The Daily Source of Urban Planning News

Walking

Professional Planners Anticipate Post-Pandemic Active Commuting

Many planners say they want to try out active commutes when in-office work becomes possible. How will a fresh look at their local streets influence planning professionals and planning practice?

August 27 - Streetsblog USA

Harvey Floods Houston

The Racial Inequity of Disaster Recovery

Disaster recovery in the Houston area has been inconsistent, with low-income residents of color continuing to struggle to put their lives and communities back together.

August 27 - Urban Edge

New York City Subway

Destroyed Subway Car Windows Contribute to MTA Budget Deficit

As the Metropolitan Transportation Authority grapples with a $16 billion deficit, smashed train windows are adding to the cost.

August 27 - The New York Times

New York City Pedestrians

How to Produce Equitable Pedestrian Plans

The majority of pedestrian master plans consider how to make equitable walking infrastructure. Less than half of plans implement strategies to address the fact that people of color are disproportionately represented in pedestrian fatalities.

August 27 - Streetsblog USA

Paradise, California

In Paradise, Using Greenbelts to Manage Wildfires

The Camp Fire in California devasted the town of Paradise. As rebuilding progresses, local leaders are looking to protect the town using nature-based fire resilience strategies.

August 27 - Bloomberg CityLab


Suburban Subdivision

Rethinking the Indelible Lines of Subdivision

The subdivision process imposes rules that result in a lack flexibility, convoluted urban design, and diced up landscapes.

August 27 - The Urbanist

Coronavirus COVID-19

The Changing Geography of the Pandemic

During the pandemic's first phase in March and April, the Northeast was devastated by COVID-19. After Memorial Day, the surge was in the South and West. As cases decrease nationwide, they are now spiking in the Midwest, particularly North Dakota.

August 27 - The Washington Post


Autonomous Vehicle

Book Review: 'Ghost Road' and Visions for Autonomous Transporation

Anthony M. Townsend's new book goes beyond autonomous automobiles to examine autonomous transportation in a larger context.

August 26 - Inside Higher Ed

Post Office

If the Postal Service Erodes, So Does American Life

An urban designer argues that protecting the U.S. Postal Service is crucial for maintaining civic values, social ties, and urban life.

August 26 - Fast Company

Asphalt

The Undeniable Link Between Redlining and Extreme Heat in American Cities

The country’s history of racist and segregationist housing policies is affecting vulnerable low-income communities of color that are bearing the brunt of climate change impacts.

August 26 - The New York Times

U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development

Ben Carson’s Clear Disdain for Fair and Affordable Housing

Carson has spent much of his time as HUD secretary attacking the housing programs, initiatives, and regulations central to the agency’s mission.

August 26 - Curbed

Urban Sky

How to Adopt Long-Term Anti-Racism Solutions as an Urbanist

Nic Esposito calls for an "anti-racist reframe" of urbanism to address the attitudes and policies that have perpetuated racist systems and upheld capitalism at all costs.

August 26 - WHYY

Methane

EPA Completes Rollback of Obama-Era Methane Regulations

The new rules are significantly less stringent in mandating repair of methane leaks and regulation of emissions.

August 26 - Scientific American / E&E News

New York Subway

MTA Spending Millions on Cleaning, but Disagreement Over the Need

Deep cleaning of the New York City subway and bus system is part of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority’s coronavirus response. But it is costly and time consuming, and the public health benefits are not entirely clear.

August 26 - Politico

Northern California Toll Lane

Tolling All Freeway Lanes in the Bay Area?

What's more surprising is seeing who is making the proposal and why. The first step would be to have the concept included in Plan Bay Area 2050.

August 26 - San Mateo Daily Journal

City Sounds

The Sounds of Cities: Three Aural Vignettes

Monocle's The Urbanist podcast explores urban acoustic ecology to unveil the sonic signature of the coronavirus pandemic, the Greek island of Corfu, and Vienna streetscapes.

August 25 - Monocle/The Urbanist

Rockaway Beach Bus

Racism Has Shaped Public Transit, and It’s Riddled with Inequities

Former Houston METRO Board Member Christof Spieler highlights the racism embedded even in the way transit agencies were created.

August 25 - Urban Edge

Railroad

First Steps for Virginia Eastern Shore Rail Trail Project

A 49-mile length of railway in rural Virginia is at the start of the process of becoming a rail trail.

August 25 - The Virginia Mercury

Suburban Home

Study Finds Seniors Could Be Stuck with Unsellable Homes in the Future

A new paper predicts that home-buying trends among younger generations will lead to a flood of homes that older homeowners will not be able to sell.

August 25 - UANow

New York Street

Owning a Car in N.Y.C. More Appealing Than Ever Before

In the past, owning a car in New York City made little sense for most people. But the pandemic has many residents reconsidering their transportation options.

August 25 - The New York Times

Post News

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.

Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools

This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.

Planning for Universal Design

Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.