The Daily Source of Urban Planning News

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.

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."

How to Understand Your City's Eviction Crisis
Other cities could learn from efforts to lower eviction rates in Charlotte, North Carolina.

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.

Robert Venturi, Author and Architect, Dies at 93
Urban design media mourned the passing of Robert Venturi this week.

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.

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.

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.
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.

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.

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.

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.

New Google Search Engines Opens Open Data
Finding the right data in an ocean of open data takes some Googling.

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.

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.

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5 Ways Tech Is Changing U.S. Cities
A new era of civic-minded, urbanism-focused technology is here.

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.

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.

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.

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.
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