The Daily Source of Urban Planning News

Sound Transit Link Light Rail

$4.2 Billion in Washington State Transportation Funding Rescued by the Courts

The Washington Supreme Court struck down an initiative that would have cost state and local governments an estimated $4.2 billion in transportation funding.

October 15 - Crosscut

Washington D.C.

Environmental Agencies Failing at Civil Rights, Report Says

A report from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Office of Inspector General calls out state environmental agencies for a lack of civil rights enforecement and makes recommendations for resolving shortcomings.

October 15 - Grist

Willowbrook, Los Angeles,

Transformation of South Los Angeles Park Offers Hope to the Community

Earvin "Magic" Johnson Park in Willowbrook has been transformed with $70 million worth of improvements, including a 20,000-square foot event center for community gatherings and events.

October 15 - Los Angeles Sentinel

Society Hill Historic Buildings

Mayoral Veto Kills Controversial Philadelphia Downzoning

The mayor, planning staff, and the Philadelphia Planning Commission agree. The Philadelphia City Council and residents of the wealthy neighborhood of Society Hill, not so much.

October 15 - WHYY

Brazil

BLOG POST

3 Cities That Will Thrive Post-Pandemic—and 2 That Might Struggle

The most promising cities after COVID won't necessarily be the same that were ideal before.

October 15 - Devin Partida


New York Public Transit

Trump Administration Puts Covid Funding at Risk for Transit in 'Anarchist Jurisdictions'

A September 2 memo by the Trump administration warned of punitive actions against New York City, Seattle, Portland, and Washington, D.C. A recently announced federal funding opportunity makes good on the threat.

October 15 - The New York Daily News

Newport Bridge

Urban Plan Ready for Public Scrutiny in Newport, Rhode Island

Newport, Rhode Island is undertaking a major planning initiative during the pandemic.

October 15 - NewportRI.com


New York City Tech Office

Big Tech Bets on the Big Apple

Amidst the uncertainty of the pandemic, the four biggest U.S. technology companies have leased or bought enough office space in New York City for 22,000 employees.

October 15 - The New York Times

Complete Street

PLANOPEDIA

What Are Complete Streets?

Complete Streets prioritize the safety and mobility of all users instead of the speed of cars and flow of traffic. After a century of prioritizing automobile travel, the concept of complete streets offer a chance to make streets a place to be used and enjoyed rather than glimpsed through a windshield.

October 14 - James Brasuell

Outdoor Dining

Outdoor Dining No Refuge From the Danger of Cars

A driver lost control of his SUV in San José, California this week, plowing into an outdoor dining area and killing one customer.

October 14 - The Mercury News

New York New Jersey Transit

Biden Would Finally Get the Gateway Project Moving, Advocates Say

A group of regional experts and advocates provide details on how a win by former Vice President Joe Biden might change the direction of the Gateway Project to repair the rail link between New Jersey and New York.

October 14 - The Bond Buyer

Wisconsin Economic Development

Wisconsin Canceling its Checks to Foxconn

The Republican Party once touted a deal to bring Foxconn to Wisconsin as evidence of their commitment to bringing manufacturing jobs back to the U.S., but the deal has soured, potentially beyond rescue.

October 14 - Ars Technica

Biking Mayor

Better Bike Plan 2025 Adopted in San Jose

California's third most populous city has a new plan to add hundreds of miles of protected bike lanes.

October 14 - San José Spotlight

Speed Limit

'20 Is Plenty' in the Twin Cities

The first 20 mile per hour speed limit signs have been installed this week in the Twin Cities.

October 14 - Pioneer Press

Dayton, Ohio

The 3 Types of Developers and Why the Difference Matters

Developers are frequently cast as a kind of monolithic bad guy in the politics of development, but developers are cut from different cloths, each with distinct interests and motivations.

October 14 - Strong Towns

Beautiful Pink Flowers along the East River at Hunters Point South Park during Spring in Long Island City Queens

Two New Affordable Housing Towers Offer a Side of Climate Resilience in Queens

Two new buildings are under construction at Hunters Point South and will contain 719 units of affordable housing.

October 14 - The New York Times

New York City Subway

Report: New York MTA Facing 'Greatest Crisis' in its History

A new report on the finances of the New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) makes a desperate plea for assistance from the federal government.

October 14 - lohud

Google Corporate Headquarters

Google's Big Mixed-Use Plans for Downtown San Jose Come Into Focus

Google's plan for a mixed-use transit village at a mile-long site near the Diridon Station in San Jose has a newly released planning document available for public review.

October 13 - Smart Cities Dive

Honolulu

How to Increase the Urban Canopy in Cities

Former University of Hawaii professor Tom Dinell makes a case for the need for more trees in Honolulu, with recommendations that can be applied in other cities as well.

October 13 - Honolulu Civil Beat

COVID-19

The U.S. Might Soon Be Surpassed in Coronavirus Infections

India could be on track to overtake the United States in the number of COVID-19 cases. The surge is explained by a sharp and growing urban-rural divide in the ability and willingness to follow public health measures.

October 13 - The New York Times

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.