More people are driving less and staying at home. The result is significant improvements in air quality in cities across the country.
The coronavirus pandemic has brought life to a standstill and a huge drop in car travel as many people stay at home. "A satellite that detects emissions in the atmosphere linked to cars and trucks shows huge declines in pollution over major metropolitan areas, including Los Angeles, Seattle, New York, Chicago and Atlanta," report Brad Plumer and Nadja Popovich.
Plumer and Popovich review maps of emissions from Los Angeles, the San Francisco Bay Area, Seattle, and New York showing significant decreases in nitrogen dioxide levels over the month of March.
In Los Angeles, traffic data also illustrates the drop in car travel and congestion. "On Wednesday at 8 a.m., traffic in the city was moving 53 percent faster than it usually does on a Wednesday morning, according to data from INRIX, a company that analyzes traffic data from vehicle and phone navigation systems. At 5 p.m., when the freeways are typically congested, traffic was moving 71 percent faster than usual."
FULL STORY: Traffic and Pollution Plummet as U.S. Cities Shut Down for Coronavirus
Study: Poor Air Quality Fuels COVID Transmission
Communities exposed to higher levels of air pollution experience higher rates of infection, particularly in areas with high population density.
The Post-Pandemic Economy Could Be Dirtier Than Ever
The environmental gains at the beginning of the pandemic were only temporary., and there are signs more signs every day that the economy will be dirtier than ever in the future.
Natural Gas Leaks Responsible for the Death of Trees in Urban Areas, According to a New Study
A new study conducted in Chelsea, Massachusetts is the first to quantify the effects of natural gas leaks on the health of urban trees.
Montreal Mall to Become 6,000 Housing Units
Place Versailles will be transformed into a mixed-use complex over the next 25 years.
Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.
California High-Speed Rail's Plan to Right Itself
The railroad's new CEO thinks he can get the project back on track. The stars will need to align this summer.
Nevada Legislature Unanimously Passes Regional Rail Bill
If signed by the governor, the bill will create a task force aimed at developing a regional passenger rail system.
How Infrastructure Shapes Public Trust
A city engineer argues that planners must go beyond code compliance to ensure public infrastructure is truly accessible to all users.
Photos: In Over a Dozen Cities, Housing Activists Connect HUD Cuts and Local Issues
We share images from six of the cities around the country where members of three national organizing networks took action on May 20 to protest cuts to federal housing funding and lift up local solutions.
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.
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
Transportation Research & Education Center (TREC) at Portland State University
Municipality of Princeton (NJ)
Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada