Massachusetts
Delta Variant's High Transmissibility Prompts CDC to Issue Masking Correction
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, acting on new data that it had yet to publish, changed its masking guidance on July 27 to reflect the prevalence of the virus in specific counties rather than basing it on a person's vaccination status.
Community Land Trusts: Combining Scale and Community Control
Pitting the straw men of scale and community control against one another does the field more harm than good.
Defining the 'Community' in Community Land Trusts
As community land trusts take root and expand, they face numerous questions on how to stay communally-focused while their geographic scope grows.
Greater Boston Considers Relaxing ADU Rules as Housing Shortage Deepens
Cities in the region want to increase flexibility for homeowners who want to build 'granny flats' on their property.
MassDOT Seeking Funding for Bike-Pedestrian Bridge, Bus Lanes, and Policing
The commonwealth of Massachusetts is seeking federal funding for several high-profile projects.
Northeast Corridor Improvement Plan Would Speed Up Rail Connections
The proposal would fund over 150 projects aimed at improving passenger rail service and speeding up travel times.
What Will Cambridge's New Affordable Housing Overlay Do?
The policy is aimed at reducing the cost of building affordable housing and helping affordable housing developers to better compete on property acquisitions.
Opinion: Massachusetts Should Prioritize 'Shovel-Worthy' Projects
When distributing new federal funding, state leaders should ensure that selected projects are aligned with the state's climate resilience goals.
How to Improve Bus Service and Performance on Busy Corridors
A new report collects the lessons and best practices of several years of bus priority projects in the Boston region.
Nantucket Residents Pass on More Stringent Regulation of Short-Term Rentals
A recent Nantucket Town Meeting resolved a long-simmering controversy regarding short-term rentals.
Transitional Housing Project Rejected Due to Parking Concerns
The nonprofit developer of a transitional housing project in Dorchester, Massachusetts argues that most residents of the proposed project won't own cars, but neighbors worry the added density will put a strain on local parking.
The Thinking Behind Cambridge's Affordable Housing Overlay
A podcast discussion with Cambridge Mayor Sumbul Siddiqui details how and why the Massachusetts city become a planning trendsetter by adopting an Affordable Housing Overlay earlier this year.
Opinion: Regional Growth Requires Regional Planning
To avoid the pitfalls of disconnected, car-centric suburbs, local governments must proactively plan for sustainable development in growing areas.
Covid Burnout Causing Mayoral Turnover
A large number of local leaders are leaving office ahead of schedule; many report Covid burnout as the cause of their departure.
CDC to Gov. Whitmer: Time to Shut Down, Not Surge Vaccines
Michigan is on fire—a coronavirus variant is spreading rapidly among younger people, including children, yet high-risk activities, including youth sports and indoor dining, remain open. CDC Director Walensky addressed the conflagration Monday.
Boston to Pilot Free Transit Passes for Workers in Commercial Districts
The city of Boston will undertake an experiment about how to center public transit as an economic recovery tool.
Reopening Schools: CDC Reduces Social Distancing Requirement
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention now supports three-foot distancing in elementary school classrooms provided there is universal masking. For middle and high schools, it depends on the level of coronavirus transmission in the community.
Revised Requirements for Sidewalks and Bike Lanes at MassDOT
The new guidelines call for pedestrian and bike infrastructure as part of the design of new state-run projects.
Bloomberg Funds New 'Center for Cities' at Harvard
The $150-million endowment will expand the Bloomberg Harvard City Leadership Initiative and develop capacity-building programs for mayors and city leaders.
Massachusetts Reopens, But Too Early?
Many coronavirus restrictions were lifted on Monday in Massachusetts by Gov. Charlie Baker due to falling COVID cases and hospitalizations, but many experts feel the move is too hasty and could lead to a resurgence in the virus.
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.
City of Moreno Valley
Institute for Housing and Urban Development Studies (IHS)
City of Grandview
Harvard GSD Executive Education
City of Piedmont, CA
NYU Wagner Graduate School of Public Service
City of Cambridge, Maryland
