Increasing car ownership and shifting demographics means planners need to rethink the car-centric equation, according to this article.

Daniel C. Vock has some good news and some bad news about car ownership among low-income Americans.
"The good news is that more low-income Americans report they have access to vehicles than they did a decade ago, before the Great Recession," according to Vock. "The bad – or at least, unsettling – news is that even a subtle shift in car usage could have big impacts on transit ridership and other transportation policies, and public officials are still trying to determine how to respond."
The contemporary connection between increased car ownership and reduced transit ridership was first elucidated by researchers from the University of California, Los Angeles in a study focusing on the Los Angeles region. Vock follows the reasoning of that study to a broader conclusion about the United States reverting to the pre-Recession norm in terms of car ownership and usage.
"Urban planners who want to push for walkable neighborhoods and transit-oriented development can still make a compelling case for certain areas, particularly urban centers," writes Vock.
The article includes more details about the implications of increased car ownership, for both urban and suburban environments, as well as in other sectors of the economy, like auto loans.
FULL STORY: More Poorer Residents Are Driving Cars, Presenting New Issues for Transit Agencies

Trump Administration Could Effectively End Housing Voucher Program
Federal officials are eyeing major cuts to the Section 8 program that helps millions of low-income households pay rent.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

Canada vs. Kamala: Whose Liberal Housing Platform Comes Out on Top?
As Canada votes for a new Prime Minister, what can America learn from the leading liberal candidate of its neighbor to the north?

Washington State’s Parking Reform Law Could Unlock ‘Countless’ Acres for New Housing
A law that limits how much parking cities can require for residential amd commercial developments could lead to a construction boom.

Wildlife Rebounds After the Eaton Fire
Following the devastation of the Eaton Fire, the return of wildlife and the regrowth of native plants are offering powerful signs of resilience and renewal.

LA to Replace Inglewood Light Rail Project With Bus Shuttles
LA Metro says the change is in response to community engagement and that the new design will be ready before the 2028 Olympic Games.
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.
Central Transportation Planning Staff/Boston Region MPO
Heyer Gruel & Associates PA
Institute for Housing and Urban Development Studies (IHS)
City of Grandview
Harvard GSD Executive Education
Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada
Toledo-Lucas County Plan Commissions