The Daily Source of Urban Planning News
California Cities Intensify Criminalization of Unhoused Residents
Following a key Supreme Court ruling, some cities are imposing more restrictive laws on outdoor sleeping and encampments.
Caltrain Introduces Electric Train Fleet
The Bay Area agency will switch to all electric trains by the end of September.
Study: Retrofitting Old Buildings Has Lower Total Carbon Footprint Than New Construction
A study of over a million Chicago buildings assessed their ‘embodied carbon’ footprint over their lifetimes, showing that demolishing an old building in favor of a new one almost always produced more emissions.
How Park(ing) Day Leads to Permanent Change
Small-scale interventions can lead the way to major parking reforms.
DC Improving Transit Equity
The Transit Equity Dashboard reveals a more marked improvement in transit access in the District of Columbia than in other metro areas.
Only Two US Metro Areas Are Affordable for Homebuyers
Northeast Ohio is the last remaining bastion of housing affordability, according to an analysis from the National Association of Realtors.
Proposed NHTSA Rule Takes Aim at Dangerously Large Trucks and SUVs
Nearly half of pedestrians who died after being hit by the front of a vehicle were struck by SUVs or trucks.
Opinion: LA Should Reject ‘Misguided’ Car-Centric Policies
Even as the city highlights clean energy and transportation for the 2028 Olympics, Metro and Caltrans move forward with plans to expand highways.
Mall Redevelopment in Silicon Valley
Dead malls across the Bay Area are being transformed into R&D centers, housing, and transportation hubs.
Study: Lakes Near Communities of Color Less Inspected for Water Quality
The research is the first of its kind to analyze the relationship between freshwater monitoring and the race and ethnicity of nearby communities.
Experts Say Zoning Reform Isn’t Likely to Solve Housing Crisis
A survey by Fannie Mae found widespread skepticism among housing experts that zoning reforms will be enacted widely enough to make a major impact on U.S. housing supply.
Nashville Transit Ridership Back to Pre-Covid Levels
Local bus ridership is recovering quickly, hitting 2.2 million riders in the last quarter of FY 2023-2024.
NYC DOT Podcast Makes Transportation Planning Accessible
‘Curb Enthusiasm’ features transportation experts and discussions on local, national, and global transportation planning topics.
Philadelphia Could Start Citing Drivers for Blocking Bike Lanes
City officials will consider several road safety bills that include higher penalties for stopping in bike lanes and an assessment of the city’s Vision Zero funding.
FEATURE
Commentary: Ensuring a Sustainable Future for Hurricane-Vulnerable Rural Communities Is Imperative
As we brace for the second half of the 2024 hurricane season, we need to take serious action to help rural communities recover and build greater resilience against hurricanes.
Denver Bans Downtown Food Trucks — Again
City officials say the controversial policy, first enacted in 2022, is an effort to reduce crime in the nightlife district.
Reconsidering Travel Behavior in an Era of Decarbonization
It is time to reconsider assumptions about how much and how people want to travel. Per capita vehicle travel has saturated. Many people would prefer to drive less and rely more on non-auto modes, provided they are convenient and affordable.
USDOT Issues $1B in Road Safety Grants
The funding is aimed at helping cities plan and implement safety improvement projects to reduce road deaths and major crashes.
Federal Policies for Creating Permanent Affordable Housing
An Urban Institute analysis outlines three ways federal lawmakers can support housing programs that provide permanent affordable housing for the households that need it most.
Houston Transit Agencies Offer ‘Free Fare Fridays’ for Ozone Action Month
Harris County is one of several Texas counties that failed EPA standards for clean air in recent years.
Caltrans
Smith Gee Studio
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.
