The Daily Source of Urban Planning News

View of houses on Berkeley, California hillside

Berkeley ADU Rules Found in Violation of State Law

A regulation limiting the number and size of ADUs in the Berkeley Hills runs afoul of state law, but supporters say it protects the safety of residents in fire-prone areas.

October 30 - Berkeleyside

Amtrak Sunset Limited train passing by forested area in Cade, Louisiana

More Delays for Restoring Gulf Coast Amtrak Service

Conflicts over freight rail and funding are holding up the restoration of New Orleans-to-Orlando service on Amtrak’s Sunset Limited line.

October 30 - Governing

Boston street with four-story bricks buildings

Boston Unveils Green Infrastructure Plan

The city will start by redesigning curb extensions to incorporate elements that improve flood prevention and stormwater management.

October 30 - Smart Cities Dive

Pacific Surfliner Amtrak train on California coast

Sea Level Rise Threatens an Iconic California Train

A scenic Southern California line could require relocation as rising sea levels destabilize the coastal soil that supports its tracks.

October 28 - Bloomberg CityLab

Coronavirus and Homelessness

Portland, Sacramento Propose Banning Camping Citywide

Both West Coast cities are preparing to criminalize sleeping on public streets, claiming new shelter beds will provide enough resources for their unhoused populations.

October 28 - Next City


Aerial view of downtown Asheville, North Carolina

Asheville Approves ADA Compliance Plan

The city plans to make improvements to pedestrian infrastructure and bring its public streets into compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act.

October 28 - WLOS

Trail through forested area in Virginia

Virginia Office of Trails Allocated $89 Million

The newly formed agency is tasked with developing and improving trail networks in the state.

October 28 - The Virginia Mercury


Freeway Interchange Construction

FEATURE

The Culture Clash at State DOTs Over Greenhouse Gas Emissions

Whether state departments of transportation support or oppose a new rule aimed at reining in carbon emissions in transportation reflects an urban-rural, red-blue divide.

October 27 - Angie Schmitt

Construction fence and crane

Los Angeles Subway Work Halted Amid Serious Safety Lapses

A string of unaddressed worker injuries prompted the county transit agency to suspend work on a subway line that will connect downtown Los Angeles to the westside.

October 27 - Los Angeles Times

Two silver Rivian electric pick-up trucks driving down road with blurry grass on roadside

Rivian CEO Talks Battery Tech, Supply Chain Issues

As its electric trucks hit the streets, the electric truck maker has their eye on micromobility and battery supply chains.

October 27 - Tech Crunch

Aerial view of high-rise condominium buildings on beach in Miami, Florida

How New Safety Legislation Will Impact Florida Condo Market

New regulations aimed at preventing disasters like the Surfside condo collapse are forcing a reckoning on the part of property owners who may struggle to afford required repairs and upgrades.

October 27 - Construction Dive

Highway Widening

Lawsuit Challenges Maryland's Big Highway Widening Plans

A lawsuit has challenged Maryland Governor Larry Hogan's plans, first proposed in 2017 and granted federal approval earlier this year, to widen Interstate 270 and part of the Capital Beltway.

October 27 - The Washington Post

New York City Open Streets

Open Streets and Outdoor Dining Are Best for Business, Report Says

Most business owners believe that they'd be out of business without on-street parking near their front door. The experience of New York City during the pandemic proves otherwise.

October 27 - StreetsBlog NYC

Montgomery County

Montgomery County Growth Plan Approved

The county council approved the much-debated long-range growth plan, preparing the region for a shift toward more mid-density housing and transit-oriented development.

October 27 - The Washington Post

Downtown Kingston, New York with historic four-story buildings

How New York Suburbs Are Tackling the Housing Crisis

Some small cities are proposing zoning code reforms and new taxes to address the growing housing shortage in the greater New York area.

October 27 - New York Focus

White house with For Sale and SOLD sign

Home Prices, Demand on Downward Trajectory

The once-overheated housing market continues to cool as rising interest rates reduce demand.

October 26 - Bloomberg

Pedestrians

Federal Government Pushes Collaboration on Road Safety

Guidance from federal agencies encourages states and cities to focus on pedestrian and cyclist safety, but the Biden administration has stopped short of any legally binding mandates.

October 26 - Route Fifty

Black and white portrait of Mike Davis

Remembering a Titan: Mike Davis Dies at 76

Davis’ unflinching portrait of Los Angeles politics and power dynamics remains a penetrating analysis of modern city-building, who it benefits, and who it leaves behind.

October 26 - Los Angeles Times

Colorful one-story wooden homes in the French Quarter, New Orleans, Louisiana

Short-Term Rental Ban Expanded to All Residential New Orleans Neighborhoods

In the wake of a lawsuit, the city has extended its existing short-term rental moratorium to include existing permits and applications already submitted.

October 26 - Governing

Electric vehicle charging station with white cars plugged in

Report: ‘Outdated’ Regulations Slowing Growth of Electric Car Charging Stations

A lack of regulations and zoning codes tailored to electric vehicle charging infrastructure is hindering the proliferation of charging stations.

October 26 - Smart Cities Dive

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