The Daily Source of Urban Planning News

Frontier Airlines jet in the air.

Planes, Trains, and... Buses: Philadelphia Man Commutes 800 Miles to Atlanta

The trip between Philadelphia and Atlanta takes roughly four to six hours and costs less than the average US car payment.

January 2 - The Daily Mail

Two people with backpacks on crossing a crosswalk in front of a yellow school bus in San Diego, California.

San Diego School District Backtracks on Teacher Housing Proposal

After receiving more than a dozen proposals from developers, the district’s board failed to reach a decision or issue further guidance to potential builders.

January 1 - KPBS

Street with crosswalk and fall foliage on trees in Dallas, Texas with yellow pedestrian warning sign in foreground.

Dallas Cut Traffic Deaths Nearly in Half in 2025

The city saw 107 fatal crashes this year, down from 208 in 2024.

January 1 - Dallas Observer

Row of brick walk-up residential buildings in New Jersey.

New Jersey Court Ruling Clarifies Fair Eviction Law

The decision specifies the amount tenants must pay to avoid eviction.

January 1 - WHYY

White Waymo autonomous self-driving taxi in San Francisco, California.

If Robotaxis Can’t Handle a Blackout, What Would Happen During an Earthquake?

The chaos that ensued when San Francisco traffic lights went dark reveals autonomous cars’ lack of preparation for serious disasters and emergencies.

December 31 - Reuters


Two workers putting reflective insulation panels into roof of wood-framed house under construction.

BLOG POST

December Must-Reads: Top 10 Articles From Last Month

As cities and states change zoning laws to accommodate more housing, federal funding cuts and immigration raids that are impacting the construction labor market could slow efforts to alleviate the housing crisis.

December 31 - Diana Ionescu

Two-story public housing building with dark red wood cladding on leafy street in Cambridge, Massachusetts.

How Cambridge Restored its Public Housing

In Cambridge, Massachusetts, residents speak positively of the renovations to their public housing stock. The housing authority attributes its success to an innovative mix of RAD with other funding sources.

December 31 - Shelterforce Magazine


Red San Diego trolley car.

San Diego Trolley Cuts Late Trips in Half With New Copper Line Service

A new extension adds a transfer for some riders, but has vastly improved the system’s overall performance.

December 30 - San Diego Union-Tribune

Outreach worker wearing mask reaches into blue tarp with unhoused person to hand them a pamphlet.

California Law Bars Cities From Punishing Homelessness Outreach Workers

A state law seeks to protect workers who provide services to unhoused residents, regardless of where they live.

December 30 - CALmatters

Small house in emmpty green frield being demolished to make way for road construction.

Commentary: Eminent Domain is a Slippery Slope

Can accepting eminent domain lead to accepting the loss of other, more foundational rights?

December 30 - Fast Company

Person typing on laptop with RFP graphic

BLOG POST

Public Sector Consulting Isn’t Evil, but We Have to Keep it Honest

At its best, public sector consulting builds knowledge and delivers value for taxpayers. At its worst, it entrenches dependence and wastes resources. A code of ethics for keeping consulting ethical.

December 30 - Joshua Woods

Looking down on street scene with people walking at dusk on vibrant East Village street, New York City.

Average Manhattan Rent Topped $5,400 This Year

The borough’s vacancy rate is just aboe 2 percent.

December 30 - Smart Cities Dive

Everett WA USA Nov 14 2023 Two electric bicycles at the Port Of Everett Marina on a sunny day.

Washington’s E-Bike Rebate Rollout Shows Success for $1,200 Incentive, Low Redemption Rate for $300 Vouchers

The state’s first e-bike rebate program offers some valuable lessons for future rollouts.

December 29 - The Urbanist

Green "welcome" sign leaning on wall of orange home with gravel ground in US Southwest.

Arizona Court Rejects Local Control Over Short-Term Rentals

A judge upheld a 2017 law that prohibits local jurisdictions from limiting Airbnbs and other short-term rentals.

December 29 - New York Post

SpaceX launch site sign in Boca Chica, Texas.

Trump Administration Could Give SpaceX Nearly 800 Acres of Wildlife Refuge in South Texas Land Deal

A proposed land exchange would give the company over 700 acres of coastal land.

December 29 - The Texas Tribune

Older couple working on the exterior of their home.

These Cities are Making Code Enforcement Supportive, not Punitive

We can upkeep homes without punishing low-income residents. Here are some lessons for change, and cities already doing that work on the ground.

December 29 - Shelterforce Magazine

View from inside driver's seat of Tesla sedan.

If Self-Driving Systems Imitate Human Drivers, Are They any Safer?

Tesla’s ‘Mad Max’ mode and other self-driving systems often flout traffic laws — just like human drivers.

December 29 - Fast Company

A senior woman with a cane walks by an old house with an ochre and orange color.

FEATURE

Great Cities Don’t Just Acknowledge That We Age In Them — They Build For It. We Can Too.

We age in sidewalks, public spaces, transit stops, and community centers — not in hospitals. As populations age, the built environment will determine whether our cities thrive or struggle in the decades ahead.

December 29 - Rajiv Ahuja

Two workers on roof of house under construction in Altadena, California with other house under construction next to it.

One Year After the LA Fires, Just 13% of Damaged Homes Have a Rebuilding Permit

After a slow start, permitting is starting to pick up.

December 28 - Los Angeles Times

Worker in orange safety jacket working on California high-speed rail infrastructure.

California Abandons Lawsuit Over Federal High-Speed Rail Funds

The state is taking a new approach to its high-speed rail project, saying the federal government is not a “reliable, constructive, or trustworthy partner.”

December 28 - The Mercury News

Post News
Senior Planner

City of Thousand Oaks

Community Development Director

City of Wisconsin Rapids

Professor of Urban Planning

Harvard University Graduate School of Design

Top Books

An annual review of books related to planning.

Top Schools

The definitive ranking of graduate planning programs.

100 Most Influential Urbanists

The who's who of urbanism, according to Planetizen readers.

Urban Planning Creators You Should Know

A short list of voices on social, video, and podcasting platforms.

FREE Course: Walkable City 1: Why Walkability?

After describing his path towards focusing on walkability as the essence of good planning, Jeff Speck marches through his five principal reasons for making more walkable places.

Reinventing Malls: Planning Alchemy—Turning Gray Fields Into Gold

The course focuses on the opportunities and imperatives that shape reinvention of mall sites.