The Daily Source of Urban Planning News

Atlanta, Georgia

Counties in Louisiana, Georgia Lead Nation in COVID Death Rate

All eyes are fixed on New York City, the epicenter of the COVID-19 outbreak with its skyrocketing deaths, but the six counties with the highest number of coronavirus deaths per capita are in two Southern states as of April 1. Manhattan is #7.

April 3 - The Washington Post

Las Vegas Strip At Night

High-Speed Rail Between California and Las Vegas Closer to Becoming a Reality

A $4.8-billion project to run high-speed rail from Southern California to Las Vegas is securing needed funding.

April 3 - Los Angeles Times

Hurricanes

Deciding Not to Rebuild After Climate-Related Disasters

Officials in cities along the East Coast are realizing that maybe they shouldn’t rebuild on land that repeatedly floods. But that’s easier said than done.

April 3 - Shelterforce Magazine

Spanish Steps

How Coronavirus Has Transformed Italy's Urban Spaces

Italy has been hit hard by the pandemic, and slowing the spread of the virus has meant dramatic changes in urban life.

April 3 - The Conversation

Parking Space

New York Parking Is a Pricey but Valued Amenity

In a city where owning a car can be an expensive burden, off-street parking spaces are still highly desired commodities.

April 3 - The New York Times


Coronavirus Streets

BLOG POST

Cities Should Take Advantage of Low Car Traffic to Accelerate Transit Construction

Beverly Hills is taking advantage of empty streets by accelerating construction on the Purple Line Subway extension currently cutting its way across Los Angeles. More cities should follow Beverly Hills' lead.

April 2 - James Brasuell

Bangkok, Thailand

Straight Talk from White House Public Health Experts on What to Expect

The public got to view the models that caused the president on Monday to extend the White House Coronavirus Guideline for 30 days. Dr. Deborah Birx, who led the presentation, emphasized that success will come down to behavior to reduce fatalities.

April 2 - Politico


Driving

In N.Y.C., Speeding Is Up as Pandemic Continues

Data shows that drivers are speeding on the city’s mostly deserted streets.

April 2 - StreetsBlog NYC

Purple Line Extension Construction

Low Car Traffic Enables Accelerated Subway Construction in Southern California

The city of Beverly Hills, long an opponent of the project, is now taking advantage of a lack of car traffic to drastically speed up construction on the Purple Line subway extension.

April 2 - Streetsblog LA

Coronavirus

Drive-Through Coronavirus Testing Promises Not Yet Fulfilled

The number of drive-through testing sites across the country is still low. With continued supply shortages, when and if the situation will change are unclear.

April 2 - Oregon Live

Short North

Fiscal Effects of the Pandemic Depend on Tax Structures

Cities that rely on sales and income tax revenues to fund vital local services can expect immediate fiscal consequences from the coronavirus pandemic.

April 2 - Brookings

Gold Line alongside 210 Freeway

As Coronavirus Spreads, Air Pollution Plummets

More people are driving less and staying at home. The result is significant improvements in air quality in cities across the country.

April 2 - The New York Times

Cherry Blossom Washington, D.C.

Urban Forestry Plans Obstructed by Urban Development Plans in D.C.

Growth and development are the biggest obstacles to Washington, D.C.'s plans to add more than 10,000 trees every year over the next 25 years.

April 2 - The Washington Post

Bart

BART San Jose Extension Faces Delays and Ballooning Costs

The extension to downtown is a complex and ambitious project facing many challenges and questions about feasibility.

April 1 - The Mercury News

Fire Escape

Multifamily Housing Industry Reacts to Congressional COVID-19 Package

The National Multifamily Housing Council (NMHC) and the National Apartment Association (NAA) on the law's impact on multifamily housing.

April 1 - The Planning Report

Social Distancing

BLOG POST

COVID-19 Appreciation Day

April Fool's Day is a good day to consider life from a virus's perspective. Our tiny friends have many positive attributes.

April 1 - Todd Litman

Potted Plants

Community Development Is Crucial in This Moment

The pandemic is highlighting the crucial necessity of community developers’ work. Here’s what the field will need to play its part in the recovery.

April 1 - Shelterforce Magazine

Connectivity

FEATURE

The Dots of Connectivity and Broken Cultural Links

Connectivity is not just a question of geometry, according to this article by Fanis Grammenos. It's critical to consider what people connect for and how.

April 1 - Fanis Grammenos

COVID-19

How Coronavirus Will Change Cities, From Public to Private Lives

Changes are coming, but they don't have to be anti-urban, and they could mean a more resilient world for cities and communities of all shapes and sizes.

April 1 - Rice Kinder Institute for Urban Research: The Urban Edge

Surveillance Technology

BLOG POST

Will Infrastructure Planners Become Responsible for Facial Recognition Systems?

Facial recognition offers both benefits and risks. Planners can have a role in ensuring more of the former than the latter.

April 1 - Kayla Matthews

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.

Urban Planning Creators You Should Know

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.