The Daily Source of Urban Planning News

Statewide Scooter Bill Falls Short in California
Legislation that would have preempted local laws, and had the support of major scooter companies, is now a two-year bill.

1,000 Residential Units on the Delaware River
A vacant parcel is located near the city's Graffiti Pier, which is slated to become a public park after closing in June.

Montreal and Quebec Work Together to Build Tramway and Pink Line
City officials from Quebec's two biggest cities have reached an agreement to try to improve transit across the region.

U.S. Pedestrian Fatalities Rise, While European Pedestrian Fatalities Fall
Europe proves to Americans that when it comes to pedestrian fatalities, it doesn't have to be this way.

Toronto Uber Drivers Join Union
In an attempt to collectively bargain with their employer, Uber drivers in Canada have joined one of the country’s largest union groups.

ICYMI: 12 States Hiked Gas Taxes on Monday
On July 1, Illinois and Ohio increased gas taxes by double digits: 19 cents per gallon and 10.5 CPG, respectively, followed by California at 5.6 CPG, all due to legislation passed this year or in 2017. Diesel tax hikes were even higher.

'OK Google, How Crowded is the Number 8 Bus?'
Google Maps will now share data about how crowded buses and trains are likely to be.

Waze Wants To Be a Carpooling Matchmaker
The Google-owned company has the data to connect commuters to possible carpool buddies, Whether Waze can stem the long-term decline in carpooling remains to be seen.

Land Grant Universities and the Community
Land grant universities are, by design, tasked with benefitting the communities in which they are located. The recent track record on that mission is mixed, according to a recent book on the subject.

Trump's Remarks on Homeless Make Cities an Ideological Battlefield
President Donald Trump has low opinions on the state of a few very specific cities.

Florida Preempts Local Zoning Laws That Prohibit Gardens
Many gardeners in Florida celebrated this week, as Senate Bill 82 went into effect, by planting fruits and vegetables in their yards, legally, whether their city liked it or not.

McDonald's: Where the Nation Feels Welcome
McDonald's takes a lot of heat for the quality of the food, but most Americans still associate the fast food giant's restaurants, and others like it, with family, community, and good times.

Scarce National Park Fee Money Will Fund Today's 'Salute to America'
The Trump administration's lack of concern for the National Park Service's growing maintenance backlog will be on display today, along with everything else.

Where, and Why, Allergies Are Worst
Your senses (or lack thereof) aren't deceiving you. Some cities really are worse for seasonal allergies than others, and some of the reasons are entirely preventable.

Curb Data Platform Expanding Reach, With Plans for More
More cities are leveraging technology to better manage one of the most confusing and congested spaces in the public realm: the curb.

Air Quality Slips After Decades of Progress
Southern California has long been leader in air quality management, but lately the news has not been good.

Op-Ed Supports Congestion Pricing for San Francisco
An opinion piece by Josh Wilson makes a case for a congestion pricing plan tailored specifically for the realities of living and working in San Francisco.
Rural Nursing Homes Closing at Rapid Rates
Nursing homes are closing in large numbers in rural communities as a result of a confluence of market pressures.

The Problem With All Those 'Livability' Rankings
Why is it that smallish cities in western Europe always score so well? Perhaps the underlying assumptions behind ostensibly data-driven "livability" rankings cater to a certain audience and leave most of us out.

Bay Area Planners Acknowledge the Need for Regional Housing Solutions
While most Bay Area communities are pursuing housing solutions "individually," local planners acknowledge the need for strategies that address the regional as a unified whole.
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