The Daily Source of Urban Planning News

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

From Vacant Property to Affordable Housing Development
The city of St. Petersburg provides a model for transforming blight to a blessing.

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.
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.

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.

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.
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.

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.

Editorial Calls for Automated Enforcement for Bus Lanes
The Seattle Times Editorial Board argues that automated enforcement would remove scofflaws from blocking bus commuters.

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.

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.

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.

Bike Commuting Down: American Community Survey Data
Bike commuters are increasing in some cities, but overall, fewer Americans are biking to work.

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.

$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.
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