The Daily Source of Urban Planning News

Crosswalk

Putting Pedestrians First

Improving road safety starts with considering the safety of people outside cars early and often.

November 14 - The Seattle Times

Red and white Toronto streetcar

How a Broken Traffic Signal Improved Transit

A brief outage of traffic lights at one Toronto intersection inadvertently gave area streetcars more priority, speeding up service for transit users.

November 14 - blogTO

An adolescent boy catches some air on a mountain bike on a hill above the city of Boise. The city’s downtown is clearly visible in the background.

Bikelash in Boise

Parents don’t want bike lanes to interfere with the pick up and drop off zone near two churches and schools in Boise.

November 13 - Boise Dev

The High Cost of Free Parking

The United Nations Calls on U.S. Planners to Break Land Use, Transportation Status Quo

“We are on a highway to climate hell with our foot on the accelerator.”

November 13 - Greater Greater Washington

Cincinnati Multi-Modalism

Cincinnati Streetcar Sets Monthly Ridership Record

The Cincinnati Streetcar, now known as the Cincinnati Connector, has come so far.

November 13 - Cincinnati Enquirer


Toronto

‘Skyscraper Race’ Underway in Toronto

No skyline in North America has changed as drastically as Toronto’s in recent decades. A slate of new skyscraper proposals, called a “skyscraper race” by observers, could continue the trend.

November 13 - Toronto Star

Aerial view of red painted bus-only center lanes on Van Ness Avenue, San Francisco

Van Ness Bus Rapid Transit Boosts Ridership in San Francisco

The new rapid bus line has cut travel times by 35 percent and boosted ridership on the Van Ness corridor.

November 11 - San Francisco Chronicle


Two women waiting to cross street facing Milwaukee Public Market sign

Milwaukee To Hire Vision Zero Czar

The mayor’s office has created a new position responsible for leading the charge on the city’s efforts to eliminate roadway deaths.

November 11 - Urban Milwaukee

Fort Worth Stockyards sign at night

Business Group Fights Apartments in Fort Worth Stockyards

The city’s zoning commission voted to require city council approval for new apartments east of Packers Street and Niles City Boulevard after a local business group coplained about added traffic.

November 11 - Fort Worth Star-Telegram

Solar panels shading cars in parking lot in Avignon, France

France Mandates Solar Panels Over Parking Lots Nationwide

By 2028, all French parking lots with more than 80 spots will have to be covered with solar panels, providing both shade and renewable energy.

November 11 - Jalopnik

Transit Planning

Sooner Rather Than Later: Support Builds for Eastside-Only Light Rail in Seattle

The Eastside Link light rail route, now known as Line 2, is delayed. A Sound Transit board officials is suggesting that some of the route can open soon, while the rest of the route is prepped to open later.

November 10 - The Seattle Times

Pharmacy

Chain Drugstores Are Closing, But Not Because of Shoplifting

Massive chain drug stores have become integral members of the urban fabric, for better or worse, but widespread store closures and security practices have come to symbolize urban decline. The dynamic must be monitored.

November 10 - Slate

Black and white photo of Los Angeles Metro Gold Line train pulling into above-ground station at night, with one woman passenger waiting on platform.

Fewer Women Riding Buses in Los Angeles

In a survey, riders expressed concern about safety, cleanliness, and timeliness on the region’s buses and trains.

November 10 - Los Angeles Times

View of enclosed glass pedestrian bridge over street with EMORY in large letters across the glass

MARTA Narrows Clifton Corridor Transit Line to Three Options

The agency has selected three potential plans for building a light rail or bus rapid transit line that would serve Emory University and other major employment and commercial hubs.

November 10 - Saporta Report

View of Austin, Texas skyline at dusk with Colorado River and bridge in foreground

New Green Development Rules Take Effect in Austin

The city updated its development code to include more robust protection for local wetlands and stricter sustainable stormwater infrastructure requirements.

November 10 - Urbanize Austin

View of Dulles International Airport terminal

New Rail Line Connects D.C. Area to Dulles Airport

The Silver Line extends passenger train service into Loudon County and adds new connections to the region’s airports.

November 10 - The Washington Post

Google Street View of 8th Avenue in Brooklyn with crosswalk in foreground, cars, and brick three-story buildings

DOT Scraps Safety Plan for Two Brooklyn Avenues

An ambitious proposal to build protected bike lanes and install traffic calming measures on two dangerous Brooklyn avenues has been nixed by the agency, which plans to develop a new proposal in the coming months.

November 10 - StreetsBlog NYC

Bunker Hill, Charlestown

Tracking Boston’s Emissions Reduction Progress

The Boston Foundation published the “Inaugural Boston Climate Progress Report” earlier this month. Other U.S. cities should follow their lead.

November 10 - The Boston Foundation

"Vote Here" sidewalk sign with American flag

FEATURE

2022 Midterm Election Results for Land Use, Transportation, and the Climate

The most closely watched midterm election since the last midterm election offered voters an opportunity to decide on matters of consequence related to land use, housing, transportation, and the environment.

November 9 - James Brasuell

A Link light rail transit train navigates a corner with an empty field and parked cars in the background.

Airport-Adjacent Seattle Suburb Aims for a Transit-Oriented Overhaul

The challenges and opportunities of transforming from a car-centric to a transit-oriented, affordable built environment are on display in a Seattle suburb.

November 9 - The Urbanist

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.