The Daily Source of Urban Planning News

Trump Creates Council to Study 'Eliminating Barriers to Affordable Housing Development'
President Trump is scheduled to sign an executive order today that will create a federal-level group to study the obstructionist practices of local governments and the potential for a federal response.

State of the Nation's Housing: Housing Production, Supply Still Coming Up Short
The Joint Center for Housing Studies of Harvard University released its annual "The State of the Nation's Housing" report this morning. There are some signs of post-recession normalcy in the housing market for high-income earners.

'Yes in My Back Yard Act' Introduced in the U.S. Senate
U.S. Senator Todd Young (R-Indiana) has introduced a new law that picks sides in the housing debate, though the law is unlikely to produce structural change in the development process the near future.

Saving Habitat: Just as Much for Humans as for Everything Else
Edward O. Wilson, famed for pressing for the conservation of half of the planet's land and oceans, recently turned 90 years old.

Editorial Board Calls for Tax Increment Financing Reform in Chicago
The Chicago Tribune says the city of Chicago can't be trusted with tax increment financing (TIF), so it's time for a do-over.

Where Subway Service Improved in New York City
Some trains are running faster in New York City. The New York Times created a series of infographics to show which lines have sped up, and by how much.

Sustainable Mobility Goals in Reach in Richmond
As Richmond, Virginia grows, the city’s network of fixed-route transit and shared ride service is evolving to meet travelers’ needs.

HUD Secretary Carson Supports Minneapolis-Style Upzoning
U.S. Housing and Urban Development Ben Carson, in Minneapolis last week, expressed support for the planning reforms included in the Minneapolis 2040 Comprehensive Plan.

Details on the Portland Region's Proposed $2.7 Billion Light Rail Line
The Southwest Corridor light rail project has a preferred alternative route, but there's still a lot of work to do before the ambitious project can begin construction, much less begin shuttling riders between Portland and Bridgeport Village.

Madrid’s Bold Car Ban May Become a Thing of the Past
A new conservative administration says it wants to do away with the ban on cars in the city center.

Master Plan for Quayside 'Smart City' Released by Sidewalk Labs and Waterfront Toronto
The long-awaited master plan for Quayside in Toronto was released to the public today.

Carbon Neutrality: What Does it Mean, and Is it Possible?
Are 'zero carbon' goals the most effective way to cut greenhouse gases, or are they the most politically feasible strategies? NPR climate and environment reporter, Nathan Rott, explores the challenge in an interview on All Things Considered.

Boulders to Replace Rose Bushes in ODOT Effort to Inconvenience the Homeless
The Oregon Department of Transportation anticipates spending about a million dollars to bring boulders to road embankments so that they are less hospitable to the homeless.

Public Outcry Greets Plan to Connect L.A. to Pasadena via Bus Rapid Transit
Voters might have approved transit funding multiple measures by wide margins in Los Angeles County in recent years, but actual project proposals still have trouble appealing at the hyper-local level.

Strong Reactions to New York Rent Control Changes
Rounding up the numerous reactions to a law approved by the New York State Legislature this month making 'landmark' changes to rent control regulations in New York City.

APA Disappointed With Supreme Court's Decision in Takings Case
The decision in Knick v. Township of Scott prompted a response from the American Planning Association.

When Low-Income Riders Get Reduced Fares, They Ride More Transit
A study from MIT seems to confirm that the cost of transit is depressing use of service by low-income residents, and that reduced fares help this population take the trips they currently don’t.

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How 3D Printing and Modeling Are Revolutionizing Urban Planning
The applications for 3D technology in the field of planning are multiplying and diversifying.

Congestion Pricing: An Expat View
Writing from London in an Op-Ed for Seattle’s Crosscut, Chuck Wolfe argues for a contextual approach to a much-touted search for transportation equity.

Google Expanding in Austin
Google is positioning itself to take advantage of the local talent residing in and around Austin.
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