The Daily Source of Urban Planning News

Quality Bus Rapid Transit Drives Systemwide Ridership Improvements in Richmond, VA
Richmond, Virginia has achieved a big ridership bump, without a big investment.

Cost Overruns and Delays Causing Drama on Maryland's Purple Line
Project documents acquired by The Washington Post reveal numerous unresolved problems with construction on the Purple Line.

Boston Dedicated Bus Lanes Facing Funding Questions
The bus lanes have improved travel times, but who should cover the costs isn't entirely clear.

Friday Eye Candy: 300 Years of Land Use Transformation
The history of the earth since 1700 has been a history of human land use.

Watch a Self-Driving Car Take Out an Autonomous Robot
Is this the future we've been waiting for?

No Safe Options Mean Pedestrians Engage in Risky Behavior
Pedestrians are often blamed first for accidents, but they have few choices when the infrastructure is lacking, a new study shows.

Smart Cities, at What Cost?
Kansas City, Missouri, wants to be a smart cities leader, but it also needs to address concerns about data collection and privacy, say critics.

First Bus Rapid Transit Line Opens in Calgary
The MAX Purple Line has begun service on 17 Avenue SE.

California Needs a Marshall Plan for Housing, According to New Governor
Governor Gavin Newsom talks tough on housing in California.

Affordable Housing Advocacy Efforts Taking Root in St. Paul
St. Paul, Minnesota, is working on its comprehensive plan, and advocates want to see upzoning changes similar to what happened in Minneapolis.

University of Illinois-Chicago Campus to Receive Makeover
UIC has laid out a master plan to rework "nearly every corner" of its campus. The goal is to accommodate more students and enhance the school's pride and identity.

U.S. Carbon Emissions Increased Last Year After a Three-Year Decline
The sobering news comes from the Rhodium Group, a research firm that tracks CO2 emissions. The preliminary estimate is the third in two months to show an increase in 2018, attributing it to an improved economy and Trump's regulation rollbacks.

Progressive Property Tax Proposal Dies in Less Than 24 Hours
Susana Mendoza, a Chicago mayoral candidate, reconsidered her plan for a graduated property tax after receiving pushback.

Philly's New Tallest Tower Earns Positive Reviews
The first building in Philadelphia to surpass 1,000 feet is now the tenth tallest building in the country. Here's what local media is writing about the Comcast Technology Center.

Infill Development Still a Tricky Proposition
Impact fess, also known as growth fees, are creating controversy in the Canadian city of Winnpeg, even as the city prepares new infill development guidelines to quell development controversies in older neighborhoods.

Frequent Rider Miles for Buses
In Minneapolis and San Francisco, public transit agencies are considering loyalty programs to boost ridership.

Philadelphia Unlikely to Follow Minneapolis' Lead in Zoning Reform
Minneapolis is setting a bold example by ending single-family zoning, but chances are a similar change won’t be coming to Philadelphia.

What to Expect From Transit Construction in 2019
Mixed results and high costs are to be expected among the 89 public transit construction projects underway in 2019.

Autonomous Driving Technology Might Have Saved Lives
It could have been a multiple-vehicle fatal car crash—a driver fell asleep at the wheel driving 70 mph—but the outcome was two DUI charges.
Delayed Opening for TEXRail Blamed on Federal Shutdown
Trinity Metro ended up delaying the opening of the new TexRail line for five days—from Saturday, January 5, until Thursday, January 10.
Pagination
Heyer Gruel & Associates PA
Ada County Highway District
Institute for Housing and Urban Development Studies (IHS)
City of Grandview
Harvard GSD Executive Education
Toledo-Lucas County Plan Commissions
Salt Lake City
NYU Wagner Graduate School of Public Service
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.