In case you missed them, here were the biggest urban planning news items, features, and blogs from last month, including 15 new Amtrak routes, Florida’s EV law, California’s rail update, fare-free buses in Tucson, and more.
July saw a bevy of big transportation headlines, including Amtrak’s ambitious new routes designed to improve connectivity across the country, a recent Florida law centralizing the regulation of electric vehicle chargers, the latest developments on California’s high-speed rail, Tucson’s fare-free bus system decision, and more. Check out these stories, as well as an in-depth feature on pre-approved housing plans from Dan Parolek, a rundown of technologies shaping the future of urban planning, and an update on a Florida lawsuit against short term rental ordinances.
Here were the most popular articles on Planetizen last month:
1. Amtrak Reveals Plans for 15 New Routes
Amtrak announced plans for 15 new routes, including lines connecting Los Angeles, Denver, and Seattle through Utah. These routes aim to enhance rail service in rural areas and significantly reduce travel times between major cities.
2. Florida Law Bars Cities From Regulating EV Chargers
A new Florida law prevents cities from regulating electric vehicle charging infrastructure or including it in local building codes, centralizing that authority with the state’s Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.
3. Top 10 Public Transit Cities in the US
Rent.com ranked the top 10 U.S. cities for public transit. New York City captured the top spot, followed by Boston, Washington, D.C, and San Francisco. Check out the article to see which cities rounded out the rest of the list.
4. 12 Technologies That Will Shape Future of Urban Planning
Forbes identified technologies that will have the biggest impact on urban planning, with the promise to improve urban mobility, efficiency, and resource management.
5. California High-Speed Rail Gains Final Approval
The California High-Speed Rail project received final approval for its last segment despite a $100 billion funding gap.
6. The Good, the Bad, and the Ethical: A Moral Philosopher's Perspective on Sustainable Urban Mobility
This Planetizen-exclusive blog post examines the ethics of sustainable urban mobility a la Chidi from The Good Place.
7. Top 10 Tips for Cities Considering Pre-Approved Housing Plans
The feature story from missing middle housing champion Dan Parolek provides ten tips for cities considering pre-approved housing plans to streamline development processes and enhance housing affordability.
8. Tucson Keeps Buses Fare-Free
Tucson has decided to keep its bus system fare-free for at least another year. This initiative, which began during the COVID-19 pandemic, aims to increase public transit ridership and is part of the city's climate action plan.
9. Federal Judge Dismisses Lawsuit Against Short-Term Rental Ordinance
A federal judge dismissed a lawsuit challenging Summit County, Colorado's short-term rental ordinance, which limits the number of rental licenses by neighborhood and caps the number of annual bookings.
10. Applying the New Traffic Safety Paradigm
Planetizen blogger Todd Litman discusses the application of a new traffic safety paradigm that focuses on reducing vehicle miles traveled to improve safety.
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Five Key Transportation Funding Proposals in Trump’s Budget
The President’s proposed 2026 budget would keep spending roughly the same for transit and rail and eliminate over $5 billion in funding for EV charging infrastructure.
Op-Ed: Why an Effective Passenger Rail Network Needs Government Involvement
An outdated rail network that privileges freight won’t be fixed by privatizing Amtrak.
How to Make US Trains Faster
Changes to boarding platforms and a switch to electric trains could improve U.S. passenger rail service without the added cost of high-speed rail.
Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.
Congressman Proposes Bill to Rename DC Metro “Trump Train”
The Make Autorail Great Again Act would withhold federal funding to the system until the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA), rebrands as the Washington Metropolitan Authority for Greater Access (WMAGA).
The Simple Legislative Tool Transforming Vacant Downtowns
In California, Michigan and Georgia, an easy win is bringing dollars — and delight — back to city centers.
Albuquerque’s Microtransit: A Planner’s Answer to Food Access Gaps
New microtransit vans in Albuquerque aim to close food access gaps by linking low-income areas to grocery stores, cutting travel times by 30 percent and offering planners a scalable model for equity-focused transit.
This City Will Pay You to Meet Your Neighbors
A North Kansas City grant program offers up to $400 for residents to throw neighborhood block parties.
Commentary: Our Silence Will Not Protect Us
Keeping our heads down and our language inoffensive is not the right response to the times we’re in. Solidarity and courage is.
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.
Smith Gee Studio
City of Charlotte
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
Transportation Research & Education Center (TREC) at Portland State University
US High Speed Rail Association
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
Municipality of Princeton (NJ)
