The Daily Source of Urban Planning News

Expansion Planned for Low-Income Bus Pass Program in Seattle
The ORCA Opportunity program will provide free bus passes to some of the city’s low-income residents.

Pittsburgh's Big Development Plans Ready to Switch Gears
There are plenty of big, splashy projects to track in Pittsburgh's development pipeline.

Major Bus Transit Investments Proposed for Minnesota
Bus transit advocates in the state of Minnesota are happy to see they have a friend in the Governor's Office.

More Planning Staff Needed to Keep Up With the Amazon Boom in Northern Virginia
The arrival of Amazon's HQ2 facility in Northern Virginia is expected to multiply development investment in the area, requiring more planners to review project proposals.

Boston Plans to Put $26 Million Toward Affordable Housing Projects
A new initiative will fund 10 new developments as the city works to increase available affordable housing.

Seattle Could Be at the Forefront of the Mass Timber Industry
Cross-laminated timber offers a multitude of environmental and economic benefits. With the state’s resources and Seattle’s construction needs, the city is the ideal location for mass timber production to take off.

Seven State DOTs Awarded $10 Million to Study Gas Tax Alternatives
When transportation spending was last reauthorized, rather than hike the gas tax to maintain current spending, Congress diverted general fund revenue. A program to study alternative revenue options was created so states could launch pilot projects.

Auto-Centric City Dichotomy: More Mobility Options and More Risk
As cities strive to improve mobility for all users, the existing auto paradigm is slow to change

White House Ends Talks with California Over Fuel Efficiency Standards
Ending the talks means litigation will have to settle the conflict over the two standards: California and 12 other states continue to use the Obama-era standard of 36 mpg by 2025, while the administration's rule freezes standards at 2020, or 29 mpg.

$738 Million Parks Levy on the Ballot for Seattle Area Voters
King County, Washington voters will vote on a parks levy reauthorization in August—at stake is $738 million over the six years to fund improvements to the Seattle area's parks, trails, and open space.

Role of S.F. Parklets as Public Space Not Always Clear
Parklets in San Francisco are available for public use, but often they serve as extensions of the dining rooms of eateries.

With Growing Number of Affluent Renters, Denver Matches National Trend
The housing crunch and changing lifestyle choices mean more people who could be in the market to buy a home are renting instead.

Size of New Homes Shrinking in the U.S.
Experts say more builders are building smaller homes to meet demand for cheaper ownership options.

Trump's Name Disappearing from Manhattan Buildings
President's Trump's name appears on six fewer buildings in Manhattan than on Election Day 2016.

BLOG POST
The 'Failure' of Gentrification?
Urban scholar Joel Kotkin says that gentrification has "failed" in Los Angeles. It's a curious notion, since gentrification is generally considered a bad thing. The reality is much more complex than Kotkin suggests.

Electric Vehicle-Ready Parking Proposed for All New Seattle Buildings
Seattle Mayor Jenny Durkan proposed new electric vehicle parking requirements in the recent State of the City address, but the proposal is in keeping with the Seattle Climate Action Plan released in April 2018.

Promised Data-Driven Infrastructure On Hold at Hudson Yards
When the Manhattan megadevelopment got its start, big data was a major part of Hudson Yards' marketing pitch. Now it's "probably the last thing we'll get to."

Does Climate Change 'Really' Pose a Threat to National Security?
The White House is planning to establish a new climate panel, headed by a well-known climate denier, to question the findings of the president's own intelligence agencies that climate change does indeed pose a national security risk.

Cambridge Won’t Reach Goals to Curb Car Ownership
The city’s original plan to decrease car ownership isn’t quite panning out, even with more alternative transportation options for residents.
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