The Daily Source of Urban Planning News

Technicians in green vests Installing Solar Panels at a Solar Farm.

States that voted for Trump are building the majority of new solar farms

The Trump administration has made it more difficult to build solar farms on federal land, and congress has scaled back tax credits for the industry.

September 13 - Grist

An MTA bus enters from the right side of the photo. To the left, people cross the street behind the bus.

MTA to purchase biggest fleet upgrade in over a decade

The new buses will use a greener alternative to diesel fuel, and aim to improve fleet reliability and air quality.

September 13 - Mass Transit

View of the mountain landscape near Boulder, Nevada. A town filled with houses with orange roofs is surrounded by mountains.

Judge strikes down Trump-backed data center on public land

The Biden administration originally approved the same patch of federal land for a solar farm in 2023.

September 13 - SFGate

Through a haze of smoke, a firefighter sprays water in a burning forest.

This Washington town is burning. That’s the plan.

After a close call with wildfire, Roslyn has embraced prescribed burns to protect the community.

September 12 - Stateline

Daniel Lurie, in a suit and green tie, speaks behind a podium with the American flag in the background.

As prices skyrocket, San Francisco Mayor declares rent emergency

Landlords in San Francisco have initiated over 2,400 evictions since January, putting the city on track to see more evictions this year than during any year in the past decade.

September 11 - New York Times


A row of tan homes with blue roofs along a road.

San Antonio announces $2.5 billion plan for public housing

The city’s public housing authority looks to modernize, develop and acquire at least 14,500 units.

September 11 - Yahoo News

The Hoover Dam blocking the Colorado River. The river's water level is noticeably low. The cliffs surrounding the blue water are brown and jagged.

US to reduce Colorado River water deliveries to Mexico

A new Colorado Treaty amendment reduces Mexico’s Colorado River water allocation by 250,000 acre feet.

September 11 - The Arizona Republic


A draft rendering of Franklin street that shows a tree lined, two lane road with people crossing at a crosswalk.

Portland’s corridor redesign imagines an ‘urban street’

The plan creates more space for sidewalks and bike lanes along Franklin Street, and adds more intersections to help slow traffic.

September 11 - Maine Public

Two large trucks cross the I-5. One is blue, to the right is a white truck.

Budget constraints threaten light rail for Oregon, Washington’s new bridge

The current proposal includes only the infrastructure for the light rail, without funding for the train and tracks.

September 11 - Next City

A pile of tan rocks form a wall at the ruins of Tell Brak. They are surrounded by yellow grass.

FEATURE

Urbanism before the plan

Some of the first cities emerged without rulers or blueprints. Planners are now trying to recover what that process does well.

September 11 - Stefan Al

A rendering of one of the proposed stations. there are two roads separated by a grassy median in front of the tan station, and an elevated silver walkway leading people to the second floor.

NYC releases new renderings for $5.5 billion Interborough Express

The slated stations will have a modern look, enhanced lighting and improved audio announcements.

September 10 - Gothamist

A road in Portland with cars facing the camera and tall buildings on either side. The cars are stopped at a traffic light.

In two U.S. cities, new technology is rewarding slower driving with a quicker commute

Albuquerque, New Mexico and Portland, Oregon have introduced traffic lights that are red by default, and turn green faster if drivers approach while going at or below the speed limit.

September 10 - Next City

A quarry in Maine, filled with water and surrounded by stones.

Maine’s booming quarry industry is sending disruptive shockwaves into homes

Climate change has caused sea level rise, flooding and erosion along the coast of Maine, leading to a trend of coastal residents erecting or repairing stone walls.

September 10 - Inside Climate News

An aerial photo of Strontia Springs Reservoir. Most of the Reservoir is covered In ice. A stone wall blocks the water from flowing downstream.

Instead of water, sediment from droughts and wildfire is choking U.S. dams

Sediment has filled 8% of dam storage capacity in the United States. Because of climate change, researchers expect it will only accumulate quicker.

September 10 - LA Times

A Great egret cools his feet in the gushing inflow from a water pipe in early morning sun at a wetland.

94% of wetlands could lose federal protections under proposed EPA rule

The ruling would only allot federal protections to waterways that flow nearly everyday, which few wetlands do.

September 10 - New York Times

Crowds in front of a theater

FEATURE

Why city hall doesn't know your music venue is a music venue (and why that matters)

Data shows that cultural venues have long lacked proper classification — which is why so many fall through the cracks.

September 10 - Chewi Lockhart

A picture of Coalmine Canyon, a rust-colored canyon under a blue sky.

Revenue from 4,000 acre solar project on Navajo Nation will not directly go to local tribe members

While the project is estimated to generate over $310 million in lease and tax payments, the funds will go to the Navajo Nation Administrative Service Centers rather than local residents.

September 9 - High Country News

Aerial of ramps, bridges and traffic on the Harbor 110 and Century 105 freeway interchange in Los Angeles. The main road splits off in opposite directions midway through the photo.

DOT loans LA Metro $802.5 million — for interstate expansion

The project will include widening 20 bridges and implementing dynamically priced toll collection.

September 9 - Spectrum News

The Rio Grande river, which is reduced to a dirt trail with a few puddles. There is grass on either side of the river.

15 million people rely on the Rio Grande — in 2 years, it may run dry

The river fuels billions of dollars in agricultural production. Reducing agricultural water use may be the only way to save it.

September 9 - Texas Monthly

A street with cars and shops, with green mountains in the background.

Only 20% of Hawaii households earn enough for a median-priced single-family home

56.7% of renter households in Hawaii are rent-burdened and nearly 29% are severely rent-burdened.

September 9 - Aloha State Daily

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.