The Daily Source of Urban Planning News

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.

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.

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.

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.

Chicago Transit Advocates Rally Against ‘Redefine the Drive’ Plan
Current plans don’t include transit, pedestrian infrastructure, or new connections to the lakefront park.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Phoenix Launches Hybrid Bus Fleet
The city aims to have a zero-emissions transit fleet by 2040.

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.

Disabled Veterans Gain Access to Supportive Housing Assistance
Disability benefits will no longer exclude veterans from supportive housing programs.

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.

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.

FEATURE
Book Review: Killed By A Traffic Engineer
In a new book, engineering professor Wes Marshall explains why American roads are so unsafe.

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.

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.

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.

Cargo Bike Use Up Dramatically in London
Bike advocates attribute the growth to new protected bike lanes.
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Heyer Gruel & Associates PA
Ada County Highway District
Institute for Housing and Urban Development Studies (IHS)
City of Grandview
Harvard GSD Executive Education
Toledo-Lucas County Plan Commissions
Salt Lake City
NYU Wagner Graduate School of Public Service
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.