The Daily Source of Urban Planning News

Overhead view of multilane elevated highway with multiple levels.

The Harms of a Car-Centric World

While most of the world’s population doesn’t drive, cars have an outsized negative impact on public health, the environment, and land use.

March 7 - Streetsblog USA

View of green lush wetland in Florida with lightly cloudy blue sky.

How To Make the Clean Water Act Work Better

A legal scholar suggests mechanisms for closing loopholes that limit the law’s effectiveness.

March 7 - The Regulatory Review

Hazy view of Interstate 5 freeway in Los Angeles, California.

Study: Air Pollution Disproportionately Impacts Communities of Color

The negative effects of poor air quality occur at higher rates in low-income neighborhoods and communities of color, according to new research.

March 7 - George Washington University

Aerial view of downtown Dallas surface parking lots

Dallas Could Eliminate Parking Requirements

Supporters of the measure say it would contribute to economic development and make local development more affordable.

March 7 - D Magazine

Trolley bus in San Francisco, California.

Federal Funding Takes Aim at Public Transit

Close to $10 billion in federal funding will help local transit agencies with maintenance, operations, and equipment costs.

March 7 - Bloomberg CityLab


Blurred view of cyclists riding in protected bike lane

NYC Bike Deaths Hit 23-Year High

In 2023, 30 people on bikes died on New York City roads.

March 7 - Spectrum News 1

Two red combines harvesting corn in central California.

San Joaquin Valley Struggles to Lower Emissions

The San Joaquin Valley has some of the worst air pollution and particulate matter emissions in the nation, but agricultural sources are loosely regulated.

March 6 - Civil Eats


Close-up of back of white self-driving Waymo car on San Francisco street.

California Approves Waymo Driverless Taxis

Waymo’s autonomous vehicles can begin picking up passengers in Los Angeles and San Francisco in spite of opposition from local officials.

March 6 - Smart Cities Dive

People ride bikes past outdoor restaurant patio with misters in Culdesac car-free development, Tempe, Arizona.

Car-Free Arizona Suburb Gains Residents

The project, dubbed Culdesac, offers EV rentals, free light rail passes, and other perks instead of private parking.

March 6 - Fast Company

Close-up of bronze plaque on building with "United States Environmental Protection Agency" text.

EPA Releases Equity Action Plan

The agency is taking a more holistic approach to addressing environmental justice concerns.

March 6 - The Equation

Two-lane asphalt road with smoke filling the sky in Texas Panhandle.

Texas Faces Higher Wildfire Risks

Climate change is causing more destructive wildfires, prompting home insurers to reconsider coverage in the state.

March 6 - The New York Times

Close-up of laptop screen with U.S. Treasury Dept. website pulled up.

Feds Unlock Covid Aid Funds for Affordable Housing

New initiatives from the Treasury Department will let unspent assistance dollars fund a wider range of housing projects.

March 6 - Yahoo Finance

Macon Mall sign outside of low-rise building in Macon, Georgia.

Former Georgia Mall Revived by Pickleball

Macon-Bibb County is converting the largely defunct commercial center into a civic complex with county offices and recreation facilities.

March 6 - Fast Company

Grandparents walking with young grandchild through park with fall foliage.

Feds Award Senior Housing Grants; Experts Say More is Needed

A federal infusion of cash could help create more affordable housing for seniors, but many still struggle to afford housing.

March 6 - Morningstar

Three EMTs in orange uniforms putting gurney with person onto ambulance at night under freeway overpass.

Study: Unhoused People at Much Higher Risk of Death

The mortality rate among people experiencing homelessness jumped by 203 percent between 2011 and 2020.

March 5 - Governing

Person-height red 'Wilmington Waterfront Promenade' sign on concrete walkway with palm trees in background on waterfront walkway at the Port of Los Angeles, California.

New Waterfront Park Opens at the Port of Los Angeles

The $77.3 million new park offers unprecedented public access to the water’s edge for the Wilmington community where 18% of the total land area is taken up by oil refineries — almost 3.5 times more space than is dedicated to green space.

March 5 - The Architect's Newspaper

View of down La Salle Street lined with skyscrapers in downtown Chicago.

Downtown Chicago Vacancy Rates at All-Time High, Slashing Building Values

Record vacancy rates and the high cost of borrowing money are fueling a commercial real estate crisis in downtown Chicago.

March 5 - Bloomberg CityLab

Planter boxes and hoop tunnel with housing in the background

Urban Ag Activists Up In Arms About New Study

Researchers looked at the carbon footprint of urban farming versus conventional, and the results were surprising.

March 5 - Business Insider

Two-lane highway with solid yellow center line and one car driving away against backdrop of red rock formations in Nevada.

Traffic Deaths Rise Sharply on Western Roads

The region is seeing higher rates of road deaths in part due to larger vehicles, high speed limits, and inadequate pedestrian infrastructure.

March 5 - High Country News

Grey concrete curb ramp with small bumps for the visually impaired.

Understanding Accessibility in the Public Right-of-Way

A ‘best practices’ manual guides accessibility on streets and sidewalks, but remains legally unenforceable.

March 5 - Streetsblog USA

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Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools

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Planning for Universal Design

Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.