The Daily Source of Urban Planning News

ADU Construction Flourishing in Los Angeles County
The boom is happening in some unexpected areas.

Essential Strategies for Combating Extreme Heat
Cities can protect residents from extreme heat by enhancing natural and built infrastructure, establishing heat response strategies, and implementing national policies for worker safety and disaster response.

Austin Transit Agency Backs Down on Electric Bus Pledge
Technology problems, short ranges, and supply chain issues hinder Cap Metro’s ambitious electrification plan.

Chicago Transit Report Calls for Income-Based Fares, Paratransit Funding
An RTA report highlights a need for state funding to bridge an imminent $730 budget shortfall, calling for an approach that relies less heavily on fare revenue.

‘Growing MKE’ Zoning Reform Plan Would Expand Milwaukee Housing Options
Proponents of the plan say the changes would help reverse decades of discriminatory housing policies.

Kissimmee Considering Garage Conversion Program
Homeowners could get city support for converting garages to residential units.

Portland Advocates Call on Feds to Oppose Freeway Expansion
The Oregon DOT is requesting a federal grant to fund a controversial freeway expansion through the Rose Quarter.

Colorado Church Fights for Right to Provide Housing
A church in Castle Rock, Colorado is suing the city, pointing out the lack of shelter options for unhoused residents in the area.

NOAA Awards $575M in Coastal Resilience Grants
The program received over $16 billion in requests from communities around the country.

Big Island Airbnb Operators Call for Economic Impact Study
As the Hawai’i County Council debates new regulations governing short-term rentals, it is requesting a study on how the industry impacts local residents and businesses.

Addressing the Perils of Extreme Heat
With this year bringing on more record heat waves, governments at the local and federal levels are elevating extreme heat management as an urgent priority.

Bringing Back the Block Party
How a humble neighborhood get-together can help build stronger cities.

Nashville Zoning Reform Opens Commercial, Retail Zones to Housing
An ordinance expanding ‘adaptive residential development’ could lead to thousands of new housing units.

Philly Road Safety Advocates Call for Action From the City
Mayor Parker’s administration is proposing massive cuts to the city’s Vision Zero program while pedestrian and cyclist deaths remain high.

Rural Nevada Counties Struggle to Keep up with Solar Projects
Local officials are calling for state regulations that would require federal land managers to enter agreements with local jurisdictions before moving forward with major renewable energy projects.

Tucson Keeps Buses Fare-Free
The city is doubling down on its efforts to boost bus ridership as part of its climate action plan.

State AGs Call for FEMA to Classify Extreme Heat, Smoke as ‘Major Disasters’
State and local officials say explicitly naming heat and wildfire smoke would give local agencies more certainty in developing their mitigation strategies.

Florida Law Bars Cities From Regulating EV Chargers
Under the new law, cities cannot require charging infrastructure in local codes.

BLOG POST
Beyond Compliance: The Crucial Role of the ADA in Planning Great Communities
The Americans with Disabilities Act was passed in 1990 to protect people with disabilities from discrimination, but more work is needed to make U.S. communities accessible to all. And planners have a key role to play.

Rural Areas Benefiting From Wind Energy Revenue
For some rural districts, tax revenue from wind energy projects can have a major impact on local school districts and infrastructure.
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