The Daily Source of Urban Planning News

Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017

Making the Most of 'Opportunity Zones'

Created to speed investment in struggling communities, the federal Opportunity Zones program could also spur research into how capital can be better deployed on a district-by-district basis.

September 20 - The New Localism

Texas Apartments

Is the Urban-Suburban Divide Destined to Disappear?

In a new book, Hans Westlund and Tigran Haas argue that the global knowledge economy is radically reshaping urban development. Eventually, they say, it'll render meaningless our present notions of "urban," "suburban," and "rural."

September 20 - Regional Studies Association

Charlotte, NC

How to Understand Your City's Eviction Crisis

Other cities could learn from efforts to lower eviction rates in Charlotte, North Carolina.

September 20 - Urban Institute

Protected bike lane New York

Protected Bike Lanes: How New York City Made It Happen

While resistance to protected bike lanes can be high, the economic and safety paybacks are substantial.

September 20 - Greater Greater Washington

Philadelphia Architecture

Robert Venturi, Author and Architect, Dies at 93

Urban design media mourned the passing of Robert Venturi this week.

September 20 - The New York Times


San Antonio

Big University Expansion Planned in Downtown San Antonio

Aided by state, local, and private support, the University of Texas at San Antonio is planning a major expansion of its footprint in downtown San Antonio.

September 19 - San Antonio Express News

Greater Richmond Transit Company

Meet Pulse, Richmond Virginia's New Bus Rapid Transit

Pulse BRT, the second BRT system in the state of Virginia, runs down Broad Street and offers a mix of best practices and practicality to push the mode beyond what many cities are able to realize.

September 19 - Greater Greater Washington


Cupertino, California

Silicon Valley City to Approve Massive Vallco Development, Like it or Not

A new state law meant to overcome local barriers to development is having its first big test run in Cupertino, California.

September 19 - The Mercury News

Hurricane Florence Causes Coal Ash Spill at Former Coal Power Plant

The breach of the coal ash landfill by a former coal-burning power plant in Wilmington, North Carolina serves as a reminder that even after coal plants are shuttered, the by-products of the world's most polluting fossil fuel can still cause harm.

September 19 - Utility Dive

Alaskan Way Viaduct

Another, Final(?) Delay for Alaskan Way Viaduct Replacement

The Washington Department of Transportation announced that Seattle's Alaskan Way Viaduct will close permanently in January 2019, with service switching over the tunnel Bertha built. The previous plan expected the switch to occur in the Fall.

September 19 - Associated Press via Tri City Herald

Pioneer Square, Seattle

Matching Urban Infill With Tree Infill

Seattle shows how new buildings and new trees can be added to a city simultaneously—in fact, neighborhoods adding new buildings are maintaining its urban tree canopy while static single-family neighborhoods are losing trees.

September 19 - Sightline Institute

Las Vegas and Environs

Brightline, Florida's High-Speed Rail Company, Goes All in on Vegas

Shocking news from the high-speed rail industry, as Brightline announced its purchase of XpressWest, which is underway with plans to link Las Vegas to Victorville, California and eventually to Los Angeles.

September 19 - Las Vegas Review-Journal

Photo of google sign outside of google cafeteria

New Google Search Engines Opens Open Data

Finding the right data in an ocean of open data takes some Googling.

September 19 - Government Technology

RTA Bus

New Orleans RTA Buses Taking a New, Regional Approach

New Orleans transit planners are working to extend the bus network deeper into the surrounding region, as was always intended.

September 19 - The New Orleans Advocate

Traffic

Study Reveals the Futility of Building Out of Congestion

Even if widening highways enough to relieve all congestion were possible, it would only benefit a very small number of commuters, according to new research.

September 19 - Streetsblog USA

New York Bike Delivery

BLOG POST

5 Ways Tech Is Changing U.S. Cities

A new era of civic-minded, urbanism-focused technology is here.

September 18 - Kayla Matthews

Chicago River Industrial Area

Editorial: Save Space for Parks in Chicago's Next Big Mega-Development

The 760-acre North Branch Industrial Corridor could be a game changer for the North Side, but the Chicago Tribune wants to make sure that quality of life is considered along visions of economic development.

September 18 - The Chicago Tribune

Small cell antenna

Not All Municipalities Are Excited About the Arrival of 5G. But They May Not Have a Choice.

Pennsylvania legislation would make it harder for communities to regulate the new wireless network infrastructure.

September 18 - PlanPhilly

Electric Car Charging Station

Phasing Out the Internal Combustion Engine No Easy Task

A report from the Global Climate Action Summit on a looming deadline set by the Paris climate agreement: ending sales of new gas and diesel-powered light-duty vehicles by 2035.

September 18 - Los Angeles Times

Kansas City skyline

Study of Evictions in Kansas City Provides Insight Into a National Problem

A new report on eviction data from Kansas City reveals systematic factors related to the housing crisis.

September 18 - How Housing Matters

Post News

Top Books

An annual review of books related to planning.

Top Schools

The definitive ranking of graduate planning programs.

100 Most Influential Urbanists

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

Urban Planning Creators You Should Know

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.