The Daily Source of Urban Planning News

Tribal leaders of Gila River Indian Community at inauguration event for solar-over-canal project.

Arizona Native Community Launches First Solar-Over-Canal Project

Covering an irrigation canal with solar panels doubles its utility, producing renewable energy while protecting canal infrastructure and reducing water evaporation.

October 9 - Arizona Mirror

Empty hallway lined with white tile in subway station in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

How Does Air Quality in a Philly Subway Station Compare to the Outdoors?

A team of researchers found much higher levels of particulate matter inside the City Hall subway station than on the street-level sidewalks directly above the station.

October 9 - The Conversation

Close-up of bottom half of three people walking down city sidewalk paved with paving stones.

How “Walking Audits” Can Improve Neighborhood Mobility

A simple walk through your community can reveal infrastructure gaps and highlight where cities can make streets safer for pedestrians.

October 9 - Strong Towns

Downtown Omaha, Nebraska skyline at night.

The Best and Worst Cities for Housing Affordability

The gap between market-rate and affordable rents is much wider in some U.S. cities than others.

October 9 - MPA Mag

Workers in safety vests installing a black modular roundabout ringed with yellow.

‘Modular Roundabouts’ Offer Quick-Build Traffic Safety Solution

The prefabricated roundabouts can be installed more quickly and at a much lower cost than traditional concrete traffic circles.

October 9 - Equipment World


Row of RVs parked on street in Mountain View, California.

San Francisco Could Redefine RVs to Restrict Living in Vehicles

The SFMTA is considering expanding the definition of RVs to include mobile homes, box trucks, and other campers.

October 8 - CBS News

Ornate Victorian home in foreground and neighborhood in Eureka, California.

Top Retirement Destinations in California: Where Affordability, Health, and Recreation Meet

These spots offer a balance of affordability, access to healthcare, and outdoor recreation opportunities that make them ideal for those seeking comfort and quality of life in their golden years.

October 8 - Los Angeles Times


View of large homes in Henderson, Nevada with desert mountains in background.

Housing Top of Mind for Nevada Voters

The Silver State is the nation’s most unaffordable housing market for extremely low-income households.

October 8 - Las Vegas Sun

White self-driving car at stop sign coming down hill with Coit Tower in background in San Francisco, California.

California Governor Vetoes Autonomous Truck Ban, Approves New Guidelines for AVs

A new law will allow police to issue citations to self-driving car operators and create stricter guidelines for crashes and interactions with first responders.

October 8 - The Verge

Black-and-white 1924 photo of a street in Los Angeles with a street car, cars driving in the other lane over street car tracks and pedestrians walking on sidewalk and middle of street.

FEATURE

The 100-Year Road to Car Dependency in the US

October 8, 2024, marks the centennial of the publication of what would soon become the Los Angeles Traffic Ordinance — a landmark on the road toward our car-dominated status quo.

October 8 - Peter Norton

Red car turning right on red light.

Banning Right Turns on Red Just One Step Toward Vision Zero

Experts caution that blanket bans on right turns on red make only a slight contribution to reducing fatal crashes, and other interventions are needed to bring down traffic fatalities.

October 8 - Smart Cities Dive

Brick New York City apartment buildings with fire escapes.

Hundreds of Thousands of Housing Units Could Lose Affordability

As the 30-year term of the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit expires for many affordable housing units, the families living there face steep rent hikes and evictions.

October 8 - Associated Press

Rendering of aerial view of expanded Exposition Park in central Los Angeles with multiple sports stadiums and park facilities.

Exposition Park’s $351.5 Million Transformation

This revitalization will create vital green spaces, improve accessibility, and enhance connections with community, making Exposition Park a central hub for recreation and culture in Los Angeles.

October 7 - Los Angeles Times

Flock of white snow geese flying and resting in water in Sacramento River delta at sunset.

California Secures $360 Million in Federal Funding for Parks, Habitat Restoration, and Clean Transportation

This funding will drive transformative projects across the state, improving access to green spaces, protecting natural ecosystems, and advancing sustainable transportation initiatives.

October 7 - Office of Governor Gavin Newsom

Sheep grazing in field with solar panels in background.

Herds of Sheep Manage Vegetation Where Powered Mowers Can’t

Cities are hiring grazing sheep to keep vegetation in check in sensitive sites and uneven terrain.

October 7 - Associated Press

View of downtown Houston with elevated freeways in foreground at dusk.

Reimagining the Space Beneath Houston’s Freeways

Opportunities abound for Houston to capitalize on otherwise unused space beneath its wide network of freeways.

October 7 - Houston Chronicle

Abandoned concrete subway station and tunnel in downtown Cincinnati..

Cincinnati Seeks to Repurpose Its Unused Subway Tunnel

City officials are looking for proposals to use Cincinnati's long-abandoned subway tunnels, but not for transit; they already tried that.

October 7 - Cincinnati Enquirer

Cows grazing in front of vertical solar panels.

New Jersey Agrivoltaic Project Combines Solar Energy With Farming

A Rutgers University-New Brunswick demonstration farm will evaluate solar array designs to understand how they can best support grazing and agriculture on the same site.

October 7 - Rutgers University—New Brunswick

Aerial view of Central de Abasto food wholesale market in Mexico City, Mexico.

Rooftop Solar on Mexico City Market to Power 300 Transit Buses

A solar project atop a massive food market will provide electricity to Mexico City's public transit buses.

October 7 - Bloomberg CityLab

September's must-reads: Planetizen's top 10 articles from September with aerial view of Akron, Ohio, in the background.

BLOG POST

September Must-Reads: Top 10 Articles From Last Month

Housing affordability, Texas high-speed rail, school drop-off congestion, Project 2025 transportation policy, and more — here are Planetizen’s most popular headlines from September 2024.

October 6 - Mary Hammon

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