The Daily Source of Urban Planning News

Downtown North Little Rock

Helping City Workers Live in the City

Local municipalities are offering housing incentives to draw employees and help them live closer to their jobs.

July 15 - Governing

Homelessness

Houston Gets a Handle on Homelessness While Dallas Struggles

Formerly playing host to almost double the homeless population of Dallas, Houston has addressed the problem with some success over the past decade. Meanwhile, rising costs have fueled a growing crisis in Dallas.

July 15 - The Texas Tribune

TriMet Portland

Portland's TriMet Might Close Stations to Increase Train Speed

Beyond station closures, the Regional Transportation Agency of Oregon is looking to create new bus-only lanes, and possibly a new stretch of subway under Portland’s downtown to increase transit speed.

July 15 - Portland Tribune

Home Sold Sign

Latinos Buoy a Sagging Homebuying Market

Minorities were hardest hit by the foreclosure crisis of the Great Recession. Latinos are now helping keep the housing market afloat.

July 15 - The Wall Street Journal

Sprawl

Op-Ed: Lakewood's Growth Cap Is 'Climate Arson'

In a scathing response to arguments in favor of a "slow growth" ordinance in Lakewood, Colorado, Mike Eliason rebukes the idea that capping growth is a green policy.

July 15 - Medium


Sunnyside Yard

Tricky Planning Politics for New York's Sunnyside Yard Mega-Project

An 18-month planning process is unfolding in a part of New York City that has not taken kindly to large, corporate visions of the future.

July 15 - City Limits

Sports Utility Vehicle

SUVs Kill Pedestrians—and They Have for a Long Time

While much focus is on the future of autonomous vehicles, the increase in pedestrian deaths related to SUVs remains a largely ignored issue.

July 15 - Slate


Texas

Plano, Texas Could Scrap its Growth Plan After Years of Litigation

A lawsuit has been successful in derailing the Plano Tomorrow plan, approved in 2015. The city could default to its 1986 plan.

July 14 - The Dallas Morning News

Wisconsin

With 2020 Democratic National Congress on the Way, Downtown Milwaukee Revitalizes

Downtown Milwaukee is getting makeover, from high-profile new buildings on the skyline to ambitious adaptive reuse projects and an emerging entertainment district.

July 14 - Curbed

Los Angeles Metro Bus

No Quick Fixes for L.A.’s Transit Ridership Woes

One of the largest transit systems in the country continues to lose large numbers of riders. But the causes behind the drop and the solutions to stop it are hard to pinpoint.

July 14 - Los Angeles Times

Orenco Station

What Made It Possible for Oregon to End Single-Family Zoning?

Factors beyond political chance played into Oregon's recent decision to legalize missing middle housing. One key point: the state was already halfway there.

July 14 - City Observatory

San Francisco Downtown

Private Branding of the Public City

Oracle Park, the Blue Shield of California Theater, Ford GoBike—branding abounds in San Francisco.

July 14 - San Francisco Chronicle

Chicago Bench

Building Benches for Bus Stops That Need them

All over the country, sorry bus stops lack seating. Studies show that deficiency can depress ridership, some motivated citizens are looking to change that.

July 13 - CityLab

Denver Region

Denver Freeway Expansion Makes a Bad Situation Worse

The Interstate 70 expansion project is affecting air quality in surrounding neighborhoods, where chronic illness is prevalent and residents feel their health and safety have not been priorities.

July 13 - The Denver Post

Wine Country Fires

In California, Struggles Over Insurance Regulation in the Era of Climate Change

Setting insurance rates by looking to the past to predict the future doesn’t make sense with increasing environmental uncertainties, argues the California insurance industry.

July 13 - Voice of San Diego

Bus Stop

Culling Transit Stops to Improve System Performance

Bus stop balancing can help lines run much more smoothly. A new publication guides agencies through the process.

July 13 - Streetsblog USA

Rural Community

On Rural America's Selective Housing Shortage

Counter to the usual narrative of population decline, some rural areas stand in serious need of housing.

July 13 - The Christian Science Monitor

London Crowded Street

Reducing Transportation Emissions in the United Kingdom to Net Zero by 2050

Late last month, the UK became the first country to commit to a legally-binding target of achieving net-zero emissions by 2050. A new academic research group recommends reduced auto ownership, regardless of how they are powered, to meet the target.

July 12 - BBC News

Balboa Peninsula

Beachfront Residences Can't Extend Yards Onto Public Beaches, CA Coastal Commission Decides

"It's like squatting by the rich," said one commissioner.

July 12 - The Orange County Register

Extreme Weather

Funding Research of Atmospheric Rivers to Better Prepare for Heavy Rains

Atmospheric river seems like a phrase that has only recently entered the parlance of the times, but the state of California has seen enough of the idea in action want to know more, and prepare for more.

July 12 - Water News Network

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.