The Daily Source of Urban Planning News

Children boarding yellow school bus.

Parents Turn to Ride-Hailing as Schools Pull Bus Transportation

Some districts are cutting back on school buses, leaving some children without reliable transportation to and from school.

December 18 - Associated Press

White Sound Transit Link light rail train at station in Bellevue, Washington.

Seattle-Area Light Rail Breaks Ridership Record, Again

Thanks to a new extension and reorganized connecting bus lines, the Link light rail system topped 3 million rides in October.

December 18 - The Urbanist

Row of USPS trucks parked in outdoor parking lot.

USPS Electrification Project Far Behind Schedule

The manufacturer of the electric mail trucks ordered by the Postal Service is plagued by problems that are slowing production to around one truck per day.

December 18 - The Washington Post

View of top of high-rise apartment building under construction with red and white cranes

Fannie Mae Economists Predict Slow Housing Market in 2025

A December report forecasts a continued “lock-in effect” due to high mortgage rates and a low production of multifamily housing.

December 18 - Fannie Mae Foundation

Snowy walkway in Chicago in winter flanked by medium-sized trees.

Chicago Allocates $500K to Sidewalk Clearing Pilot

Advocates of the Plow the Sidewalks program were asking for $1 million to start a pilot program in four areas of the city.

December 18 - Block Club Chicago


Aerial view of Bayway refinery in Elizabeth City, New Jersey.

New Jersey to Consider Charging Fossil Fuel Companies for Pollution

A proposed law would make companies liable for damages caused by burning fossil fuels.

December 18 - Fast Company

Person sleeping in car at night.

‘Safe Parking’ Programs Offer Small Comforts to Unhoused People

People living in cars are often at the mercy of parking regulations, forced to relocate frequently and left without access to resources like restrooms. Safe Parking programs aim to change that.

December 18 - Smart Cities Dive


Photovoltaic solar panels on red-tile rooftops in California neighborhood.

California Leads in Solar Rooftops

A combination of state and local incentives and building code mandates has helped California far outpace other states in residential rooftop solar permits.

December 17 - Fast Company

Closed grocery store in small building in small town in Washington state.

One Weird Trick for Eliminating Food Deserts

How enforcing one federal law, ignored since the 1980s, could bring back small grocers and ensure more people have convenient access to fresh foods.

December 17 - The Atlantic

White and red DM high-speed rail train at platform in large train station in Berlin, Germany.

New HSR Train Conects Paris and Berlin

Officials hail the new route as a symbol of the friendship between two of Europe’s most important economic powers.

December 17 - DW.com

Row of 4-story brick New York City apartment buildings.

Understanding NYC’s Rental Income Requirements

Why are most renters required to earn 40 times their rent in annual income?

December 17 - Curbed

Cyclist riding along paved path at edge of Lake Michigan in Chicago, Illinois.

Winter Cyclists Test Out New Chicago Bike Lanes

A new protected bike lane in the Logan Square neighborhood is seeing significant use, even in below-freezing temperatures.

December 17 - Streetsblog Chicago

Downtown San Antonio, Texas skyline at dusk.

San Antonio Approves New Downtown Cycletrack

The city will install a one-mile, protected two-way bike lane connecting Flores Street to Interstate 37.

December 17 - Gothamist

Aerial view of lower Manhattan, New York City.

NYC Approves ‘City of Yes’ Rezoning Plan

The city council voted 31 to 20 to approve a package of zoning reforms aimed at creating 80,000 new housing units.

December 17 - Gothamist

View from hilltop residential neighborhood of downtown Los Angeles, California on a cloudy day.

LA Neighborhood Residents Unite to Block Warehouse Project

A group of Lincoln Heights residents expressed concerns about a proposed warehouse that would have brought increased truck traffic to an already overburdened area.

December 16 - CALmatters

Group of elementary school children running in an outdoor corridor.

Fact Check: New Housing Doesn’t Lead to Overcrowded Schools

A common refrain heard by locals opposed to new housing developments is that area schools can’t absorb the increase in students they’ll bring. As the nation approaches an “enrollment cliff,” the data tells a different story.

December 16 - Shelterforce Magazine

Aerial view of Snohomish River and I-5 bridge in Everett, Washington.

Snohomish River Gains Legal Rights

A new law in one Washington town enshrines the river’s legal right to “exist, regenerate, and flourish.”

December 16 - Inside Climate News

Woman on bicycle in protected bike lane on Boston bridge

The Most Bike-Friendly States in the Nation

The League of American Bicyclists ranks states based on bike infrastructure and safety efforts.

December 16 - Smart Cities Dive

Close-up of MARTA logo on side of white city bus in Atlanta, Georgia.

Atlanta Transit Officials Call for Traffic Cameras to Enforce Bus-Only Lanes

MARTA says bus-mounted cameras would be a more effective way to keep bus lanes clear and make upcoming bus rapid transit lines run smoothly and reliably.

December 16 - The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Busy crosswalk with people and bikes in New York City on a bright afternoon.

Op-Ed: NYC E-Bike Registration Bill ‘Regressive,’ ‘Practically Useless’

Why a proposed bill that would require e-bikes, e-scooters, and other motorized mobility devices would be difficult, expensive to enforce, and ineffective.

December 16 - StreetsBlog NYC

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