The Daily Source of Urban Planning News
Denver-Inspired Chatbot Serves as Prototype for AI in City Planning and Zoning
A prototype City Planning Chatbot uses AI to answer public questions on zoning and city planning in Denver. Although not endorsed by the City, the experiment demonstrates the potential power of AI to provide accurate planning and zoning answers.
Chicago Had a Banner Year for Bike Infrastructure
The city built more bike lane miles in 2023 than in any previous year.
From Department Store to Apartments
A former Sears store has a new life as a housing complex.
Reno Revisits Zoning Reform
After roundly rejecting a proposal to legalize granny flats in 2018, the city council is revising it and other zoning reform proposals that could increase the city’s affordable housing supply.
Houston Awarded $18.5M for Trail Linking Uptown and Memorial Park
The grant will make the freeway-bounded park more accessible to pedestrians and cyclists.
Detroit Launches Duplex Repair Program
The grants will help landlords repair aging multifamily affordable housing.
Report: Walking Rates Down in All US States
While walking trips decline, driving is back to near-pre-pandemic levels.
Portland ‘BRT Light’ Line Shows Promise
Despite not having fully dedicated bus lanes, Portland’s new ‘light’ bus rapid transit line is significantly reducing travel times.
How Sun Belt Cities are Improving Road Safety
Often car-centric, these cities in the South and West are working to make their roads safer for pedestrians, cyclists, and transit riders.
The Trouble With Transit Funding
The roots of the current U.S. transit crisis go deeper than the Covid-19 pandemic.
How Cities Can Support Urban Gardeners
Urban agriculture can provide green spaces, fresh food, and healthy activities, but urban gardeners and foragers face many obstacles.
Less Than Half of Head Start Centers Near Transit
Just 42 percent of the nation’s Head Start early education centers are within walkable distance for parents with toddlers.
Why Chicago Doesn’t Own its Parking Meters
More than a decade ago, the city sold control of its curb parking to private investors.
Norway’s EV Boom Could Entrench Car Dependency
The Scandinavian country is a pioneer when it comes to EV adoption, but there are downsides.
Parking Reform Pays Off With Lower Rent Costs
Research continues to show that adjusting parking requirements to align with demand can lower the cost of housing.
Advocates Urge Caution as Microtransit Expands
On-demand microtransit is gaining popularity with transit agencies, but is it at the expense of existing service?
Opinion: Voters Deserve to See the Draft ‘One Seattle’ Plan
Despite a promise to release a draft comprehensive plan update in April and with elections in less than a week, Seattle residents are still waiting to see the city’s proposal for how to guide development in the next decades.
Converting a Freeway Lane to a Toll Lane: No Easy Task!
The San Mateo County Transportation Authority wants to extend its new express toll lanes north to the San Francisco border. The two build options are widening Highway 101 or converting an existing lane in each direction. One is essentially illegal.
In Praise of the Endangered ‘Third Space’
The public spaces where people can spend time among strangers without buying something are crucial to healthy cities—and are quickly disappearing.
How Urban Design Impacts Public Health
With more and more people living in cities, designing equitably healthy urban spaces becomes a key question for policymakers.
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.
