The Daily Source of Urban Planning News

Historic Drought Plan Approved by Congress
The Colorado River Drought Contingency Plan will head to President Trump's desk for an expected signature before heading back to seven states for final ratification.

Facebook AI Maps Population Density
Facebook expects to release its worldwide maps of human density in the coming months—potential applications will likely be somewhere on the spectrum between humanitarian and commercial.

Rather Than Banning Cars, Amsterdam Reduces On-Street Parking
Amsterdam will pursue the Oslo model of targeting parking spots, rather than driving bans, to make for a walk-and-bike friendly city. On-street parking spaces will gradually be replaced, starting July 1, with bike lanes, sidewalks, and trees.

Provincial Takeover of Subway Planning in Toronto Underway
Ontario Premier Doug Ford announced a new plan for subway expansion in Toronto today.

Bay Area Transportation Planners Breathing Easier After Court Ruling
A total of $4.5 billion in road and transit projects was at stake in a state taxpayer group's lawsuit against a regional ballot measure approved by voters in June 2018.

Interactive Mapping Tool Illustrates the Impact of California's Big Housing Bill
University of California, Berkeley researchers have mapped the impact of SB 50, a bill that would allow new density around train stations and bus stops in cities all over the state of California.

Study Measures the Economic Impact of Public Transit in the Cleveland Region
The Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority faces constant threats of budget cuts and service reductions, but its impact on the regional economic is vast.

EPA Scientists Warn: Climate Change Will Cost the U.S. Hundreds of Billions a Year
Experts are calling a recent study published by researchers from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency the most thorough examination yet of the potential impacts of climate change on the U.S. economy.

Portland Completes Massive 20 MPH Speed Limit Overhaul
All of Portland's 3,000 miles of residential streets now have a maximum speed of 20 miles per hour. Similar changes could be coming to more Oregon cities in the future.

Inclusionary Zoning Under Consideration for Pittsburgh Neighborhood
Legislation before the Pittsburgh Planning Commission this week would implement inclusionary zoning requirements for the neighborhood of Lawrenceville.

Bill to Ban Red Light Cameras Statewide Can't Get Past the Texas Legislature
A committee chair changed his mind about the consequences of a bill that would ban red light cameras in the entire state of Texas. The legislator didn't want, to paraphrase, blood on his hands.

Toronto Streetcar Experiment Likely to Be Made Permanent
The city of Toronto did something radical and gave its streetcar its own lane on King Street as part of a pilot project launched in 2018. The results included improved service and increased ridership.

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Scooter Media Brief: Electric Scooters Emerge Victorious in the Dockless Bike Share Game
At the beginning of 2017, few people in the United States could have predicted the quick rise to prominence of dockless bike share companies. Even fewer could have predicted what would happen next.

Kamala Harris Reintroduces 'Rent Relief Act'
The Rent Relief Act would provide a refundable tax credit for renters who pay more than 30% of their income on rent.

Preventing Homelessness Through Data Analysis
Predictive analytics can help identify vulnerable people early and deliver necessary services before they descend into homelessness.

New Bike Infrastructure Standard Set in Cambridge
Cambridge, Massachusetts has made a thorough commitment to building robust bike infrastructure with every street repair project.

Slow-Growth Measure Headed to the Ballot in Colorado's Fifth-Largest City
Voters in Lakewood, Colorado, have a chance to enact anti-development policies that would place new limits on the number of new housing units that could be built in the city, while also placing new controls on the approvals process.

Report: Modest Congestion Charge Would Produce Dramatic Results in Los Angeles
Applying a cordon toll as low as $4 in Los Angeles would result in a 20% reduction in traffic congestion and modest increases in transit ridership, walking, and biking, according to a new study from the Southern California Association of Governments.

A Car-Centric Past and a More Vertical Future in Phoenix
Phoenix has the zoning for more height in its downtown, and future development might finally yield a more recognizable skyline.

Finding Ways for States and Cities to Work Together to Solve the Housing Crisis
The National League of Cities has a new report surveying local tools for addressing the housing affordability crisis. State partnerships are included.
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