The Daily Source of Urban Planning News

Line of purple construction helmets on shovels in front of Purple Line banner for photo op at BRT line groundbreaking.

One Year in, Indy BRT Line is the City’s Most Popular Bus Route

The Purple Line serves over 100,000 riders per month.

July 23 - Axios

Downtown Portland, Oregon with convention center in foreground with green glass spires and rooftop solar panels visible.

Oregon Approves Ambitious Framework for ’Microgrids’

Local energy “islands” within the larger power system ensure key facilities can remain online during emergencies and power outages.

July 22 - Oregon Capital Chronicle

Downtown Los Angeles viewed from Echo Park with lake with artesian fountain in foreground.

A Historic Investment in LA County’s Parks and Open Spaces

Los Angeles County has launched its largest-ever competitive grant program, investing $58 million to expand park access, enhance climate resilience, and support community-driven projects in the areas that need them most.

July 22 - Los Angeles County Regional Park and Open Space District

Dense high- and mid-rise buildings in San Diego, California on a sunny day.

San Diego Wins $14M for Affordable Housing

The funding comes via the state’s Regional Early Action Planning program and will help create close to 1,000 new housing units.

July 22 - Fox 5 San Diego

Colorful ABQ RIDE public transit bus in Albuquerque, New Mexico with low-rise brick buildings in background.

Albuquerque Remains Committed to Free Transit

Ridership on the city’s transit system has gone up by 20 percent since they eliminated bus fares in 2022.

July 22 - Next City


Rendering of pedestrian walkways over at-grade Mass Pike in Allston, Boston.

Feds Revoke $327M for Mass Pike Project

The project’s design replaces aging viaducts with a ground-level highway, a transit hub, and multimodal infrastructure.

July 22 - WBUR

Concrete Federal Aviation Administration office building in Oklahoma City, OK on an overcast day.

7% of USDOT Workforce Accept ‘Deferred Resignation’ Offer

Close to half of the 4,127 employees leaving federal agencies will come from the Federal Aviation Administration.

July 22 - Politico


Headshot of Jeff Speck in grey suit against dark backdrop.

FEATURE

Why Jeff Speck is a “Zoning Abolitionist”

Decades into his career, the walkability guru has learned a thing or two.

July 22 - Christine McLaren

Sunset view of tall palm trees and shorter trees lining empty street with Los Angeles skyline and crescent moon in background.

Planting for Change: How Trees Are Powering Climate Action

"Combating Climate Change with Trees" highlights how Southern California communities are strategically planting and nurturing urban forests to cool neighborhoods, improve air quality, and advance environmental justice.

July 21 - PBS

Street scene in Greenwich Village, New York City with people walking through busy intersection and new WTC tower in background.

Could Planners Adopt a 'Place Sherpa' Role?

Building upon the framework of a local housing panel, Chuck Wolfe suggests that advocacy and policy discussions would be enhanced by a “sherpa mindset” that focuses on lived experiences, facilitates applied knowledge of urban places, and promotes stakeholder discussion.

July 21 - Resurgence: A Journey via Substack

Wildfire recovery area with small trees growing in burn areas in Angeles National Forest in California.

California Advances Its 30x30 Conservation Goals

California is making significant progress toward its 30x30 conservation goals, but looming federal rollbacks and gaps in biodiversity protections could threaten the state’s efforts to protect lands and coastal waters by 2030.

July 21 - Los Angeles Times

A New Orleans streetscape lined with mature Southern Live Oak trees.

Art in the Shade: Confronting Climate and Equity Through Creativity

Through powerful, multisensory installations, Roots of Cool uses art to illuminate Los Angeles’ climate and shade inequities, inviting visitors to imagine a more just, tree-filled future.

July 21 - Los Angeles Times

Oil well pumpjack sillhouetted against a bright pink sunset sky.

The Growing Challenge of Orphan Oil Wells in America

Orphan oil wells—abandoned, undocumented, and often leaking methane—pose a widespread environmental and climate threat across the U.S., and finding them is just the beginning of a costly and urgent cleanup effort.

July 21 - NPR

Intersection with Mattapan sign in Mattapan neighborhood of Boston, Massachusetts.

After a Six-Year Struggle, Tenants in Boston’s Mattapan Neighborhood Win Permanent Affordability

When a new owner imposed sharp rent hikes in 2018, tenants organized and fought back. Now, more than 300 housing units will be affordable for the foreseeable future. Here’s how the tenants made it happen.

July 21 - Shelterforce Magazine

People walking in crowded square in Kyiv, Ukraine with ferris wheel and old buildings.

BLOG POST

In Praise of Analog Cities: Futureproofing in a Time of Crisis

I didn’t need a pandemic or a war to teach me that smart cities weren’t the future — but it sure drove the message home.

July 21 - Mikael Colville-Andersen

Aerial view of viaduct under construction for California High-Speed Rail.

DOT Officially Cancels California High-Speed Rail Funding

The Trump administration has repeatedly taken aim at the LA-to-Bay Area rail project, blaming Democratic leaders for cost overruns and delays.

July 20 - Streetsblog California

Orange "Apartments Leasing" sandwich board sign on sidewalk with arrow pointing right.

Legislators Push Back Against ‘Rent-Setting’ Software

In the last six months, lawmakers in more than two dozen cities and states have made strides to stop landlords from using anti-competitive rental software to determine how much to charge for rent. Shelterforce looks at the wins and losses so far.

July 20 - Shelterforce Magazine

Orange and black heavy equipment and workers building new asphalt roadway.

DOT Awards 77% of BUILD Grants to Road Projects

Trump’s DOT is directing 87 percent of total grant dollars to states that backed the President in the last election.

July 20 - Streetsblog USA

"Rent Strike - Join Us! One Year Strong" cloth banner hanging on red brick New York City apartment building.

What Zohran Mamdani’s Primary Win Means for the Tenant Movement

The mayoral candidate made a rent freeze central to his campaign. Here's how his supporters used in-person campaigning to clinch a victory, and what's ahead.

July 20 - Shelterforce Magazine

Worker in yellow safety vest and hard hat looks up at servers in data center.

Ohio Forces Data Centers to Prepay for Power

Utilities are calling on states to hold data center operators responsible for new energy demands to prevent leaving consumers on the hook for their bills.

July 18 - Inside Climate News

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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.