The Daily Source of Urban Planning News

Aerial view of watewater treatment plant

Where Are American Rescue Plan Funds Going?

Two digital tools track local spending of American Rescue Plan dollars.

September 8 - Brookings

The Ambassador Hotel in San Francisco, California

Evictions on the Rise Among San Francisco Supportive Housing Residents

With COVID-19 assistance programs expiring, tenants of the city’s single-room occupancy hotels face growing eviction rates. Many of them have nowhere to go but back on the street.

September 8 - San Francisco Chronicle

Asphalt parking lot at night with bright lights

California Poised To Eliminate Parking Requirements Near Transit

A state bill awaiting Governor Gavin Newsom’s signature would prohibit parking mandates in neighborhoods within half a mile of transit.

September 8 - CBS 8 San Diego

"QUIET Please be considerate of our neighbors" sign on outside of building with dim light

Houston Doubles Noise Violation Fine

In response to a spike in complaints from people living near bars and clubs, Houston has updated its noise ordinance to raise fines and require additional permits for amplified sound.

September 8 - Houston Chronicle

"Apartment for Rent" sign installed perpendicularly on a while building wall

Single-Family Home Prices Cool, Rents Continue to Rise

Despite a slowdown in the single-family market, record-high rents show no signs of dropping.

September 8 - Globe St.


Automated enforcement sign for dedicated bus lane in Manhattan, New York.

New York To Crack Down on Bus Lane Blocking Violations

The city hopes to improve the speed of its notoriously slow buses by using traffic cameras to ticket drivers who drive or park in dedicated bus lanes.

September 8 - Politico

Rendering of proposed express lanes on I-285 in Atlanta, Georgia highlighted in bright purple.

Atlanta Toll Lane Project Gains Support From Cobb County

The Georgia Department of Transportation is continuing work on an expansion of I-285, claiming the new express lanes could cut travel times by as much as 39 percent.

September 8 - Urbanize Atlanta


Governors Island - South Island Rezoning

PLANOPEDIA

What Are Zoning Amendments?

Zoning amendments change the existing zoning code by either of two methods: changing the text of the zoning code or changing the zoning map.

September 8 - James Brasuell

Apartment buildings under construction with crane.

A Menu of Proposed Housing Policy Reforms

The Mercatus Center published a list of 16 policy recommendations designed to help states clear local obstacles for housing construction.

September 7 - Mercatus Center

Electric Cars

Will California's EV Rule Spread to Other States?

Last month California banned the sale of new light duty vehicles powered by internal combustion engines by 2035. Over a dozen other states have the ability to adopt the same rule, but will they? The Associated Press investigates nine of them.

September 7 - The Associated Press

A sign held above the crowd at a protest reads "No Pipelines" and "Stop RCMP Invasion on Indigenous Lands"

The Land Back Movement, Explained

A 500-year struggle has gained momentum in the days of social media.

September 7 - High Country News

Two-story apartment building behind black iron fence in Pacoima, California

More Research Needed to Understand the Rental Market

Large institutional investors are changing the realities of the U.S. rental housing market, but a lack of information makes it hard for cities to respond.

September 7 - Urban Institute

Public Toilet

San Francisco’s Tenderloin Makes a Compelling Case for Public Restroom Programs

San Francisco’s Pit Stop program, which provides public restroom facilities to vulnerable and unhoused residents, has helped contribute to a decline in feces-related service calls in the Tenderloin.

September 7 - San Francisco Chronicle

Freeway Interchange Construction

Proposed Rule Would Require Emission Reductions From U.S. Highway System

A recently proposed rule, the Greenhouse Gas Emissions Measure, would require state and regional planning powers to track and reduce emissions from the U.S. highway system.

September 7 - Transportation for America

A rider waits on the platform of the Sox-35th station on the CTA Red Line in Chicago.

Chicago’s Red Line Extension Environmental Review Complete

The Red Line Extension on Chicago’s South Side could be a game changer, if the city can figure out the local funding.

September 7 - Mass Transit

New York City Bike Infrastructure

New York to Plan a Network of ‘Greenway’ Corridors for Bike and Pedestrian Improvements

New York City Mayor Eric Adams has the federal funding to launch a new, equity-focused bike and pedestrian planning initiative.

September 7 - AMNY

Pandemic Bike Lanes

Europe Building a Post-Car Future

While the United States mobilizes to transition to electric cars, cities and countries in Europe are transitioning to fewer cars.

September 6 - Yahoo News

Broadway Bike Lane

Interest Spikes for Active Transportation Grants in Washington State

Applications for active transportation grant funding through a pair of Washington state programs more than doubled, in terms of funding requests, from 2020 to 2022.

September 6 - The Seattle Times

Diablo Canyon Nuclear

Legislature Extends $1.4 Billion Lifeline to California's Last Operating Nuclear Power Plant

A bipartisan bill, fiercely opposed by many in the environmental community, would keep the Diablo Canyon Power Plant operating beyond 2025. The bill received overwhelming approval after it was amended to shorten the duration of the extension.

September 6 - CALmatters

An intersection is adorned with paint depicting the Italian flag in St. Louis.

St. Louis Had Enough of the Federal Government’s Crosswalk Paint Policy

St. Louis is not the only city to decide that the Federal Highway Administration’s policies against brightly painted crosswalks. The evidence is on the side of the resistance.

September 6 - St. Louis Post-Dispatch

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.