The Daily Source of Urban Planning News
Study: Half of Uber, Lyft Rides Replace More Sustainable Options
A new study out of UC Davis details how ride-hailing services like Uber and Lyft impact more sustainable modes of transportation like transit, cycling, and walking from the perspective of user behavior.
Are FEMA’s Disaster Assistance Calculations Biased Against Rural Communities?
The federal tool used to inform flood protection spending calculates communities' risk by multiplying expected annual loss in dollars by their risk factor. As a result, many rural areas are classified as “low” risk, despite frequent, severe flooding.
$10 Billion Climate Bond to Appear on California's November Ballot
Voters will decide on Proposition 4, a climate bond to fund critical state environmental initiatives, including water projects, wildfire risk reduction, sustainable agriculture, and parks to help the state meet its climate goals.
Solar Panels Coming to a Self-Storage Facility Rooftop Near You
The sixth-largest self-storage company in the United States will add solar panels to 8.5 million square feet of its facilities’ rooftops to produce community solar power.
Alexandria Is Close to Fixing Its Sewage Woes
After 16 months and $615 of tunneling, Alexandria, Virginia is nearly finished digging a 2.2-mile-long tunnel beneath the city and the Potomac River that will fix its sewage overflow problem.
Urban Trees Are Vital in an Era of Extreme Heat
Urban trees are essential for cooling public spaces, promoting physical activity, and protecting vulnerable populations from extreme heat.
Research: Bike Rolling-Stop Laws Don’t Lead to Unsafe Behavior
Rolling stops by bicyclists get a bad rap, particularly among motorists who perceive them to be breaking the law. But new research shows laws that allow for rolling stops for cyclists do not lead to unsafe behavior by either group.
Beverly Hills Put On Blast for High-Rise Approval Delay
The Newsom administration sent a letter warning Beverly Hills that their failure to process an application for a residential high-rise is a violation of state housing law
FEATURE
Lack of Eviction Data Obscures Extent of Affordable Housing Crisis
Court records on eviction filings vary widely and don’t include the outcome and miss informal actions. Without this data, officials don't have a clear picture of displacement of low-income renters and its effect on housing stability.
Los Angeles County's Top 4 Lakes for Summer Fun
Learn more about L.A. County's top freshwater lakes, which offer diverse summer activities like swimming, fishing, and kayaking.
FEATURE
Designing Cooler Cities: Lessons from Ancient Civilizations
Ancient Rome had ways to counter the urban heat island effect. As climate change raises global temperatures, can urban planners and designers apply any of those lessons to cities today?
Texas Approves Plan that Calls for $104B for Roads and Highways
The latest iteration of Texas’s 10-year unified transportation plan sets a record for highway spending in the state.
FEATURE
Could Permeable Pavement Ease Flooding in New York City?
It can’t help cities control the weather, but by slowing the flow of stormwater, permeable pavement can lessen flooding from big storms.
Michigan Court Green-Lights State Regulation of Livestock Manure
A recent court decision has granted Michigan regulators full authority to hold animal agriculture accountable for manure runoff into waterways.
New Plan for Lake Okeechobee Targets Toxic Algae
The new Everglades strategy marks a “cultural shift” for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers: rather than focusing primarily on flood control, the new plan seeks to balance the needs of the entire watershed, including limiting the spread of toxic algae.
Oregon Motel Converted into Housing for People Transitioning from Incarceration
Klamath County, Oregon, has converted an old motel and RV park into a sober-supportive housing complex for justice-involved persons — the first of its kind in the state.
FEATURE
Book Excerpt: Rochester, New York’s Forgotten Subway
Did you know Rochester, New York, once had a subway? This book excerpt tells the story, complete with a custom map, of the only city in the world to build a subway and then close it.
Connecting With Communities About Parks and Recreation
The Los Angeles County Department of Parks and Recreation is hosting over 60 public meetings in September to connect with the public and gather input to inform decision-making and resource allocation.
US Department of Energy Announces 10 New Climate Resilience Centers
The Biden administration has awarded $10 million for an additional 10 climate resilience centers as part of the Justice40 Initiative.
New Jersey to Cash in $2.4 Billion of Transportation Bonds
The $2.4 billion in New Jersey Transportation Trust Fund Authority bonds will fund infrastructure upgrades, including potential improvements for NJ Transit, which has had a summer of service disruptions, fare and tax hikes, and budget woes.
Heyer Gruel & Associates PA
Ada County Highway District
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.
