Pedestrian activity in U.S. downtowns is still way down compared to pre-Covid levels, but the numbers are ticking back up month by month.
"Pedestrian traffic in US downtowns strengthened in October to -38.1% below the 2019 level, from -40.7% in September and -44.7% in August," reports Paul Bergeron, citing a new report from retail data analytics company Springboard (their September report is freely available online).
According to Bergeron's explanation of the report, the increased foot traffic in U.S. downtowns can be explained by more workers returning to the office.
FULL STORY: Downtown Pedestrian Foot Traffic Steadily Rising
The Once-in-a-Generation Opportunity to Remake Downtown
Urban cores around the country were transforming into live, work, and play destinations before the pandemic. The pandemic was a setback for this transformation, but it could also be a rare opportunity. It’s up to city leadership to seize it.
Surveying the Rising Trend of Office-to-Residential Conversions
With office vacancies climbing and a stubborn supply crunch driving up the cost of housing, some downtowns have emerged at the forefront of a new wave of adaptive reuse.
Downtown San Francisco Still Looking for a Post-Pandemic Comeback
“Downtown on the Brink” reads the headline of a recent San Francisco Chronicle feature.
Upzoning Modestly Increases Housing Supply and Affordability, Study Says
A new study by researchers at the Urban Institute finds new evidence that upzoning produces housing supply and reduces costs, while downzoning does the opposite.
British Columbia Asserts Provincial Control Over Density
The Canadian province plans to override local opposition to loosening zoning regulations that restrict the housing supply.
Opinion: Surprised by Your Neighborhood’s Walkability Score? Don't Be.
A cautionary tale of using indices.
$14 Billion in Federal Transit Funding Announced
The annual formula funding grants support transit facilities and maintenance, electrification and equipment upgrades, and expansion of service.
Philadelphia Mayor Hopefuls Want More Affordable Housing on Vacant Lots
Many of the candidates agree that a slow, complex sales process and strong councilmanic prerogative hinder the development of city-owned lots.
Why Infrastructure Costs So Much
A new book details what planners already know: cost estimates for major infrastructure projects are usually a farce. Another book foretells just how much new infrastructure will be needed in the coming waves of climate migration.
Heyer Gruel Associates
Heyer Gruel & Associates PA
Ada County Highway District
Urbanism Next Center at the University of Oregon
Harvard GSD Executive Education
Harvard GSD Executive Education
City of Evanston
City of Lomita
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
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