The Daily Source of Urban Planning News

Springfield, Illinois

To Fix Roads, Bridges, and Public Buildings, Illinois Decides to 'Think Big'

First-term Democratic Gov. J.B. Pritzker succeeded in building support for his $45 billion, "think big" capital investment agenda in the Illinois State Legislature.

June 4 - Chicago Tribune

Back Bay

How, and Where, Land Use Regulations Block Multi-Family Housing in the Boston Region

New analysis explores every city and suburb in the Boston region to reveal the tools of multi-family housing obstruction—sometimes it takes more than zoning to block apartments from getting built.

June 4 - The Boston Globe

Los Angeles in 1939, as determined by the  Home Owners’ Loan Corporation (HOLC).

Housing Inequality the Leading Cause of Wealth Inequality

New research and mapping projects reveal how the deeply embedded racism of planning and housing policies of the past are connected to the growing wealth gap of the present.

June 4 - Data-Smart City Solutions

Pittsburgh Transit

New Ways to Purchase Transit Tickets Hailed as a Win for Equity

Adding cashless and mobile options for purchasing transit tickets shouldn't necessitate the removal of cash payments.

June 3 - Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

South San Jose houses

Property Transfer Taxes Gain Traction as Cities Search for Ways to Address Homelessness

San Jose, California is the latest city to consider raising its real property transfer tax to fund homeless programs.

June 3 - The Mercury News


Copenhagen Bikes

Copenhagen Update: On-Street Auto Parking Replaced by Bike Parking

Copenhagen may have already met its bicycling goal of 50 percent of modal share for commuting, but it needs to improve the share for all trips. With less funding available, the city is pursuing low cost strategies, such as auto parking removal.

June 3 - Forbes

Los Angeles Protected Bike Lane

Less Paint, More Barriers, Make for Better Urban Cycling

New research from the University of Colorado Denver and the University of New Mexico sheds light on how to make cities safer for cyclists and other road users and refutes some assumptions about bike safety, such as "safety-in-numbers."

June 3 - CU Denver Today


Traffic Safety

Texas Bans Red Light Cameras

The state of Texas decided to preempt local traffic safety laws by banning all red light camera programs.

June 3 - KVUE

Bus Lane

New Bus-Only Lanes Arrive in D.C.

The new bus lanes will operate at morning and afternoon rush hours starting today.

June 3 - Greater Greater Washington

Congestion versus mobility

BLOG POST

Breaking the Cycle of Automobile Dependency

Many current planning practices reinforce a cycle of increased automobile use, more automobile-oriented community redevelopment, and reduced mobility options. There are good reasons to break this pattern.

June 3 - Todd Litman

Des Moines, Iowa

New Zoning Code Aims to Remove Red Tape in Des Moines

The city of Des Moines is hoping to update its zoning code for the first time since 1965.

June 3 - Des Moines Register

Major League Soccer

Soccer Stadium Development Opposition Grows to a Neighborhood-Level Movement

Displacement concerns surrounding stadium plans for the FC Cincinnati Major League Soccer team have grown into a citywide call for development approvals reform.

June 3 - WVXU Cincinnati

HUD

Local Public Housing Agencies Resist HUD's Proposed Section 8 Rule

A proposed rule to disqualify all families living with an undocumented person from receiving federal housing aid is available for comment. We know a few people who oppose the rule.

June 3 - Governing

Twitter Headquarters

Evaluating the 2011 'Twitter Tax Break' Along San Francisco's Troubled Market Street

The 2011 "Twitter tax break" was controversial at the time, and remains so to this day. New offices and employees have filled the corridor of Market Street where the tax break is in effect, but massive challenges persist.

June 2 - San Francisco Chronicle

Bryant Park

Reimagining the Social Value of Public Spaces

While they're often treated as mere assets to be maintained or abandoned for other uses, public spaces can be an active part of cities' plans for equitable revitalization.

June 2 - Governing

Supply Chain Logistics

Walmart Planning Massive New Arkansas HQ

Another corporate behemoth is planning a new headquarters. But this time cities won't have to compete for it. Walmart is remaining true to its hometown of Bentonville, Arkansas.

June 2 - The Dallas Morning News

Apartment Construction

Seven Ideas for Tackling the Housing Crisis

One expert's take on the housing crisis and which policy solutions might best counter it.

June 2 - Vox

Manhattan Retail

Op-Ed: SoHo and NoHo Need a Zoning Overhaul

Two SoHo residents argue that outdated zoning holds the Manhattan neighborhoods back, requiring special permits or variances for many current residential and commercial uses.

June 2 - Crain's Business New York

Minneapolis Minnesota

YIMBYs Leading the Pro-Density Fight

Minneapolis has become an inspiration to other cities about how to successfully challenge NIMBY factions that oppose density and zoning reform.

June 1 - Grist

Washington D.C.

Report: D.C. Metro Area Still Needs More Housing

Despite a downtown construction boom, housing is still scarce across the Capital Region. And nearly two-thirds of new homes built since the year 2000 have been single-family structures.

June 1 - Brookings

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.