The Daily Source of Urban Planning News

Chicago

New Guide Helps Citizens and Communities Understand Zoning

"Chicago Land Use: A Guide for Communities" is a new online resource whose release has been accompanied by community events to share info and empower Chicagoans to understand the zoning where they live.

January 14 - South Side Weekly

San Francisco Houses

CA Gov.: Cities Must Meet Housing Goals or State Will Withhold Gas Tax Funds

Newly inaugurated California Gov. Gavin Newsom made waves on Thursday in his budget address, threatening cities and counties with the possibility of losing a portion of their gas tax subventions if they fail to meet their state housing requirements.

January 14 - Streetsblog California

Bike and Scooter SHare

The Percent of Americans Using Ride Hailing Services is Going Up…Fast

in 2015, 28% of 18-29 year-olds said they had used Lyft or Uber. In 2018, that number jumped to 51% according to a Pew Research study.

January 14 - Pew Research Center

New York Public Transit

New Subway Cars Pulled Out of Service in New York Due to Defects

Dozens of subway cars manufactured by Bombadier for the New York subway have defects. Some 48 of 112 new cars have defects, and the rest of an order of 300 subways cars has yet to be filled.

January 14 - Daily News

Single-Family Housing Development

FEATURE

Urban Planning Trends to Watch in 2019

A few ideas about what to watch in the world of planning in 2019. We only use the word Trump once.

January 14 - James Brasuell


Washington, D.C.

Federal Shutdown Threatens Rental Assistance Program

The ongoing shutdown of the federal government could begin to have terrible consequences for some of the nation's most vulnerable populations.

January 13 - NBC

Bank Owned

From Vacant Property to Affordable Housing Development

The city of St. Petersburg provides a model for transforming blight to a blessing.

January 13 - Governing


New Orleans Streetcar

New Orleans Planning Bus Service Improvements, Pending Budget Surplus

The New Orleans Regional Transit Authority's budget, approved at the end of 2018, is basically a contingency plan.

January 13 - The New Orleans Advocate

Tolls, Not Gas and Sales Taxes, Will Fund I-81 Improvements in Virginia

Democratic Gov. Ralph Northam announced he is backing Republican legislation to toll all lanes of Interstate 81 to fund $2.2 billion in improvements along the 325-mile corridor, heavily used by trucks, from West Virginia to Tennessee.

January 13 - The Washington Post

Short-Term Rentals

Judge Sets Back NYC's Attempt to Grab Airbnb's Data

A 2018 law required Airbnb to share the names and addresses of hosts in the New York City. A judge ruled that the mandate violates the 4th Amendment.

January 13 - Daily News

Amtrak ACS-64

Chicago to St. Louis Amtrak Still Not Up to Speed

The higher speed train route between the two cities, funded by the recession-era stimulus package, is capable of 90 to 110 mph, but is stuck at 78.

January 12 - St. Louis Post-Dispatch

On Demand Shuttle Operator to Cease Operations in Nine Cities

San Francisco-based shuttle operator Chariot, acquired by Ford Motor Company in 2016, will end its operations by March in the San Francisco Bay Area, Los Angeles, Seattle, Austin, New York, Columbus, Detroit, Denver, and London.

January 12 - San Francisco Examiner

Famous Mexico City traffic

Beat Tries to Top Uber in Mexico City with Focus on Safety

Ride-hailing company Beat hopes its dedicated safety team and linked accounts service will make its service attractive to women in Mexico’s capital.

January 12 - Forbes

Sound Transit Bus

Editorial Calls for Automated Enforcement for Bus Lanes

The Seattle Times Editorial Board argues that automated enforcement would remove scofflaws from blocking bus commuters.

January 12 - The Seattle Times

Rail Trail rendering

Wanted: A More Proactive Approach to Stormwater Investment

As hurricane seasons get more destructive, a less reactionary approach to stormwater infrastructure investment may be needed.

January 12 - Brookings

Hong Kong High Rises

Asian, Australian Property Markets Begin to Cool

Markets for residential property income of East Asia's most expensive cities are slowing down. The U.S.-China trade war is one factor, along with local controls and a mainland Chinese economy applying the brakes.

January 11 - The Vancouver Sun

Electric Car

Mileage Fee or Annual Fee for Electric Vehicles?

What's the best way to ensure that electric vehicle drivers pay to maintain the roads they drive on, considering they don't pay fuel taxes? A new report from the UC Davis Institute of Transportation Studies was sent to the California legislature.

January 11 - UC Davis Institute of Transportation Studies

Biking

Bike Commuting Down: American Community Survey Data

Bike commuters are increasing in some cities, but overall, fewer Americans are biking to work.

January 11 - USA Today

Roanoke

Roanoke, Virginia Transit Station Plan Would Add Housing and Commercial Space

A plan to move a Roanoke, Virginia bus stop would use the current location of the stop to build transit-oriented apartments and shops.

January 11 - The News and Advance

CTA El Train

$43 Million Renovation Complete on Historic Chicago Transit Station

The CTA hopes the renovated Garfield Green Line station, originally built for the World's Columbian Exposition, will become a gateway for the Washington Park community.

January 11 - Chicago Tribune

Post News

Top Books

An annual review of books related to planning.

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The definitive ranking of graduate planning programs.

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The who's who of urbanism, according to Planetizen readers.

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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.