The Daily Source of Urban Planning News

The Earth's Vegetation Stopped Expanding 20 Years Ago
Until the late 1990s, the amount of vegetation worldwide was increasing. But then it stopped, and a new study links this troubling trend to climate change.

Affordable Housing for New Orleans—Tiny Houses?
Mayor LaToya Cantrell wants the planning department to explore and offer up suggestions for ways the city can address its affordable housing needs.

Philadelphia Planning Commission Approves ADU Bill
The commission recommended a trio of bills focused on historic preservation, including one that would permit accessory dwelling units on historic properties.

Chicago Dockless Scooters Used Across the City, New Study Shows
Data from the city's e-scooter pilot program show that they might be filling in the first-mile/last-mile gap for riders at all income levels.

N.Y.C. Initiative Seeks to Connect Homeless on Transit with Social Services
The city is expanding outreach to homeless people in order to move them off the subway and steer them toward housing and social services.

BLOG POST
Why Jay Inslee Should Embrace Cross-Laminated Timber
With a timber rich state and a desire to fight climate change, mass timber and CLT could become Jay Inslee's signature green economy success in Washington State.

Digging Into the Data on Detroit's 'Recovery'
In key areas like jobs and housing, the numbers show a definite Motor City rebound since the recession. But a closer look reveals uneven gains and weakness next to state averages.

Trump's Confusing Tweet Offers to Help Complete the Second Avenue Subway in New York
While the state of New York would surely lover federal help in building out several infrastructure projects around New York City, a tweet from President Trump over the weekend seemed to overpromise regarding the Second Avenue Subway.

The Colorado River in an 'Era of Limits'
New agreements and the first cutbacks in water usage signal the start of concerted efforts keep the river and reservoirs from dropping to dangerous levels.

New Questions Around Portland-Area Light Rail Project
A proposed rail line would run from downtown Portland, Oregon, to the suburbs. The budget has increased significantly, and many funding and project scope questions remain.

Thumbs Down on Decades-Old Southern California Housing Development Proposal
A proposal for a large development in the Coachella Valley, near Joshua Tree National Park, is facing obstacles once again as the planning commission fails to recommend the plan move forward.

Virginia Intercity Buses Exceed Ridership Estimates By 200 Percent
The Virginia Breeze intercity bus service has vastly exceeded original ridership estimates since its launch in late 2017. Two more lines are slated to launch in the spring or summer of next year.

Cities at the Forefront of Climate Change Policy
As cities around the world face the effects of climate change head on, they have been pushing policy forward and taking action at the local level. But they are also creating networks that have a much broader impact beyond individual cities.

Vision Zero Is Not Improving Bike Safety
The initiative focuses on safety, but fatalities are up and ridership growth is down in New York City. How is Vision Zero missing the mark?

FEATURE
How To Build Place Loyalty
A good friendship is a two-way street. So how come our relationships with places only involve taking and no giving?

Playgrounds Could Provide Much-Needed Public Space
In communities lacking green space, public access to upgraded school playgrounds is a win-win solution.

Expert Opines on the Fiscal Disincentives Undermining Local Approval of Housing Development
Larry Kosmont identifies the fiscal dysfunction driving city resistance to state-mandated density and offers institutional explanations for California’s current housing crisis.

Striking New Towers Coming to Philadelphia's Schuylkill Yards
Brandywine Realty Trust is making a statement with this contemporary take on the corporate high rise.

New U.S. DOT Policy Limits Page Length of Environmental Impact Statements
The U.S. Department of Transportation is following through President Trump's promises to ease the federal government's permitting and approvals processes for infrastructure projects.
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