The Daily Source of Urban Planning News

Zohram Mandami gesturing at one of the new public restrooms, a small, square shaped building with a green floral design.

NYC releases high-tech public restrooms — with a 10 minute time limit

The $4 million pilot program aims to make it easier for people to find public restrooms in New York City.

September 21 - Gothamist

A rendering of the planned bridge over a large river. The bridge has two main support beams that form diamond shaped arches over the bridge.

Alabama scores up to $2.5 billion federal loan for largest infrastructure project in state’s history

The Mobile River Bridge and Bayway Project aims to ease congestion at Alabama’s worst bottleneck.

September 20 - NBC 15

Public land in Idaho. Most of the photo is a green field, with mountains and a forest in the distance.

Trump is considering data centers on 6 states' public land — some state officials say they had no idea

If the administration approves the proposed projects, data center and data center-related developments will cover 17,600 acres of public land.

September 20 - The Washington Sun

Two construction workers on a wind turbine, with two more in the background against a pink sky.

Despite court ruling, Trump is keeping nearly all wind projects in the US on hold

At least 110 wind energy projects have not heard from the government since a federal judge ruled that the Trump administration's freeze on wind turbine clearances was likely illegal.

September 20 - Heatmap

A rendering of the updated plan for Park Ave, which shows a grassy median with two sidewalks on either side, and streets on either side of the sidewalk.

Community feedback ushers in changes to NYC’s Park Avenue redesign

New aspects of the design include a two-way bike lane and separate paths for cyclists and pedestrians.

September 20 - Gothamist


A busy road in Charlotte, NC, with cars driving towards an elevated camera.

Road safety in Charlotte, NC, a 'public health crisis'

Twelve serious or fatal crashes happen in the region every week. Since 2021, over 900 people have been killed in accidents.

September 20 - Yahoo News

The J.H. Campbell Generating Plant, a concrete building in front of a large body of water.

Federal judge strikes down DOE orders to keep Michigan power plant open past retirement date

The decision is one of the first successful legal challenges to President Trump’s “national energy emergency” ruling, which instructs federal agencies to use emergency powers to increase fossil fuel production.

September 20 - Grist


A busy highway in Richmond, with construction and the city visible in the background.

'This is going to be painful:’ Virginia stares down $1.7 billion funding gap for highway maintenance

The state may address the deficit by shifting $290 million from its construction budget to maintenance projects.

September 19 - The Virginia Mercury

The Gross Reservoir, a large body of water surrounded by trees and mountains.

Judges permit Denver to divert 77,000 acre feet from the Colorado River for reservoir expansion

Overuse and climate change have caused the Colorado River’s water levels to plummet.

September 18 - Inside Climate News

Passengers board an Amtrak train under a cloudy sky.

Amtrak, CN end decades-long dispute with eight-year agreement

The new operating agreement establishes an updated framework for the companies to work together, including processes to resolve disputes.

September 18 - Mass Transit

Federal Reserve Chair Kevin Warsh delivers remarks at his swearing-in ceremony in the East Room of the White House.

Raised interest rates may kill financially vulnerable construction projects

The chief economist at ConstructConnect warns that if construction project owners are negatively impacted by the raised rates, it could result in delayed payments to contractors.

September 18 - Construction Dive

Aerial drone picture of a massive hyperscale Google data center campus with cooling steam rising from industrial cooling systems, located along the Columbia River.

Data centers are consuming nearly 25% of Oregon’s power

The state has 111 data centers, with 32 more either planned or under construction.

September 18 - OPB

The Ancient Angkor Wat temple in Cambodia captured in early morning light. The temple is gray, and has three pillars with cone shaped tops. It is under a light blue sky.

FEATURE

What the fall of earth's largest pre-industrial city can teach us about urban sprawl

Angkor was a low-density metropolis. It lasted six centuries, until it could no longer maintain its infrastructure in a changing climate. Today, it offers planners a sobering warning about the risks of dispersed urban living.

September 18 - Stefan Al

A manufactured house on the back of a truck driving down a road.

A third of Texas cities must update their zoning codes to comply with new housing law

Texas municipalities are now required to allow manufactured housing in at least one residential zoning district.

September 18 - Smart Cities Dive

A coal power plant in Iowa billows smoke into the air.

Nation's most wind-powered state turns to coal as data centers increase energy demand

For the first time in decades, Iowa has increased its generation of coal power.

September 17 - Inside Climate News

A sign on a fence describing the rain garden behind it.

NYC cools commuters with city's first rain garden above a bus stop

New York City officials say the plants in the rain garden can absorb 16 gallons of rainwater during heavy storms.

September 17 - Gothamist

A map showing Brightline West's intended route from  Las Vegas to Rancho Cucamonga, California.

Brightline West’s future may rely on $6 billion federal loan

The company has until Nov. 2 to make a $400 million equity investment into its proposed high-speed rail line.

September 17 - Smart Cities Dive

A Metro bus drives down a street on a rainy day. Parallel to the bus is a line of parked cars, then, a line of umbrellas.

LA Metro’s ultimatum: no extra buses for LA28 if federal funding isn’t imminently secured

If Metro does not provide additional buses, LA28 organizers will have to find a new way to manage Olympic traffic. LA28’s budget does not include a line item for transit.

September 17 - LAist

Geese flock to a frozen pond in Aurora, Colorado. There are houses in the background.

Colorado’s Largest Data Center Could Rise Next to Homes — Without a Public Hearing

The proposed campus would consume 11 times the power of Denver International Airport; as it has across the country, opposition mounts.

September 17 - Capital & Main

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