Government / Politics

Balancing Aesthetics and Affordability
Policies too narrowly focused on design can drive up the cost of construction and prevent the development of affordable housing.

Opinion: Federal Infrastructure Plan Must Prioritize Transit Investment
The Biden administration must combine increased funding with policies that mandate and encourage transit-oriented planning.

Op-Ed: Don't Reverse the Progress Made by 'Pandemic Streets'
In many cities, the public realm saw a drastic shift towards pedestrian-oriented infrastructure. The L.A. Times editorial board argues we should keep it that way.

Pre-Fab Tiny Home Village Takes Shape in L.A.
Along with communal showers and bathrooms, the village will also include laundry, storage facilities, and offices for social service providers.

Uneven Redevelopment on Cincinnati's Vine Street
While the southern end of the thoroughfare is seeing rapid redevelopment and gentrification, the northern end has yet to reap any benefits from the nearby projects.

One Rail System to Ring the Bay Area? Supporters See Reasons for Optimism
A plan to integrate the various regional transit providers in the San Francisco Bay Area could be the key to winning back transit riders in the post-pandemic world.

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.

The Foundational Myth of America's Interstate Highway System
The erroneous belief that the negative impacts of interstate highways are simply "unintended consequences" fails to demand accountability for the project's failures.

Minneapolis Business Owners Decry Loss of Parking
The city's plan to reduce street parking by 90% in favor of bus lanes and pedestrian infrastructure is receiving backlash from local businesses.

Fourth Surge May Be a Second Wave
The CDC announced on April 7 that a coronavirus variant first detected in the U.K is now dominant in the U.S. "In some ways, we're almost in a new pandemic," said one prominent public health expert earlier about the more transmissible variant.

Small Landlords Feel the Effects of Lost Rental Income
While eviction moratoriums helped keep many tenants in their homes during the pandemic, the nation's renters have amassed a collective debt of over $52 billion, and many mom-and-pop landlords are struggling to hold on.

NYC Bike Advocates Want Federal Funding to Connect the City's Greenways
Cycling advocates and environmental groups want to accelerate the expansion of bike infrastructure and fill crucial gaps in the city's bikeway network.

For Functional Cities, First Get the Basics Right
Experts at the Urbanism Next conference advise city leaders not to overlook basic, "mundane" infrastructure that underpins the success of cities and transportation systems.

New York's Street Vendors Fight Back Against Displacement
Despite operating on public right-of-way, food vendors claim that developers are pushing them out of established vending spots.

With Regulations Loosened, Granny Flat Construction Soars in California
Less restrictive permit laws and pre-fabricated, pre-approved building options are spurring more homeowners to build backyard additions.

Opinion: Put Pedestrians First—End Jaywalking Laws
To reduce pedestrian deaths, we must restore their rights as primary street users, argues a former NYC traffic commissioner.

The Six Principles of Community CoDesign
The methodology calls for authentic participation and a willingness to engage stakeholders in a "collaborative and empathic" placemaking process.

Infrastructure and its Discontents
The significance of the Biden administration's expansive view of infrastructure is reflected in the flood of commentary published in the week since the public's first look at the American Jobs Plan.

Story Mapping the Racism in Planning History
A Story Map created by the Louisville Metro Office of Planning & Design Services offers a detailed, visual presentation of the history of racism and discriminatory in the planning and zoning of the Louisville and Jefferson County.
Pagination
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.
Tyler Technologies
New York City School Construction Authority
Village of Glen Ellyn
Transportation Research & Education Center (TREC) at Portland State University
Chaddick Institute at DePaul University
Institute for Housing and Urban Development Studies (IHS)
Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada
Toledo-Lucas County Plan Commissions