The Daily Source of Urban Planning News

The MTA board approved a 10-cent fare increase as part of a plan to increase revenue, claiming the agency loses $1 billion annually to fare evasion.

October 3 - The New York Times

A now-expired incentive helped boost ADU applications since 2021 while larger housing projects have stalled.

October 2 - Governing

Enabled by provisions in the JOBS Act of 2012 that allow smaller scale investing, community members are becoming co-owners of local real estate projects.

October 2 - Shelterforce Magazine

Inefficiencies in the procurement process, small contract sizes, and an emphasis on customization leads American transit agencies to pay more than double for the same vehicles.

October 2 - Bloomberg CityLab

An analysis found that the city’s real parking demand is around 0.85 spots per housing unit, far less than the 1.5 spaces required under the old zoning code.

October 2 - Boston Globe

DHS denied the MTA its request for funding under the Transit Security Grant Program despite the administration’s concern with transit safety.

October 2 - StreetsBlog NYC

Among the San Francisco Bay Area's 27 transit systems, one rail line stands out for recovered pre-pandemic ridership: the Sonoma-Marin Area Rail Transit District. Now it's headed 9 miles north to Healdsburg.

October 1 - Bay City News Foundation

A bill passed in a special legislative session will raise over $4 billion for transportation and public transit in the next 10 years, but fails to establish a long-term funding solution.

October 1 - Oregon Capital Chronicle

Half of U.S. renters are considered ‘rent burdened,’ but an even larger number of households have a hard time affording basic necessities after rent.

October 1 - Joint Center for Housing Studies of Harvard University

Discount programs designed to help low-income transit riders have participation rates that rarely hit 50%, signaling a lack of effective outreach to eligible households.

October 1 - Regional Plan Association

A community land trust took on a difficult site in suburban Seattle — and ended up with a sustainable, diverse, mixed-ownership-form development that challenges multiple norms.

September 30 - Shelterforce Magazine

After years of debate, the city approved an ordinance that legalizes ADUs in some neighborhoods, but gives alderpeople the power to restrict them in single-family zones.

September 30 - Illinois Answers Project

The city’s efforts to make roads safer are paying off.

September 30 - Urban Milwaukee

The historic South Station got some much-needed upgrades as part of a massive redevelopment project that will bring luxury condos and offices to the neighborhood.

September 30 - Fast Company

BLOG POST

Good Transit is frequent. Good Transit is reliable. Good Transit is (reasonably) fast. Good Transit feels safe.

September 30 - Joshua Woods

People living in transit-oriented developments are more likely to ditch the car and opt for transit or walking, new research shows.

September 29 - Science Magazine

The city’s streetcar system is expanding in advance of 2026 soccer World Cup.

September 29 - KCUR

The New South Wales government is the first to sell pre-approved architectural plans to citizens for $1 in the hopes of spurring more housing construction.

September 29 - The Guardian

Thanks to new funding approved by the state legislature, the city’s transit agency will be able to temporarily stave off proposed service cuts, but the fix is only temporary.

September 29 - The Center Square

FEATURE

Covid and inflation played a role. But for many agencies, the crisis goes much deeper.

September 29 - Benjamin Schneider