The Daily Source of Urban Planning News

NHTSA Finalizes Automatic Braking Rule to Advance Road Safety
New cars will be required to include automatic detection and braking technology for vehicles and pedestrians by 2029.

What’s in the Proposed Columbus Zoning Code Update?
A set of changes to land use and zoning regulations could help maintain housing affordability and promote mixed-use development in the city.

Two California Motels Transformed into Transitional Housing
Unlike most transitional housing, which is aimed at individuals, a project in the Southern California desert caters to families.

San Francisco Right to Counsel Program Prevents Hundreds of Evictions
A city program that gives at-risk tenants the right to a lawyer helped over 90 percent of participants avoid eviction.

State Lawmakers Join Fight Against Wall Street Landlords
Pushback against hedge funds buying and renting out single-family houses grows as elected officials in a handful of state legislatures seek to curb the trend amid the housing affordability crisis.

Lead Pipes Make Up Nearly One Tenth of US Water Service Lines
A decade after the Flint crisis captured national attention, tens of thousands of US water transmission lines can still leach dangerous chemicals.

Solar Production Threatens Fertile Farmlands
Solar installations are causing soil erosion and raising concerns among farmers in some of the nation’s most productive agricultural regions.

Top 10 Public Transit Cities in the US
From New York to Providence, these are the best places to get around without a car.

Revitalizing Connecticut’s Downtowns
An injection of federal funding is helping restore buildings and infrastructure to bring residents and businesses back to central districts.

Opinion: Why Environmentalists Should Support NYC ‘City of Yes’ Zoning Reform
The housing-oriented component of Mayor Eric Adams’ City of Yes proposal could serve the double purpose of making housing more affordable and reducing GHG emissions and car dependency.

California Bills Take Aim at Robotaxi Regulation
Local officials want more control over how and where autonomous cars are deployed.

Tenants and Home Buyers: Do You Know Your Fair Housing Rights?
Inconsistent application of fair housing laws across the country means tenants and home buyers of color and from other protected classes must educate themselves and be their own advocates.

A Win for Single-Family Zoning in California
Five Southern California charter cities need not worry about lot splitting in their single-family zoned neighborhoods thanks to a Los Angeles County superior court ruling on April 22. Depending on a forthcoming ruling, 120 cities may join them.

Brightline Founder Predicts a Passenger Rail Resurgence
The HSR operator wants to expand to more US regions.

Houston Metro to Reduce BRT Service
The city’s Silver Line rapid transit has not been attracting as many riders as originally projected.

Maryland Housing Laws Address Housing Shortage, Establish Renter Protections
An ambitious housing package establishes a Renters Bill of Rights and removes barriers to increased housing production.

Judge's Ruling Deals Blow to California's Zoning Reform Law
Five California cities have won a lawsuit against the state over SB 9, a law passed in 2021 that effectively abolished single family zoning statewide.

NYC Congestion Pricing to Start June 30, MTA Announces
Starting this summer, drivers will have to pay a toll to drive through the newly designated Congestion Relief Zone in New York City’s Central Business District.

LA Parking Reform is Bearing Fruit
Changes to minimum parking requirements near transit lines are spurring more residential development with little or no on-site parking.

Feds Issue New Energy Efficiency Standards for Affordable Housing
The new standards are expected to lower energy costs for low-income households.
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