The Daily Source of Urban Planning News
Trump Administration Wants to Remove Conservation From Approved 'Uses' of Public Land
The Department of the Interior moved to officially rescind the Public Lands Rule passed in 2024, which elevates the conservation of public lands to the same level of protection as other uses.
Portland Launches Tool for DIY Community Road Safety Interventions
A set of resources offers safety data and guidance for putting low-cost, quick-build interventions into action.
Trump Moves to Ease Regulations for Self-Driving Cars
Proposed changes to vehicle safety standards would eliminate elements such as windshield wipers designed for human drivers.
Michigan Capital's $640K ‘Pod’ Homes for Homeless Residents not Approved for Winter Use
Lansing officials approved a plan to purchase 50 modular micro-housing units as emergency shelter for the city’s unhoused residents.
BLOG POST
Vehicle Miles Travelled, Level of Service, and a Soon-to-be-Insolvent Transportation Trust Fund
Level of Service and the gas tax have served our transportation needs for a long time. Now, it’s time for a change.
The Nation’s 40 Fastest-Growing Suburbs
Projected population growth will be concentrated in suburban communities around major metropolitan areas, with the Sunbelt experiencing the fastest growth.
Corpus Christi Faces Uncertain Water Future as City Cancels Desalination Plan
The Texas refinery town is grappling with an impending water shortage after a seven-year drought, but a dramatic increase in the projected cost of a desalination plant prompted the city to look for other ways to bring in additional water.
Over a Quarter of US Homes Face ‘Severe or Extreme’ Climate Risk
The number of U.S. homes at risk from hurricanes, fires, or flooding is valued at close to $13 trillion.
Now 20% Car-Free, Seattle's Population is Growing. Its Traffic is Not.
Since 2017, the number of cars in the city has stayed roughly the same, even as the population continues to grow.
Trump's New Move Makes Gas Stations the new EV Charging Hot Spot
The revised National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure program guidance prioritizes funding for projects sited on locations owned by the EV charging operator and near existing amenities.
A San Francisco University Just Built Over 650 Affordable Units. Are Institutions the Answer to the Housing Crisis?
With access to planning resources not always available to private developers, universities are uniquely positioned to build housing quickly and cost-effectively.
California Rejects Loan to Save Bay Area Transit
The state’s Department of Finance wants to extend negotiations about the loan, making it unlikely transit agencies will receive any assistance before the end of the year.
SEPTA Proposes $400M From State Fund to Delay Service Cuts
The plan would stave off service cuts for two years, but even if approved, the agency plans to go ahead with fare hikes on September 14.
BLOG POST
Geographers Aren’t Going Anywhere
Microsoft says AI renders my profession obsolete. They couldn’t be more wrong.
The Federal Government Won’t Stop Home Appraisal Bias. Local Officials Can.
Racial bias in appraisals is still a problem — but there are steps we can take to fight back. Philadelphia's reforms are a model to follow.
LA Mall Garage Converted to 200 Housing Units
As indoor malls continue to struggle, more of them are being converted to housing and other uses.
Seattle Mayor Addresses Soaring Light Rail Costs
As the cost for Sound Transit’s light rail expansion keeps growing, Mayor Bruce Harrell promised to streamline permitting and communication to ensure the project is finished sooner.
Ann Arbor Traffic Stops for Minor Offenses Drop to Zero in August
A new policy bars Ann Arbor police officers from pulling people over for minor, non-dangerous equipment violations.
E-Scooter Use is on the Rise — But so are Injuries
With infrastructure and rider education lagging behind the growth of e-scooter systems, American ERs saw an 80 percent rise in e-scooter injuries between 2023 and 2024.
FEATURE
Cities Can be a Sensory Nightmare. Minnesota is Trying to Change That.
A state-wide effort to build 10,000 sensory-friendly spaces aims to set a new standard for inclusive design.
City of Thousand Oaks
City of Wisconsin Rapids
Harvard University Graduate School of Design
The Architects Foundation
University of Cincinnati Online
The Pocatello Development Authority
The Urban Renewal Agency of the City of Pocatello
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.
