The Daily Source of Urban Planning News

Dallas to Make Accessibility Improvements Near Bus Stops
The city approved over $30 million in contracts to fix broken sidewalks and add curb ramps near DART stations.

Report: One-Third of Vacant Lots in Chicago Near Transit
Vacant lots pose challenges for the city’s goals of promoting transit-oriented development.

Out-of-State Investors Buying Up More Mobile Home Parks
In a trend that has accelerated since the pandemic, over one in five mobile home parks in Maine are owned by out-of-state investors.

Protecting Bridges From Ship Collisions
A civil engineer outlines the federal regulations and mechanisms aimed at preventing the damage and loss of life seen in the Francis Scott Key Bridge collapse.

Seattle Area Developers Target Areas Around Light Rail Extension
The East Link line, which will connect Redmond and Bellevue to Seattle in 2025, is spurring transit-oriented development near future stations.

State DOTs Don’t Resemble Their Constituencies — And That’s a Problem
Streetsblog calls attention to the lack of representation of women, people of color, and other groups in state departments of transportation that are largely dominated by white men.

Preserving LA’s Dark Skies
Learn about the importance of dark skies for the health and enjoyment of individuals and wildlife, and how L.A. County's Rural Outdoor Lighting District is helping to reduce light pollution.

Dubai Launches Free Smart Umbrella Rental to Improve Walkability
By helping residents walk comfortably in the rain or blazing sun, Dubai hopes to advance its 2040 master plan goals of sustainability and becoming a “20-minute city.”

NYC Releases Pre-Approved Outdoor Dining Designs
Four designs cater to various street conditions and locations.

California Updating Outdoor Recreation Plan
State Parks is working on the 2026-2030 Statewide Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan (SCORP) which serves as a vision for public outdoor recreation grant priorities in urban and rural neighborhoods, cities, and regions.

Boston Gets a New Planning Department
After 67 years since its formation, the Boston Planning and Development Agency is no more.

FEATURE
Want to Reduce Traffic Congestion? Cash Out Employer-Paid Parking
Employer-paid parking will undermine New York City’s congestion tolls. But parking cash-out policies like those in California and Washington D.C. can solve the problem.

Opinion: Cities Must Take Action on Blighted Downtown Parking Lots
Surface parking lots take up as much as a third of downtown land in some cities, dragging down tax revenue and redevelopment prospects.

BLOG POST
How Persuasive Are Arguments Against Statewide Zoning Reform?
A leading scholar of state and local government argues that local governments’ need to regulate business should take priority over the state and national interests in lowering housing costs. Are his assumptions persuasive?

Texas Court Vacates Federal Emissions Rule
The decision vacates a USDOT rule that would have required states to establish emission reduction plans.

Washington DC Launches Open Data Chatbot
City data is now available literally at the public’s fingertips, no data analytics skills required.

Understanding Affordable Housing Lingo
20 key terms in the affordable housing discussion.

Undoing Biden's EV Rule
The partisan divide over how government should reduce greenhouse gas emissions was on full display after the Biden administration finalized its emissions standards rule for light and medium duty vehicles on March 20.

Boston Moves Zoning Reform Forward
The ‘Squares + Streets’ plan creates form-based zoning templates for neighborhoods that promote mixed use and denser housing near transit.

Anchorage Leaders Debate Zoning Reform Plan
Last year, the city produced the fewest new housing units in a decade.
Pagination
City of Moorpark
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City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
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Transportation Research & Education Center (TREC) at Portland State University
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Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.