The Daily Source of Urban Planning News
Another Summer of Wildfires and Air Quality Emergencies
A third straight summer spent in a haze of smoke from nearby wildfires is taking a psychological toll on Seattle residents. A political response is also taking shape.
Gov. Dayton Wants to Build 300,000 New Homes in Minnesota
Minnesota Governor Mark Dayton recently issued a call to action to citizens, the private sector, and the public sector, to work together in ensuring the state has housing for everyone.
Maybe 'Bike Lanes' Should Be Called 'Narrow Lanes' Instead
With the popularity of electric scooters, it seems like non-automobile travel is gaining a large new constituency. Making room for scooters raises big questions of infrastructure that might not be answered first by nomenclature.
One Year After Harvey, Voters Approve $2.5 Billion Stormwater Infrastructure Bond
Eighty-five percent of voters supported the largest bond in Harris County history over the weekend.
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How Filtering Increases Housing Affordability
Good research indicates that building middle-priced housing increases affordability through "filtering," as some lower-priced housing occupants move into more expensive units, and over time as the new houses depreciate and become cheaper.
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Review: The Divided City
In the Rust Belt, neighborhood decline is much more significant than gentrification.
Annual Funding For Housing Vouchers Already Spent in Dallas
The Dallas Housing Authority (DHA) spent all the money it receives from the federal government for funding housing assistance programs in June. DHA officials says the funding situation was caused by increasing rents.
Denver's Regional Transportation District Cuts Bus Service
Low ridership and driver shortages mean the Denver area's Regional Transportation District cut bus service.
Making Older Coal Power Plants More Efficient Without Making Them Cleaner
At the center of the EPA's newly proposed Affordable Clean Energy rule is doing away with a permitting process known as New Source Review that requires coal power plants to add scrubbers and other expensive pollution control equipment when upgraded.
Celebrity Voices to Remind You to Keep Your Feet Off the Seats
From Judi Dench to Queen Latifah, CityLab writers match transit systems with the personalities they think would make the best announcements.
Balloons and Straws: Where's the Connection?
Think "The Graduate," but now the emphasis in the future of plastics may be on restrictions. California may become the first state to restrict access to plastic straws, and balloons could be next due to the harm they cause the marine environment.
The Many Benefits of Wandering Through Cities on Foot
Forget the countryside. Urban walking helps people understand their cities while at the same time encouraging urban landscapes where people actually want to walk.
New Zealand Bars Foreigners from Buying Residences
Homes are getting more expensive in New Zealand, so they're making it illegal for foreigners to buy homes in the country.
Tougher Fines for Phone Use and the Introduction of the Dutch Reach for Illinois Drivers
Illinois gets to new pieces of legislation aimed at slowing the rise in pedestrian deaths and other commuter injuries.
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The Role of Urban Planners in Flood Preparation
Blogger Kayla Matthews examines the many challenges planners face in preparing for the extreme weather and flooding caused by climate change.
New Renewable Energy Has Yet to Displace Dirty Energy
Falling costs for renewable energy may lead some to believe that coal and other mainstays have been replaced, but they haven't. Adoption of renewables is not yet outpacing growth in demand for energy.
AAA Study: Auto Ownership More Cost-Effective Than Ride-Hailing
Even after factoring in insurance, parking, depreciation, fuel, repair, maintenance and licensing, urban dwellers would pay half the costs to travel, on average, nearly 11,000 miles annually in their own new car rather than relying on ride-hailing.
Baltimore Municipal Bike Share Ends; Private Bike Share Pilot Begins
Dockless electric scooters and bikes are welcome on the streets of Baltimore, as long as they follow a few rules. In related news, the municipal bike share system Baltimore Bike Share has ceased operations.
New App Helps Taxis Compete
The Waave app provides some of the functionality of ride-hailing apps to taxi drivers. The app is the result of a New York City Taxi and Limousine Commission pilot program.
Report: L Train Closure Finally Impacting the Brooklyn Real Estate Market
The New York MTA is planning to shut down the L Train from Brooklyn to Manhattan in 2019, and renters in the area no longer find the area along the route as attractive.
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.
