Greater Greater Washington

Close-up of Metro sign column at Rosslyn Station in Alexandria, Virginia with high-rose glass buildings in background.

Opinion: More TOD in the DC Area Could Improve Both Transit and Housing

Converting underutilized parking lots to housing could make transit more accessible and housing more affordable.

October 16, 2023 - Greater Greater Washington

Aerial view of white homes and buildings in Clarksburg, Maryland.

Opinion: After Rent Stabilization, More Action Needed to Make Housing Affordable

Montgomery County just passed a slew of regulatory and legislative changes aimed at improving affordable housing. One writer suggests several more.

September 28, 2023 - Greater Greater Washington

D.C. Metro Bus

Opinion: How to Save D.C. Transit

Ridership data shows that many D.C. transit users depend on the service, despite a drop in ridership. The system needs changes—and funding—to have a future.

September 26, 2023 - Greater Greater Washington

View of U.S capitol dome at night with blurred traffic in foreground

Opinion: D.C. Should Go All in on Traffic Cameras

More widespread deployment of automated enforcement sensors could change the system from one of high fines and sparse enforcement to one that encourages more extensive behavior change.

August 22, 2023 - Greater Greater Washington

Close-up of 'bike lane' road sign with bike logo

Feared Traffic Increase From New Bike Lanes Failed to Materialize

Data from a much-criticized bike lane project in Montgomery County shows no noticeable decrease in vehicle capacity and a sharp decrease in bike fatalities.

August 13, 2023 - Greater Greater Washington

Electronic parking pay station next to curb in Washington D.C., on rain-soaked red brick sidewalk with neoclassical white building in background

D.C. Residents Heavily Subsidize Residential Parking

The District is losing out on hundreds of thousands in potential revenue while encouraging residents to store cars on valuable public land.

August 8, 2023 - Greater Greater Washington

Two-story houses on tree-lined street in Richmond, Virginia

Richmond Poised to Make ADUs By-Right

A new ordinance would reduce costs and delays for building or converting accessory dwelling units in single-family neighborhoods.

July 18, 2023 - Greater Greater Washington

View from above platform in D.C. Brutalist subway station with people waiting on platforms

D.C. Leads the Nation for Transit Recovery

Ridership on the region’s rail systems is rebounding faster than other major transit systems.

July 9, 2023 - Greater Greater Washington

Aerial view of suburban Sterling, Virginia near Washington D.C.

Retrofitting D.C.’s Suburbs for a New Era

How to equip suburban sprawl for a different future.

July 2, 2023 - Greater Greater Washington

Map of proposed Baltimore Red Line transit line alignment with white boxes showing open questions

Details Start to Emerge for Revived Baltimore Red Line

The long-awaited east-west transit line is moving forward with support from a new governor, but still has a long road ahead.

June 22, 2023 - Greater Greater Washington

Google street view of historic one-story Chase Bank building (now PNC Bank) in Washington, D.C. with drive-through banking kiosk

D.C. Preservation Board Includes Parking Lot in Historic Designation

The decision to protect a non-historic parking lot as part of designating an adjacent historic bank building is being derided by critics as another form of exclusionary zoning.

June 5, 2023 - Greater Greater Washington

Aerial view of manufactured home being dropped off or moved by red truck in mobile home park

In Spite of Affordability Crisis, Richmond Rejects Manufactured Housing Plan

After declaring a housing crisis, the Virginia capital’s city council voted against a proposed manufactured home warehouse that would distribute replacements for aging manufactured housing stock.

June 4, 2023 - Greater Greater Washington

View down Pennsylvania Avenue with U.S. capitol in background and bike lane in middle of street

Opinion: Downtown D.C. Recovery Requires More Inclusive Planning

To meet its climate goals and revitalize its downtown core, the District must expand its transit and urban amenities to meet the needs of a wider variety of people.

May 26, 2023 - Greater Greater Washington

White public bus on street in Baltimore, Maryland with brick buildings in background

Maryland Assembly Passes ‘Fair Fares Act’

If signed by the governor, the act will halt a scheduled fare increase previously tied to inflation.

April 19, 2023 - Greater Greater Washington

Green and blue GRTC Pulse bus in Richmond, Virginia

Greater Richmond Announces Microtransit Program

The three-year program will expand transit to rural and suburban areas that currently lack access to the region’s fixed-route bus lines.

April 3, 2023 - Greater Greater Washington

Young bearded man with helmet setting up battery on back of electric bike

Proposed D.C. E-Bike Subsidy Packs an Economic Punch, Analysis Finds

A proposed rebate on electric bikes in the District would be more cost-effective in reducing gasoline miles driven than electric car subsidies thanks to the higher elasticity of e-bike demand.

January 31, 2023 - Greater Greater Washington

Virginia

How High Costs Derailed Richmond’s Speed Limit Change

After voting to lower speed limits citywide, Richmond found itself with a $5.2 million bill for new signage, prompting the city council to pull the ordinance.

January 8, 2023 - Greater Greater Washington

The High Cost of Free Parking

The United Nations Calls on U.S. Planners to Break Land Use, Transportation Status Quo

“We are on a highway to climate hell with our foot on the accelerator.”

November 13, 2022 - Greater Greater Washington

An image of Washington D.C. with highways and the streaks from car head and tail lights in the foreground, and the Washington Monument in the background.

D.C. Office of Planning Unveils Congress Heights Equitable Development Plan

The district’s small area plans (SAPs) are designed to ensure equitable economic and community development at the hyper-local level.

November 4, 2022 - Greater Greater Washington

Pulse bus rapid transit station with blue bus pulled in in Richmond, Virginia

Richmond Transit to Add Bus Stop Benches, Shelters

The region’s transit agency plans to install new benches and shelters at as many as 75 percent of bus stops systemwide.

October 19, 2022 - Greater Greater Washington

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HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research

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HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research

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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.