The Daily Source of Urban Planning News

New York state capitol building with green lawn and statue in front at dusk.

New York Governor Withdraws Housing Mandate Proposal

Governor Hochul will abandon a key component of her housing proposal that would have required municipalities to add new housing every three years.

December 6 - City & State New York

Elevated view of five windcatcher ventilation towers on rooftops in Yazd, Iran.

FEATURE

How Design Can Help Mitigate Extreme Heat

To prepare for hotter summers, designers and architects can build resilience into the urban environment.

December 6 - Sheba Ross

View of wetlands with lilypads at dusk.

States Scramble in Wake of Clean Water Act Ruling

The removal of federal oversight of wetlands has left millions of acres unregulated and erected major hurdles for lawmakers seeking to protect them.

December 5 - Pew Stateline

Rendering of white, yellow, and purple Brightline West high-speed rail train speeding along highway median with blurred cars in foreground.

Brightline West Awarded $3 Billion in Federal Funding

The high-speed rail line will cut travel time between Southern California and Las Vegas roughly in half.

December 5 - Fox 5

Rapid bus at station at night in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.

OKC Celebrates New Rapid Bus Line With Free Rides

The agency wants to showcase the benefits of a recently opened BRT line connecting the northwest part of the city to downtown.

December 5 - The Oklahoman


Milky Way in Big Bend National Park, Texas.

Turning Out the Lights on Light Pollution

Limiting light pollution can have beneficial effects for humans, animals, and the local economy.

December 5 - Smart Cities Dive

Close-up of exposed pipe in trench with blurred utility workers and yellow truck in background.

EPA Calls for Eliminating Lead Water Pipes in 10 Years

The mandate doesn’t include additional funding, prompting backlash from utility companies.

December 5 - Route Fifty


Outdoor public restrooms with two silver doors and icons for men, women, wheelchair accessibility, and baby changing above doors.

Baltimore Considers Public Restroom Project

The city is starting to develop a plan for adding more public restrooms downtown, where available bathrooms are scarce and historic buildings are being damaged by public urination.

December 5 - The Baltimore Banner

Facade of brick multistory apartment buildings in New York City with fire scapes.

Will New York’s Strict Short-Term Rental Rules Work?

Some owners are reluctant to put short-term rental units back on the long-term rental market, but the number of permitted units has dropped dramatically.

December 5 - Stateline

Close-up of old-fashioned blue double parking meter against red brick wall.

BLOG POST

Want Less Traffic and More Parking? Start Charging for It!

Cities often fail to effectively manage parking—and the public pays for it.

December 5 - Marcelo Remond

Green painted bike lane on street next to modern mid-rise apartment buildings in Seattle, Washington.

Seattle’s Bike Infrastructure Hamstrings Growth

Design standards that call for minimal road space allocated to bikes are limiting the growth of cycling in the city.

December 4 - The Urbanist

Tall palm trees against bright blue sky with snowy mountains in background. Los Angeles, California.

Winter Fun at Los Angeles County Parks

L.A. County is offering a winter edition of its popular and award-winning Parks After Dark program, providing opportunities for residents to come together and have fun in safe and welcoming spaces.

December 4 - NBC 4

Bird's eye view of houses in midtown Sacramento, California.

Sacramento Council Approves Upzoning Proposal

If given final approval, the plan would increase the allowable floor area ratio to permit denser housing development in single-family neighborhoods and near transit.

December 4 - Sacramento Business Journal

B-cycle bike share station with white bikes on street in San Antonio, Texas.

San Antonio Leaders Look to Revive Dormant Bike Plan

The city’s 12-year-old plan to improve its bike network has made little headway. Now, city leaders hope to revitalize the effort.

December 4 - San Antonio Report

Public transit bus on street with cyclist riding next to it in Madison, Wisconsin.

Madison BRT Line to Open Next Year

The city’s bus rapid transit service will be the second BRT system in Wisconsin.

December 4 - Wisconsin Public Radio

https://puentehillslandfillpark.org/2023-concept-design

Upcycling a Landfill into a Regional Park

Los Angeles County is working with a consultant team led by Studio-MLA to transform 142 acres of the Puente Hills Landfill into parkland, creating the first new regional park in the county in over 35 years.

December 4 - Studio-MLA

New York City intersection with crosswalk.

NYC Launches Daylighting Plan

The city will install visibility improvements at over 1,000 intersections to improve traffic safety.

December 4 - Curbed

Green subway station entrance kiosk with brick buildings in background.

FTA Announces Accessibility Funding for ‘Legacy Stations’

The 2024 budget includes close to $350 million for accessibility improvements at transit stations.

December 4 - Federal Transit Administration

People walking on paved path in green city park with trees and tall city skyscrapers in background.

Green Spaces Benefit Neighborhoods—When Residents can Reach Them

A study comparing green space and walkability scores found that, without effective access to local parks, residents of greener neighborhoods don’t reap the health benefits.

December 3 - American Heart Association News

Aerial view of Eugene, Oregon at dusk with mountains in background.

Eugene Ends Parking Minimums

In a move that complies with a state law aimed at reducing transportation emissions, Eugene amended its parking rules to eliminate minimum requirements and set maximum parking lot sizes.

December 3 - NBC 16

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