The Daily Source of Urban Planning News

Washington Winter

'Emergency Snow Network' Plan Put Into Service in Seattle

Monday marked the first time King County Metro Transit has deployed its almost-decade-old plan to deal with winter conditions.

February 11 - The Seattle Times

Homeless Cars

Homeless People No Longer Prohibited From Living in Cars in San Diego

Until last week, it was illegal to live in a car in San Diego.

February 11 - San Diego

Twin Peaks Drive

Economic Independence or Auto Dependency?

A new study calls for "universal auto access" to combat poverty. It recommends subsidizing auto ownership or access for those who are economically unable to afford the high cost of owning, maintaining, and operating a personal motor vehicle.

February 11 - CityLab

The Underline Miami

Miami’s Underline and the Threat of Gentrification

The new linear park will use land under the city’s elevated rail tracks. Worries, however, are emerging about the effects the project will have on surrounding communities, particularly related to affordable housing.

February 11 - Next City

Des Moines, Iowa

A Case for Giving Midsized Metro Areas More Attention

As major cities draw in wealth and population, midsized metros may be getting less attention than they deserve. After all, many of their economic, demographic, and political challenges resemble those of the nation as a whole.

February 11 - Brookings


Queens, New York City

Report: Amazon Thinking Twice About Second Headquarters in New York

The opposition to the idea of Amazon locating one of its second headquarters locations in New York City has given the company pause, according to a recent scoop.

February 11 - The Washington Post

Madison, Wisconsin

Wisconsin Republicans Unite to Support Road Tolling Over Gas Tax Hike

Assembly and Senate Republicans agree that the best way to fill the transportation funding gap is to add tolls to existing highways and bridges, yet they won't add toll infrastructure funding to the budget. A gas tax could be implemented immediately.

February 11 - Milwaukee Journal Sentinel


New York Development

Needed: Better Data on Local Zoning Regulations

It's hard to connect zoning to planning and development outcomes at a national level because very little data exists at that scale.

February 11 - Urban Institute

Lincoln Heights Los Angeles

Updated: What the Green New Deal Means for Planning

The Green New Deal is far from the law of the land, but if this nation were to adopt the legislative agenda proposed by congressional Democrats, it would (and should) have major implications for planning practice.

February 11 - Slate

Planning Department Technology

FEATURE

City Planning Technology, 2019 Benchmarking Study

A report on the current state of Internet technologies, policies, and content management systems adopted by 600 cities across the United States, including recommended steps cities should take to improve technology assets in 2019.

February 11 - William Riggs

Sound Transit Light Rail Extensions

Alternatives Explored for West Seattle and Ballard Light Rail Extensions

Plans to extend the Sound Transit light rail system are moving forward. Elected officials have a big choice to make that will determine the cost and scope of the projects.

February 10 - The Urbanist

Porter Ranch

Study: Kids Do Worse in Schools Near Traffic

Moving to a school with higher levels of traffic pollution could impact students' academic performance, according to new research.

February 10 - CityLab

Mega-Project Moves Forward in Hollywood

The Crossroads Hollywood project overcame local opposition and ongoing scandal at City Hall to win approval from the Los Angeles City Council.

February 10 - Los Angeles Times

U.S. Capital

Did Trump Inspire a Bipartisan Consensus on Infrastructure?

Republicans talked about raising taxes to fund infrastructure programs during a U.S. Housing Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure hearing this week.

February 10 - Smart Cities Dive

New York Public Library

Massive Technological Upgrade for New York City's Zoning Resolution

The city of New York's massive Zoning Resolution, the legal instrument that regulates land use and building size, shape, height, and setback, is now available on a contemporary web platform.

February 10 - NYC Planning

Deliveries Truck

Scant Examples of Innovative Shipping Delivery Programs

Urban freight deliveries are expected to grow 40 percent by 2050, according to the 2017 Material Handling Industry’s annual report. Cities aren't yet ready to keep up with the changing times.

February 9 - Blueprint

Twin Cities

Mapping the Wealth Accumulation of Homeowners

Exclusionary zoning really pays off for people that already had enough money to buy a home. A new mapping project shows exactly where that's true int he area around Minneapolis.

February 9 - Nick Magrino

The San Pedro River where it passes through Saint David, south of Benson, Arizona.

Environmental Groups Sue to Halt 28,000-Home Development in Arizona

The environmental review for a master-planned community outside of Benson is the subject of a lawsuit by a coalition of environmental groups.

February 9 - Arizona Republic

Pedestrian Bridge

If You Build (a Gondola), They Will Come

The Oakland A's want to build a gondola from one of the city's premier destinations to the proposed location of a new ballpark.

February 9 - San Francisco Chronicle

Streetcar Graveyard

Mapping 'Lost' Transit Systems

Maps of planned, never built, and defunct transit systems in cities from Cleveland to Atlanta and Phoenix back to Cincinnati are for sale.

February 9 - CityBeat

Post News

Top Books

An annual review of books related to planning.

Top Schools

The definitive ranking of graduate planning programs.

100 Most Influential Urbanists

The who's who of urbanism, according to Planetizen readers.

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A short list of voices on social, video, and podcasting platforms.

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.