Technology
A Brave New World: How Apps Are Changing Planning
Mobile applications (apps) are gaining in popularity as tools for increasing participation in local governance and planning, and are opening up new possibilities for planners to tap into the wisdom of the crowd.
More Evidence That Speed Cameras Slow Traffic Speeds
File under: not a cash grab.
Leveraging the Choice Not to Travel
The pandemic accelerated the growth of remote services and telecommuting. Now is the time for urban planners to leverage these new opportunities to reduce vehicle miles traveled.
Rail Electrification: Caltrain adds BEMUs to its EMU Order
Caltrain, the San Francisco-to-San Jose commuter railroad, plans to begin electrified operation next year on its 49-mile mainline. A 28-mile extension south to Gilroy would continue to be served by diesel trains, with one train powered by battery.
Opinion: D.C. Should Go All in on Traffic Cameras
More widespread deployment of automated enforcement sensors could change the system from one of high fines and sparse enforcement to one that encourages more extensive behavior change.
Making Natural Gas Power Plants Cleaner
Carbon capture and storage has long been associated with coal-burning power plants. Calpine Corp. hopes to apply the controversial technology to existing natural gas power plants, beginning with a pilot project to start this month in the Bay Area.
Advice for Autonomous Cars
Drivers for Uber and Lyft in San Francisco express their concerns and advice for self-driving taxi services.
California Approves Autonomous Cars Over Local Concerns
Despite repeated calls from San Francisco officials to slow the deployment of self-driving cars, a state commission approved expanded access to San Francisco streets.
Google Shifts Real Estate Strategy to Adaptive Reuse
The company is moving away from flashy new campuses in favor of converting existing buildings with interesting histories.
Dashcam Footage Shows Tesla Colliding With First Responder
The car failed to recognize the stopped emergency vehicle until just two seconds before the crash.
Uber Sees Record Ridership, Finally Posts a Profit
The ride-hailing giant posted an operating profit for the first time in its history, thanks largely in part to its successful food delivery business.
Using Cellphone and Fitness App Data for Park Planning
Data from smartphone apps and fitness trackers are helping planners to better understand park usage patterns and plan for new and improved parks.
L.A. Metro Introduces Fare Capping Tech
Los Angeles transit riders who pay as they go will have their fare capped at $5 per day or $18 per week.
Google Maps Feature Identifies Most Fuel-Efficient Routes
A new feature highlights routes that use the least gas to help users make the most fuel-efficient driving decisions.
AI and Downtown Recovery: Missing the Mark in Seattle?
In his fourth GeekWire article on downtown recovery, Chuck Wolfe reviews the use of AI imagery in a section of the Seattle Downtown Activation Plan and suggests how it may have missed the mark.
Transit Advocates Fear On-Demand Microtransit Undermines Bus Service
A new on-demand transit service is meant to fill gaps in Kansas City regional bus service, but some transit supporters worry the service is drawing funding away from fixed-route buses.
Utah to Test Personalized Road Usage Pricing
A pilot program will use GPS-enabled devices to track driving habits, allowing cities to use the data to create road pricing fee structures based on hyper-local and individual driving needs.
Podcast Shows Urban Planning Is Anything But Dull
“Urban Planning is Not Boring” is a podcast created by USC alumni Samantha Ellman and Natalie Ikhrata which highlights just how fascinating the field of planning can be.
Friday Eye Candy: AI Envisions Solutions to the Challenges Facing Cities
Phoenix reimagined for shade. Los Angeles as a place where everybody walks. San Francisco with affordable housing. AI makes a vision of the future possible.
Shared Mobility Starts to Reach Critical Mass
The growing popularity of shared mobility modes, many small and highly efficient, could soon begin having a significant impact on urban transportation patterns.
Placer County
City of Morganton
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
Dongguan Binhaiwan Bay Area Management Committee
City of Waukesha, WI
Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority
Indiana Borough
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.
