Massachusetts

Prospect Hill Park, Waltham, MA

Zoning Reform Gets Another Try as Massachusetts Wrestles With Housing Crunch

Strong support for local control has made statewide legislation to address the housing affordability crisis difficult to approve in the Bay State.

March 20, 2019 - The Boston Globe

Boston Street

Mapping the Microcosms of Segregation

A new analysis of inequality looks at where people go and how they spend their time.

March 15, 2019 - CityLab

Boston Subway T

A Twitter Account for Your Transit Mood

A Twitter account is broadcasting its findings about the mood of transit riders in Boston, in real time.

March 14, 2019 - The Boston Globe

MBTA Bus

MBTA Will Move to Proof-of-Payment System

A new plan will phase out cash fare payments on buses and trolleys, but many of the details are still up in the air.

March 6, 2019 - The Boston Globe

Boston

Will Boston Follow New York City and Consider Cordon Tolling?

Tom Acitelli has been following the intersection of congestion pricing and transportation in Boston, particularly as at affects transit. Noting the landmark agreement on cordon pricing reached in New York on Tuesday, he asks if Boston is ready.

March 1, 2019 - Curbed Boston

Broadway Downtown

A Sprinkle of Stores: Wrestling With Jacobs's Uncertainty

Jane Jacobs used vague terms to describe the number of stores necessary for a safe and vibrant streetscape. Here, author Fanis Grammenos attempts to discover a more specific number to attach to this prescription.

February 27, 2019 - Fanis Grammenos

Boston Skyline with Dome

Boston Plans to Put $26 Million Toward Affordable Housing Projects

A new initiative will fund 10 new developments as the city works to increase available affordable housing.

February 26, 2019 - The Boston Globe

Cambridge Massachusetts

Cambridge Won’t Reach Goals to Curb Car Ownership

The city’s original plan to decrease car ownership isn’t quite panning out, even with more alternative transportation options for residents.

February 24, 2019 - The Boston Globe

Cambridge, Massachusetts

The Artist of the Planning Department

The Boston area's Metropolitan Area Planning Council has an Artist-in-Residence Program that brings arts to the table as an integral component of the planning process.

February 22, 2019 - Barr Foundation

Massachusetts

Mapping Change – A New Interactive Tool for Boston

The latest example of the Internet's power to make deliver data and maps to the masses, produced by the Joint Center for Housing Studies of Harvard University.

February 5, 2019 - Joint Center for Housing Studies of Harvard University

Boston City Scene

'Carbon Free Boston' Puts Priority on Land Use and Transportation Planning

"It's all about cars and houses," according to the Boston Globe.

January 31, 2019 - Th Boston Globe

Governor Andrew Cuomo

Gov. Andrew Cuomo Proposes Plastic Bag Ban After Killing New York City's Bag Law

The Democratic governor proposed a ban on single-use plastic bags in his state-of-the-state address on Jan. 15. Nearly two years earlier, he signed a bill that prevented New York City from charging for bags as the District of Columbia and Boston do.

January 23, 2019 - The New York Times

Palmer Apartments

Transit Agency Chief to Propose Congestion Pricing for Los Angeles

Los Angeles Metro CEO Phil Washington will recommend to his board next Thursday that they pursue a congestion pricing program to reduce traffic congestion, improve transit, and subsidize transit fares in Los Angeles in time for the 2028 Olympics.

January 21, 2019 - Curbed Los Angeles

Boston Bus

Boston to Add 194 Hybrid Buses

The MBTA will use local and FTA monies to bring in the new vehicles which will replace older diesel and hybrid buses aging out of their usable lifespan.

January 16, 2019 - The Boston Herald

Boston Red Line

MBTA's Capital Spending Plan Subject to Agency-Wide Review

The MBTA’s plan to repair and improve the ailing system means major service disruptions are likely coming. Officials say they want to minimize the pain and suffering of riders.

January 16, 2019 - The Boston Globe

Boston Housing

Boston Mayor's Proposal Would Allow More Increases in City Linkage Fees

Developers pay impact fees to fund affordable housing and job programs, but the mayor wants the city to have more discretion around changing the requirements.

January 14, 2019 - The Boston Globe

Boston Bus

Boston Dedicated Bus Lanes Facing Funding Questions

The bus lanes have improved travel times, but who should cover the costs isn't entirely clear.

January 11, 2019 - The Boston Globe

Boston, Massachusetts

Massachusetts Tops California in Emission Reductions

California and Massachusetts use the same name for climate change legislation, Global Warming Solutions Act, and set the same target date for reductions, 2020. Both achieved their targets 2016, but the Bay State had a tougher goal to meet.

January 8, 2019 - WBUR

Los Angeles Metro Train

New York Times: Transit on West Coast Surging Ahead of East Coast

East Coast transit systems used to be the envy of other cities, but now the West Coast is taking big steps to expand their networks.

January 7, 2019 - The New York Times

Boston

Massachusetts Finally Enacts Tax of Short-Term Rentals

The Massachusetts Legislature approved a tax on short-term rentals in July 2018 only to have Governor Charlie Baker amend the bill. The amendments proved only a temporary setback.

January 7, 2019 - Mass Live

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.

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.