The Daily Source of Urban Planning News

View of Los Angeles skyline at sunrise with yellow and green trees in foreground

LA’s Trees Absorb More Carbon Than Expected, But Can’t Do It Alone

A USC study finds that Los Angeles’ urban trees absorb more carbon than expected, but while they provide crucial environmental benefits, they cannot replace the urgent need for systemic emissions reductions.

February 28 - Phys.org

A cowboy rests his hand on a green gate on a sunny day in Colorado. The United States flag is behind him and he is wearing a straw cowboy hat and glasses. A dirt road is next to him.

Poll Shows Residents of Western States Prefer Conservation Over Oil and Gas

The majority of the poll’s respondents identified as politically conservative or independent, with 40 percent supporting the MAGA platform.

February 28 - High Country News

Two white Waymo robotaxis parked on street in San Francisco, California.

How Autonomous Cars Can Induce Sprawl and Sabotage Climate Goals

Robotaxis can lead to longer, more frequent trips and are projected to increase VMT by as much as 83 percent.

February 28 - Smart Cities Dive

Concrete Brutalism building with slanted walls and light visible through an atrium.

FEATURE

What ‘The Brutalist’ Teaches Us About Modern Cities

How architecture and urban landscapes reflect the trauma and dysfunction of the post-war experience.

February 28 - Justin Hollander

Seattle buses in line at a depot with Seattle skyline in background

Seattle to Reinstate Bus Fare Enforcement

After a COVID-era move to eliminate fare inspections on city buses, King County Metro is reinstating checks for fare evasion.

February 27 - The Seattle Times


Aerial view of Broadway Street of Philipsburg, Montana, Philipsburg is a town in and the county seat of Granite County, Montana, United States.

Study: Urban US Residents Have Higher Life Expectancy Than Rural Americans

A combination of economic and social factors leads to higher rates of disease and reduced access to healthcare for many rural residents.

February 27 - The Conversation

Aerial view of downtown Milwaukee, Wisconsin at sunset

A Decade of Progress on Homelessness in Milwaukee County

Unlike most U.S. communities, Milwaukee County has managed to make significant progress toward assisting unhoused residents through a Housing First approach.

February 27 - Governing


Distant view of brown oil pump jack in a flat desert with cloudy blue sky.

Innovation in Energy: Repurposing Depleted Wells for a Sustainable Future

New Mexico's HB 361 proposes repurposing depleted oil and gas wells for energy storage and geothermal development, offering a potential solution to both electricity shortages and environmental challenges.

February 27 - Santa Fe Reporter

 CapMetro buses parked at Westgate Transit Center under freeway overpass in Austin, Texas.

New Rapid Bus Lines Begin “Introductory Service” in Austin

CapMetro officials say they wanted to start providing connectivity even though buses won’t run as frequently as planned.

February 27 - Austin Monitor

Complete Street

‘Complete Streets’ Webpage Deleted in Federal Purge

Basic resources and information on building bike lanes and sidewalks, formerly housed on the government’s Complete Streets website, are now gone.

February 27 - Streetsblog USA

Collage of 5 GIS maps from the ESRI American Community Survey (ACS) Atlas Collection.

Explore US Demographics With the New ACS Atlas Collection

Esri's new ACS Atlas Collection offers interactive applications that visualize the latest U.S. demographic and socio-economic data, enabling users to explore over 175 curated web maps across various thematic areas.

February 27 - ArcGIS Blog

White bike sharrow symbol painted on road next to green grass.

Sharrows Are Ineffective, Potentially Counterproductive

Research shows there’s no substitute for protected bike lanes, and sharrows may make roads more dangerous for cyclists.

February 26 - Momentum Magazine

Trees in bloom with pink flowers on a residential street in Seattle, Washington.

Opinion: Housing Versus Trees Is a False Choice; Swap Pavement for Trees Instead

Seattle’s goal to cover 30 percent of the city with tree canopy by 2037 doesn’t need to be sacrificed in favor of density. There’s a better way.

February 26 - The Urbanist

Red tailed hawk in flight with scrubland hills and trees in background in San Dimas Canyon Natural Area and Nature Center, California.

A Greener LA County: 623 Acres of New Parkland for Communities

Los Angeles County is investing $17 million to create 623 acres of new parks and open spaces, expanding access to nature, advancing equity, and enhancing community health and well-being.

February 26 - Los Angeles County Regional Park and Open Space District

Close-up of Denver title on manhole cover in brick sidewalk or street.

Denver Takes on Sidewalk Repair

The Colorado capital is the largest U.S. city to commit to maintaining its entire sidewalk network, funding repairs through a fee on property owners.

February 26 - Bloomberg CityLab

Blue and red light rail train in downtown Houston, Texas.

Houston Metro Plan Centers Safety, Accessibility

A new plan from the city’s transit agency focuses on improving the rider experience and boosting safety, but remains uncommitted to previous plans to build new BRT lines.

February 26 - Houston Public Media

Aerial view of the Atlanta Beltline walking and biking trail with mid-rise buildings on either side.

Beltline Surpasses Annual Affordable Housing Goal

The Atlanta Beltline agency is actively working to prevent the displacement of longtime residents along the trail system, where property values are rising rapidly.

February 26 - Axios

Colorful rowhouses in Washington, D.C.

DC Residents Want Affordability Over ‘Character’

A poll finds that most residents want to see changes in zoning and land use laws that unlock more housing construction in the District and improve affordability.

February 26 - Greater Greater Washington

An overhead image of a large wooden building as it's being constructed.

California’s Housing Laws Yielding Disappointing Results

A relatively few number of new units are being built as a result of new laws aimed at boosting the housing supply.

February 25 - CALmatters

Aerial view of coastal Hawaii with houses.

Elevating Environmental Journalism: A Masterclass in Climate Storytelling

Pulitzer Prize finalist Rosanna Xia visited the University of Hawai'i at Manoa, sharing her climate reporting expertise through sea level rise field tours, engaging storytelling workshops, and an inspiring public lecture.

February 25 - University of Hawai'i News

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Planning for Universal Design

Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.