What does it take to make the bold step toward ending parking minimums in an entire city?
Hartford, Connecticut made history in 2017 by becoming the first city to remove minimum parking requirements citywide.
Rachel Quednau revisits the history making act with a few questions: "We wish this was the standard everywhere, but it’s not, so Hartford’s is a radical act. What created the circumstances that allowed this change to be implemented? What softened the ground for change that, in so many municipalities, seems a long ways away?"
Quednau finds three key factors involved with Hartford's decision to remove parking minimums. The article goes into more detail for each of these three points:
- The city is already easily accessible without a car.
- The removal of parking minimums happened in tandem with a broader city-wide movement toward people-centered places.
- The elimination of parking minimums happened incrementally over time.
As Quednau suggests to conclude the article, many U.S. cities have some or all of these ingredients already in place, so it could be that more cities begin to follow Hartford's example.
Berkeley to Remove Parking Requirements for Residential Properties
Berkeley is the second city in Northern California to approve landmark zoning reforms so far in 2021.
Akron Considering the End of Parking Minimums as a Downtown Development Incentive
The Akron City Council will this week decide on legislation that could at it to the roster of cities that have reformed parking requirements.
Parking Reform Yields New Housing
As more cities eliminate or reduce their minimum parking requirements, the impact on housing supply is coming into focus.
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.
Ken Jennings Launches Transit Web Series
The Jeopardy champ wants you to ride public transit.
Driving Equity and Clean Air: California Invests in Greener School Transportation
California has awarded $500 million to fund 1,000 zero-emission school buses and chargers for educational agencies as part of its effort to reduce pollution, improve student health, and accelerate the transition to clean transportation.
Congress Moves to End Reconnecting Communities and Related Grants
The House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee moved to rescind funding for the Neighborhood Equity and Access program, which funds highway removals, freeway caps, transit projects, pedestrian infrastructure, and more.
From Throughway to Public Space: Taking Back the American Street
How the Covid-19 pandemic taught us new ways to reclaim city streets from cars.
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.
Heyer Gruel & Associates PA
Ada County Highway District
Institute for Housing and Urban Development Studies (IHS)
City of Grandview
Harvard GSD Executive Education
Toledo-Lucas County Plan Commissions
Salt Lake City
NYU Wagner Graduate School of Public Service