The Daily Source of Urban Planning News

Aerial view of downtown Omaha, Nebraska with holiday lights at sunset.

Omaha Streetcar Yielding $1.5 Billion in TIF Funds

The line, scheduled for completion in 2027, is bringing billions in new investment to the city’s urban core.

December 13 - KMTV 3 News Now

View of brick buildings and One World Trade Center building and New York City skyline.

NYC’s Proposed Zoning Reforms Lag Behind Other Cities

Cities like Austin and Minneapolis are making major changes to their zoning codes to encourage housing construction, but New York’s proposed reforms are far less ambitious.

December 13 - The City

Heavy traffic on freeway in San Diego, California.

Why Traffic Never Gets Better

Despite abundant research showing that roadway expansions provide limited congestion relief and increase long-term traffic problems, they still occur due to wishful thinking: advocates claim that “this” project is different.

December 12 - Greater Greater Washington

Trolley bus in San Francisco, California.

San Francisco Tops ‘Urban Mobility Readiness’ List

An annual analysis of global cities assesses public transit, technology, and sustainability.

December 12 - Bloomberg CityLab

Cyclist on folding bike riding next to silver car on city street.

Bike-Mounted Sensor Could Improve Safety for Cyclists

A new camera technology can detect when vehicles pass too close to people on bikes.

December 12 - Streetsblog USA


White Cruise autonomous vehicle on street in San Francisco, California.

GM Nixes Robotaxi Division

The company suspended the Cruise self-driving taxi service late last year after a vehicle struck and seriously injured a pedestrian.

December 12 - Smart Cities Dive

Aerial view of Oklahoma state capitol building at golden hour.

Oklahoma Housing Agencies Face Major Budget Gaps

Housing authorities around the country will have a shortfall of $400 million by the end of this year.

December 12 - The Frontier


Close-up of woman in flowered dress holding bar next to white porcelain sink in bathroom.

Survey: Americans Finding it Harder to ‘Age in Place’

While many people over 65 would prefer to stay in their homes and communities, high housing costs and a lack of accessible infrastructure make it difficult.

December 12 - Smart Cities Dive

Sign for MASS MoCA on brick building.

Old Walls, New Homes

From forgotten buildings to thriving neighborhoods, adaptive reuse has the power to transform our cities.

December 12 - PlaceShakers

Dense informal settlement on steep hillside in Brazil.

Housing as a Climate Resilience Strategy

Ensuring that housing, including in informal settlements, is safe and healthy for its residents is a key tool in the fight to build more sustainable and equitable communities in the face of climate migration.

December 11 - Time Magazine

Close-up of person on road bike riding on protected bike lane separated by concrete curb from street.

Southeast LA Road Safety Advocates Call for Improved Infrastructure

Streets in southeastern Los Angeles County have a severe lack of protected bike lanes and traffic safety measures, leading to high numbers of fatalities in a community where many residents depend on walking and biking for daily needs.

December 11 - LA Public Press

Close-up of Chevron gas station sign with logo and prices starting at $7.25.

USDOT: Low-Income Households Bear Highest Transportation Cost Burden

Transportation costs are the second-highest household expenditure behind housing for all income levels.

December 11 - Smart Cities Dive

Downtown Minneapolis, Minnesota skylinw with stone arched brige in foreground.

Minneapolis Awards Affordable Housing Funds

The city awarded over $17 million to affordable housing construction and rehabilitation projects.

December 11 - City of Minneapolis

Two grey cars parked nose to nose, one taller than the other, on city curb with parked bicycle visible on sidewalk.

Tall Vehicles: Unsafe at Any Speed

Vehicles with taller front-end designs are more likely to injure pedestrians even when traveling at lower speeds.

December 11 - Streetsblog USA

Large homes with large yards in suburban cul-de-sac near Atlanta, Georgia.

Commentary: Minimum Lot Sizes Drive Up Housing Costs

How making residential building requirements more flexible can ease the housing crisis and make neighborhoods more livable for more households.

December 11 - Strong Towns

Multifamily housing under construction.

FEATURE

To Build More Housing, Cities Must Be Smarter in How They Use Land

How strategic land use policy decisions can alleviate the housing crisis and limit unsustainable sprawl.

December 11 - John D. Landis

cars

Study: Automobile Dependency Reduces Life Satisfaction

Automobile dependency has negative implications for wellbeing. This academic study finds that relying on a car for more than 50 percent of out-of-home travel is associated with significant reductions in life satisfaction.

December 10 - Science Direct

Yellow San Diego Unified School District school bus.

San Diego School District Could Accelerate Workforce Housing Program

A proposal to build housing on five district-owned properties could yield 1,000 housing units for low- and moderate-income district employees.

December 10 - Governing

Red bus parked at transit station in Denver, Colorado with CO state capitol dome in background.

Denver Transit Board Approves $1.2 Billion Budget

The 2025 budget for the Regional Transportation District is the largest in the agency’s 55-year history.

December 10 - The Denver Post

Public stairs in Los Angeles, California painted with rainbow and red hearts.

A Framework for Inclusive Tree Planting in Los Angeles

The Los Angeles Urban Forest Equity Collective has developed an equity-centered tree-planting framework and toolkit to address historic underinvestment and mitigate extreme heat in vulnerable neighborhoods.

December 10 - UCLA Luskin Center for Innovation

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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.