its sagging foundation.

August 29 - San Francisco Chronicle

Texas Highways

BLOG POST

Smart Congestion Costing: A Critical Evaluation of the 'Urban Mobility Report'

The new "Urban Mobility Report" provides widely-cited congestion cost estimates. However, its analysis is neither comprehensive nor objective. Anybody using these estimates should understand its omissions and biases.

August 29 - Todd Litman

Presidential Campaign

Message to Candidates: Don't Forget Car Dependence When Tackling Fossil Fuels

Car dependence will have to end for the most ambitious climate plans put forward by Democratic candidates for president to have the desired effect.

August 29 - Curbed

Wall Prototypes

Report: Trump Willing to Break the Rules to Build Border Wall

Transit agencies, affordable housing developers, and many others might be envious of the kind of leeway sources say President Trump is willing to grant in the name of project delivery.

August 29 - The Washington Post

Alexandria, Virginia

A Car-Free Street Dream in Northern Virginia

The city of Alexandria has begun to explore the idea of transforming sections of King Street into a car-free pedestrian zone.

August 29 - Greater Greater Washington

Portland Interchange

Reports: Full Environmental Review Likely for Portland Freeway Widening Project

An initial environmental assessment for a project to widen I-5 in Portland claimed the project would improve air quality, congestion, and traffic safety. Critics of the project weren't convinced.

August 28 - Willamette Week

Vacant Lot in Detroit

In Detroit, Plant Growth on Vacant Land Has Created a Pollen Problem

The reforestation of Detroit has become a problem for allergy and asthma sufferers in the area.

August 28 - Undark Magazine

Pick-Up Truck

California Lawmaker Wants to Triple Electric Vehicle Rebates

Assemblyman Phil Ting seeks to dramatically increase the state electric vehicle sales rebate of $2,500, motivated in part by the phasing-out of the federal EV tax credit of $7,500. The bill rules out significant revenue sources.

August 28 - The San Diego Union-Tribune

renewable Energy

Offshore Wind Farms That Produce as Much Power as a Nuclear Plant

Offshore wind plants with huge turbines are generating tremendous quantities of power. Farms in China, the Netherlands, and the U.K. currently produce between 400-600 megawatts of electricity.

August 28 - Green Tech Media

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