New York

Buffalo Billion II Promises Light Rail Extension and More
New York Governor Andrew Cuomo is making a tour of his State of the State address, delivering six separate speeches in different parts of the state. His stop in Buffalo made news for its promised capital investments.

Debate Renewed: Can Uber and Lyft Solve Congestion?
A new study predicts the congestion relief benefits of carpooling services offered by Transportation Network Companies. A skeptical audience replies.

$10 Billion Overhaul of JFK International Proposed
New York Governor Andrew Cuomo continued his track record of pushing for big, splashy infrastructure projects last week, this time turning the state's attention to JFK International.

WiFi Available in all 279 New York Subway Stations
Subway trains and WiFi access aren't mutually exclusive in New York City.

New York Court Ruling: Cities Are Liable for Unsafe Streets
Traffic safety and Vision Zero advocates scored a major victory recently at the New York Court of Appeals.
Carl Weisbrod, Head of NYC Planning, Stepping Down
Carl Weisbrod will step down from his position at the head of the Department of City Planning in New York at the end of the month, and the de Blasio Administration has already identified his successor.

Legoland Proposal Splits Community
A new Legoland theme park proposed for the town of Goshen, north of New York City, has received a mixed response from the community.

Buffalo's Green Code Signed Into Law
After six years and 242 meetings, Buffalo's Green Code was signed into law Tuesday. The Green Code is the first rewrite of the city's zoning ordinance since 1953, and one of only three citywide form-based codes implemented in North America.
A Hidden Cost of the Second Avenue Subway—for Renters
Along with commute time reductions, expect significant rent increases resulting in some displacement of current residents around the three new Second Avenue Subway stations, according to a new report.

Rezoning Begins in Earnest in Manhattan's East Midtown
The aspiration for a forthcoming Uniform Land Use Review Procedure for East Midtown Manhattan is nothing short of returning the neighborhood to central business district status.
Yes, the Second Avenue Subway Did Open as Scheduled on New Years Day
Three new stations on Second Avenue and an upgraded Lexington Avenue station were open for the first phase of the long-awaited subway line, an extension of the Q Line. Here are some observations of the trains and stations from The New York Times.
Streetsblog's Best Street Transformation of 2016
A day to look forward to every year: Streetsblog's Best Urban Street Transformation award. Congratulations to all nominated.

Opening on January 1: The Most Expensive Subway Ever Built
There will be a lot of hoopla when the Second Avenue Subway opens in Manhattan on the first day of 2017. Some writers are making sure that one important detail isn't getting lost in the celebration.

Money Leftover from Superstorm Sandy Repairs Now Funding Parks in Queens
A boardwalk reconstruction project in Roackaway Beach, funded by FEMA after Superstorm Sandy, has money leftover. The public is invited to help decide how the money gets used.

Stakeouts and 'Private Eyes': Monitoring Short-Term Rentals for Tenants' Rights
The constantly moving legal lines between regulators and short-term rental companies like Airbnb have taken on some distinctly noir activities.

Expected for Approval Today: The New Buffalo Green Code
The Buffalo Common Council is expected to approve a highly anticipated overhaul of its zoning code. Known commonly as the Buffalo Green Code, city planners tout the new code as deliberately contemporary and progressive.
Artists' Housing, Beyond the SoHo Loft Model
New York has promised to create 1,500 affordable live/work spaces for artists. Architect Emma Fuller believes that careful consideration of building typologies could make it easier to reach this target.

How Rising Seas Threaten the NYC Metro Area
A report from the Regional Plan Association maps out what might happen under 1, 3, and 6 feet of sea level rise. In the worst cases, several dense and populated regions are affected.

New York City Relying on Hotels to House the Homeless
Throughout 2016, New York City has expanded the practice of renting hotel rooms to house homeless people. Now the city is looking for a vendor to shoulder some of the work of finding rooms for those in need.

Checking in on Two of de Blasio's Big Transportation Promises
Mayor Bill de Blasio made a couple of promises about new the transportation technology that would be available to New Yorkers in 2016. The results of those promises reveal good news for drivers and some bad news for bus riders.
Pagination
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.
EMC Planning Group, Inc.
Planetizen
Planetizen
Mpact (formerly Rail~Volution)
Great Falls Development Authority, Inc.
HUDs Office of Policy Development and Research
NYU Wagner Graduate School of Public Service