The Daily Source of Urban Planning News

Nighttime Traffic

Where the Pandemic Has Scrambled Traffic Patterns

The map of metropolitan areas that drive least, and thus emit fewer greenhouse gas emissions, has been completely redrawn by the pandemic, according to a recent report.

January 25 - Smart Cities Dive

Dallas Transit

Dallas' First-Ever Strategic Mobility Plan Ties Land Use to New Transportation Ideas

The Connect Dallas Strategic Mobility Plan is open for public comment. Expect more big plans from Dallas soon—the ForwardDallas! comprehensive plan update will also kick off this year.

January 25 - City of Dallas

Cops on Bikes

Virginia's Proposed Bicycle Safety Act Puts the Onus on Drivers

Three-foot passing rules are safe. Requiring drivers to change lanes to pass people on bikes are even safer.

January 25 - The Virginia Mercury

Park Slope, Brooklyn

BLOG POST

The Pros and Cons of HOAs in Cities

Are HOAs in cities a good thing? Not always. Keep reading to learn more.

January 25 - Devin Partida

Sutter Street from above

San Francisco's Housing Crisis is Deepening, Despite Falling Rents

Despite the purported exodus of untethered Silicon Valley workers from the Bay Area, rents in the city are still the highest in the United States.

January 24 - The Guardian


Coronavirus

North Dakota's Mask Mandate Expires as Infections Plummet

North Dakota led the nation in COVID cases for months before Gov. Doug Burgum issued a mask mandate last November. Since then, active cases have dropped by 80 percent. The mandate was extended last month but was allowed to expire on Jan. 18.

January 24 - Grand Forks Herald

Highway Sign in North Carolina

Expert Voices 2021: What Will Be the 'New Normal'?

Impacts from the COVID-19 pandemic are reverberating through cities around the world. The Penn Institute for Urban Research asked 20 urban experts what the lasting effects will be and how we can rebuild equitably and sustainably.

January 24 - Penn IUR Urban Link


Toronto Subway Plans

Toronto's Once-Ambitious Subway Plans Scaled Back (Again)

The province barged in with the Ontario Line and hasn't left much room for the city's SmartTrack program.

January 24 - blogTO

BART Train

Change of Plans: Transit Funding Priorities Shift in the Silicon Valley

Santa Clara County cities rebel against the agency's proposed plan to spend most of the Measure B funds on a Silicon Valley BART extension.

January 22 - The Mercury News

Amtrak

Will Train Travel Be More Popular Post-COVID-19?

Train trips via Amtrak may get a boost due to COVID-related concerns about flying.

January 22 - USA Today

Manhattan, New York City, New York

Kicking Commercial-to-Residential Conversions Into High Gear

A plan included in New York Gov. Andre Cuomo's draft 2022 budget will make it easier to do adaptive reuse for new housing in New York City.

January 22 - The Real Deal

Democrats

Friday Funny: Bernie's Latest Meme, Anywhere and Everywhere

Next to the words of Inauguration poet Amanda Gorman, the most lasting impression from Inauguration Day might be an image of Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders.

January 22 - Bernie Sits

Abolish the Police

What's Abolitionist Housing Policy?

Abolition—as a mode of mobilization and social change directed at the criminal legal system and elsewhere—remains widely misunderstood.

January 21 - Shelterforce Magazine

Page, Arizona

Drought Contingency Plan Triggered for the Colorado River

Signs of worsening drought conditions in the American West are triggering early actions for states that depend on water from the Colorado River.

January 21 - KUNC

Homeless Camp

HUD's New 'Find Shelter' Website Offers Support for Struggling Americans

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development launched the Find Shelter tool earlier in January.

January 21 - U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development

Los Angeles, California

Elevated Platform Parks Proposed in Draft Los Angeles River Master Plan

The newly released Master Plan includes a few parks that would cover portions of the river to create spaces for parks and recreation.

January 21 - Archinect

Atlanta, Georgia

New Property Tax Proposed to Fund Final Atlanta Beltline Construction

A financial plan to get the Atlanta Beltline across the finish line.

January 21 - The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Subdivision

CNU Report Outlines Incremental Steps for More Walkable Suburbs

Transforming suburban sprawl is a massive undertaking, but these small steps can help communities understand their needs and assets and develop clear, actionable goals for the future.

January 21 - CNU

Champs-Elysees

'The World's Most Beautiful Avenue' Getting A Green Makeover

Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo approved a new plan to revitalize the Champs Élysées ahead of the 2024 Summer Olympics.

January 21 - The Guardian

Green Building

BLOG POST

Will Developers Slow the Path to Net Zero?

Cities around the world are demonstrating that net zero carbon buildings—including net zero low-income housing—can be built cost effectively.

January 21 - Joan Fitzgerald

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.