The Daily Source of Urban Planning News

White Shinkansen high-speed rail train passing through green fields with water and Mount Fuji in background in Japan.

The World’s 10 Fastest Trains

From Japan to Morocco to China, these passenger trains travel at speeds of up to 311 miles per hour.

August 14 - Jalopnik

Dusty desert landscape with low visibility and few scraggly plants.

Racing Toward Dystopia

The latest installment in the Mad Max franchise is a more urgent warning about the perils of climate change and megalomania than ever before.

August 14 - Common Edge Collaborative

View looking down indoor concourse at Los Angeles Union Station with “To Union Station East” and “Passageway to Trains and Patsaouras Bus Plaza” signs.

Can LA Achieve a ‘No-Car’ Olympics?

The city’s mayor promises all Olympic venues will be reachable by transit, but the city’s ability to finish its transit projects on time is coming into question.

August 14 - Associated Press

A new house is under construction with the walls and the roof installed but only the frames and trusses, respectively.

Feds Annouce $100 Million for Housing and Zoning Reform Programs

The program is aimed at helping local and state governments spur housing construction by reducing regulatory barriers.

August 14 - Bloomberg CityLab

Rendering from the North DuSable Lake Shore Drive Phase I Study of Lake Shore Drive in Chicago.

Chicago Transit Advocates Rally Against ‘Redefine the Drive’ Plan

Current plans don’t include transit, pedestrian infrastructure, or new connections to the lakefront park.

August 14 - Streetsblog Chicago


Bike parked on urban sidewalk with large street trees.

Sustainable Urban Design: A New Tool and Approach on The Talking Headways Podcast

Discover how the Sustainable Urban Design Framework helps planners create livable, sustainable communities. Nico Larco from the University of Oregon explores a new tool and book in the latest “Talking Headways” podcast.

August 14 - Streetsblog USA

Hand holding up an analog thermometer outdoors with trees in background.

Study: Urban Trees Lose Cooling Benefits in Extreme Heat

A robust tree canopy can help reduce the urban heat island effect and lower air temperatures, but the impact is reduced as temperatures rise.

August 14 - University of New South Wales


White NJ Transit parked at station with blue stripes.

NJ Transit Steps in to Replace Bankrupt Bus Operator

The agency is using a new subcontractor to provide service in Hudson and Passaic counties after Coach USA declared bankruptcy.

August 14 - Smart Cities Dive

Aerial view of coast in Maui, hawaii with hotels and condo buildings at sunrise or sunset.

Maui Condo Sales Drop as County Weighs Short-Term Rental Regulations

A proposed county bill would phase out some 7,000 short-term rental units.

August 13 - Maui Now

Close-up of white pedestrian and bike symbols painted on concrete path.

California Bill Promotes ‘Quick-Build’ Road Safety Solutions

The bill is part of an effort to reverse entrenched patterns in traffic engineering and speed up the adoption of safer infrastructure for people walking and biking.

August 13 - CalBike

Black and purple hybrid Phoenix Public Transit bus.

Phoenix Launches Hybrid Bus Fleet

The city aims to have a zero-emissions transit fleet by 2040.

August 13 - KTAR

Tent City Bay Area

The Fight Continues Against Criminalization of Homelessness

Though disappointed in the Supreme Court’s ruling allowing sleeping bans, homeless advocates are energized and organizing around other solutions.

August 13 - Shelterforce Magazine

Close-up of Department of Veterans Affairs sign in Washington, D.C. with American and MIA flags on flagpole in background.

Disabled Veterans Gain Access to Supportive Housing Assistance

Disability benefits will no longer exclude veterans from supportive housing programs.

August 13 - Stars and Stripes

Aerial view of Baltimore's Inner Harbor with downtown skyline.

Baltimore Invests Billions to Clean its Waterways

Like Paris, the city has been working to improve its wastewater system and make local waterways safe for swimming.

August 13 - NPR

Google street view of Amboy Road in Staten Island, New York.

Staten Island Road Widening Project Moves Forward

New York’s Department of Transportation plans to double the width of a Staten Island street to accommodate more vehicular traffic.

August 13 - StreetsBlog NYC

Close-up of orange and white traffic cone on street with blurred worker in orange vest in background.

FEATURE

Book Review: Killed By A Traffic Engineer

In a new book, engineering professor Wes Marshall explains why American roads are so unsafe.

August 13 - Michael Lewyn

Intersection with stoplight and "no right turn on red" sign in San Francisco, California.

San Francisco Officials Call for Citywide Ban on Right Turns on Red

A proposal to prohibit turns on red at some downtown intersections prompted calls for a blanket ban for the entire city.

August 12 - CBS News

Aerial view of Grants Pass, Oregon on cloudy day.

Grants Pass Bans Outdoor Sleeping, Creates Designated Camping Areas

The Oregon city was at the heart of a controversial Supreme Court case that paves the way for the criminalization of homelessness.

August 12 - AP via Seattle Post-Intelligencer

Overhead view of houses being 3d printed in concrete from the ground up.

3D-Printed Community in Texas Nearly Complete

Upon completion, the 100-home Wolf Ranch Community north of Austin will be the largest 3D printed neighborhood in the world.

August 12 - Parametric Architecture

Domino's Pizza delivery bikes parked on a sidewalk in London, UK.

Cargo Bike Use Up Dramatically in London

Bike advocates attribute the growth to new protected bike lanes.

August 12 - Forbes

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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.