The Daily Source of Urban Planning News

News Roundup: The Power Outage That Shut Down the Atlanta Airport
Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport, the busiest airport in the world, was crippled by a total power outage over the weekend. The airport is now working to catch up before holiday travel peaks.

Gateway Arch Finally Connects to Downtown St. Louis
A $380 million project bridges a freeway and connects the Gateway Arch to downtown St. Louis.

FEATURE
D.C.'s Wharf Makes the City's Housing Problems Worse
Did The Wharf, a new mixed use mega project in Washington, D.C., deliver enough public benefit to warrant its large public subsidy?

Colorado DOT Issues Final Report on Road Usage Charge Pilot Program
Most of the 150 volunteers who participated in the 4-month program were pleased. Simulated invoices charged for vehicle-miles traveled after gas taxes paid were credited. Three technologies, including one with GPS, were available to record mileage.

Housing Affordability Prioritized in Recently Approved 'Growing SLC Plan'
The last time Salt Lake City adopted a housing plan, the city's population was declining. Now booming in population, the city is setting a course to build lots of new housing supply.

For Stability and Sustainability, the World Needs Microgrids
Solar and wind power are cheaper than ever, but they remain variable. To make the best use of renewable resources, the electrical grid needs to network more small free-standing power sources together.

Portland Bike Lanes and the Danger of Half-Measures
Willamette's new bike lanes make for an important link in Portland's bike infrastructure, but building unprotected bike lanes on a high-speed street carries risk.

Huge Toll Lane Setback in Texas
In a landmark, unanimous vote, the Texas Transportation Commission eliminated all 15 express lane projects from their 10-year capital plan despite pleas from Austin area officials to retain the $8 billion, I-35 project that includes four toll lanes.

Tall Building Construction Continues to Smash Records and Redefine Skylines
There are 402 percent more tall buildings in the world than there was in 2000.

D.C. Steps in to Buy At-Risk Affordable Housing
In the interest of preserving affordable supply, the District can purchase apartment buildings that would otherwise sell to private developers.

What the Final Tax Reform Bill Has in Store for Housing and Development
The final version of the tax reform bill included some surprises with regard to housing and infrastructure funding mechanisms threatened in previous version of the bill.

BLOG POST
A New Traffic Safety Paradigm
Despite numerous traffic safety programs, traffic death rates have not declined in a decade and recently started to increase. We can do better! A new paradigm identifies additional safety strategies that reduce both crash rates and risk exposure.

*New Amtrak Train Derails On Highway Overpass Outside of Seattle, Killing 3
The first southbound train on of the newly routed Amtrak Cascades Seattle-to-Portland service derailed on a highway overpass on Monday morning, with two passenger cars falling onto southbound Interstate 5, striking motor vehicles.

Los Angeles Adopts 'Linkage Fee' for Affordable Housing Funding
Los Angeles is the latest city to adopt a "linkage fee" that charges new development to generate funding for affordable housing, joining cities like Seattle, Chicago, and San Jose.

Study: Uber Replacing Ambulances Nationwide
An ambulance ride can cost thousands of dollars—even surge pricing won't top that (most of the time.)

In Phoenix, Sustainability Will Be Built by Node
If the desert metropolis wants to survive, it will need a strategy built on something other than a denser, more urban downtown.

Anti-Homeless Robot Raises Eyebrows in San Francisco
File under 'high-tech urban dystopia.”

Streetcar from St. Paul to Airport Takes an Initial Step Forward
Regional interests around the Twin Cities are considering a proposal that would connect St. Paul to the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport and the city of Bloomington by streetcar.

HUD Secretary's Op-Ed Focuses on Local Homelessness Solutions
Secretary Carson argues that local housing solutions can solve homelessness.

FEATURE
2017's Best Songs About Places
Our favorite genre of music is the one that celebrates places.
Pagination
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