The Daily Source of Urban Planning News

Traffic Fatalities in New York Decline to Levels Not Seen Since the Dawn of the Automobile
Traffic fatalities declined in New York City for the fifth consecutive year.

The Price of Natural Disasters
Worldwide, natural disasters cost $155 billion in 2018, according to an insurance industry report.

California Population Growth Continues to Slow
The latest demographic data released Friday by the state's demographic unit shows shows an increase of 0.54 percent, one of the lowest on record, as birth rates drop, death rates increase, and more people leave the state than arrive from others.

A Celebratory (and Snarky) Take on the Year in Architecture
Curbed stays true to form with an annual review of the year in architecture.

Is Seattle Ready for the Next Big Earthquake?
Seattle and Bellevue are raising their standards for earthquake preparedness after a study of the Cascadia Fault showed the city was at greater risk than previously thought.

In Cities, Transit Isn’t Just for Commuting
A closer look at commuting and ridership shows the differences between urban and suburban transit patterns.

Under Ben Carson, HUD Abdicates Fair Housing Responsibilities
Civil rights advocates are claiming that the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) is no longer in the business of enforcing fair housing laws.

Friday Funny: The 'Best Urban Planning Memes of 2018'
A dispatch from the golden era of planning memes.

8 Frank Lloyd Wright Buildings Nominated as UNESCO World Heritage Sites
If accepted as UNESCO World Heritage sites, the eight Frank Lloyd Wright buildings would be the first examples of modern architecture in the United States included in that august company.

An App for Teaching Forest Management
Augmented reality shows what the forest would look like with a full complement of biodiversity.

U.S. Becomes Net Oil Exporter, If Only Briefly
Oil independence, a goal set by President Nixon in the depth of the 1973 energy embargo, was achieved in the last week of November thanks to a fluke in record keeping as well as an "unprecedented boom in American oil production."

The Environmental and Public Health Toll of the Trump Administration
A bombshell series of stories details the environmental and health costs of many fo the Trump administration's industry friendly regulatory decisions.

Coach House: Legalize It?
Advocates in the city of Chicago are pushing to legalize Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs), which currently can only be rented if grandfathered in.

Critiquing the Notion of Neighborhood Character
Zócalo Public Square Editor Joe Mathews takes aim at the phrase, “We want to protect the character of the community," calling it a lousy argument in normal times and verging on "treasonous" due to climate change and California's housing crisis.

Rising Labor Costs and Higher Construction Costs for Homes
Labor costs vary greatly throughout the country, but wages are rising in the construction industry, especially in cities like San Francisco, New York, and Los Angeles.

Vote for the Best and Worst of Transportation in 2018
Streetsblog USA is crowdsourcing feedback for its annual Streetsies awards for the nest and worst in transportation news.

Dollar Stores Encroach on the Grocery Business: Bad News for Public Health
Stores like Dollar General and Dollar Tree are putting a lot of grocery stores out of business, leaving communities with fewer places to buy fresh produce.

FEATURE
Most Popular Planning Articles of 2018
We crunched the numbers on all the features, blog posts, and news articles we published in 2018 to figure out which made the biggest splash with readers.

British Columbia's Climate Plan Bans Sales of Gas and Diesel Passenger Vehicles by 2040
Ten years ago, British Columbia launched North America's first carbon tax. This month, Premier John Horgan unveiled the long awaited climate plan, CleanBC, that aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions 40 percent below 2007 levels by 2030.

Zoning Changes May Be Coming to Atlanta
The city is considering zoning updates, including legalization of accessory dwelling units and smaller apartment buildings, which would increase density and provide more housing.
Pagination
Smith Gee Studio
City of Charlotte
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
Transportation Research & Education Center (TREC) at Portland State University
US High Speed Rail Association
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
Municipality of Princeton (NJ)
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.