The Daily Source of Urban Planning News
The American Commute Is Getting More Expensive
The average cost of commuting in the United States rose by 35 percent since last year, according to a new report.
FEATURE
Toward Community
An opinion piece by Angie Schmitt reclaims higher ideals for the planning profession.
Los Angeles County Allocates $9 Million for Parks in High Need Areas
The funding is from Measure A, the Safe, Clean Neighborhood Parks and Beaches Measure, a parcel tax approved by nearly 75 percent of voters in 2016.
The City Haunts Itself
According to one author, urban ghost stories are one way humans fight the alienation of modern life.
Transit Ridership Continues Slow Recovery
Even as gas prices rise, ridership on many public transit systems continues to remain well below pre-pandemic levels.
Friday Funny: The Onion Blasts U.S. for Slow Trains
The satirical news site The Onion has imagined a world where China and the United States are competing over which country can operate the slowest, least dependable train systems.
Report: U.S. Greenhouse Gas Reductions Not Hitting Paris Agreement Goal
The United States is making modest gains in the power and transportation sectors, but emissions in the industrial sector are holding steady, absent new reduction initiatives.
Urbanist Gil Peñalosa Running for Toronto Mayor
The former parks commissioner for Bogotá, Colombia is throwing his hat in the ring in Toronto’s mayoral race.
Montgomery County Planners Present Pedestrian Safety Proposals
The auto-centric county has been building new bike trails and pedestrian facilities, but more improvements are necessary to reduce the number of pedestrian deaths and injuries, planners say.
San Francisco Nixes Slow Street
Lake Street’s designation as a ‘slow street’ is overwhelmingly popular with residents. Why does the city plan to dismantle it?
Can Los Angeles Join the Anti-Gas Station Movement?
A growing number of cities in California have prohibited the construction of new gas stations. Los Angeles could soon consider an ordinance to do the same—in a landmark move for the city some believe to be a symbol of car-dependent sprawl.
What Should the ‘Next Seattle’ Look Like?
With the city getting ready to update its comprehensive plan, one writer examines some models for improving affordability, accessibility, and community in Seattle.
Boise Backing Off Proposed Citywide Zoning Changes
Boise was considering allowing up to four units by-right on any residential parcel in the city, but has since rolled back the scale of the proposed zoning changes.
Mapping Heat Inequality
A new mapping tool underscores inequities in infrastructure that lead to higher rates of heat-related illnesses in low-income neighborhoods.
Touring One of the U.S.’s Best Biking Cities: Minneapolis
The latest Streetfilms release offers an in-person, on-bike tour of Minneapolis.
Tampa Bay Bus Rapid Transit To Launch in October
Tampa Bay’s first bus rapid transit line, the SunRunner, has an official opening date.
Local, State Governments Creating Obstacles for Institutional Investors on the Housing Market
Large Wall Street investors are increasing their footprint in the housing market, like they did after the Great Recession, and some local and state governments are inventing new ways to prevent these institutional investors from cornering the market.
PLANOPEDIA
What Is a Non-Conforming Use?
A non-conforming use is an existing building that would not be built under current land use regulations. While esoteric, the term is nonetheless critical to understanding the changes in development regulations over time.
What’s at the Root of Homelessness? A Lack of Affordable Housing
Despite the common belief that drug abuse and mental illness are some of the main factors that cause people to become unhoused, a new book concludes that high housing costs and low availability, more than anything else, push people into homelessness.
Aspen Imposes New Limits on Short-Term Rentals as Housing Prices Soar
The Aspen City Council hopes the stricter regulations on short-term rentals and new home construction will stem the astronomical rise of housing costs in the mountain town.
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.
