The Daily Source of Urban Planning News

Red and white "Wildfire Evacuation Route" sign on signpost.
Cal Fire Chatbot Fails to Answer Basic Questions

An AI chatbot designed to provide information about wildfires can’t answer questions about evacuation orders, among other problems.

56 minutes ago - The Markup

Protester at Echo Park Lake, Los Angeles holding sign that says "Housing is a human right"

What Happens if Trump Kills Section 8?

The Trump admin aims to slash federal rental aid by nearly half and shift distribution to states. Experts warn this could spike homelessness and destabilize communities nationwide.

1 hour ago - Shelterforce Magazine

Aerial of rainbow painted crosswalks at large intersection in Castro District, Sna Francisco, California.

Sean Duffy Targets Rainbow Crosswalks in Road Safety Efforts

Despite evidence that colorful crosswalks actually improve intersection safety — and the lack of almost any crosswalks at all on the nation’s most dangerous arterial roads — U.S. Transportation Secretary Duffy is calling on states to remove them.

2 hours ago - Streetsblog USA

Intersection with sign for Gillett Square in East London, UK with brick buildings with ground floor storefronts.

‘Architectural Epidemiology:’ Centering Public Health in Urban Design

A new book asks, what if cities were designed around health equity?

3 hours ago - Next City

Person on bike on small road in London with people eating at outdoor dining tables and pedestrians walking on either side.

Study: London Low-Traffic Neighborhoods See 35% Drop in Road Injuries

London’s effort to reduce speeds and limit vehicles in parts of the city are contributing to improved road safety.

4 hours ago - Momentum Magazine

Interior of vacant/unfinished concrete open plan office building.

Dorm-Style Housing: A Solution for DC’s Vacant Office Buildings

Adapting office buildings to dorm-style housing with shared spaces is a much more affordable option than repurposing offices into apartments.

5 hours ago - Greater Greater Washington


Crosswalk in New York City with cars, bikes, and pedestrians.

Opinion: LOS has ‘No Redeeming Quality’

The commonly used Level of Service metric that grades intersections based on traffic speed rather than safety is a key contributor to dangerous roadways.

6 hours ago - Fast Company

Black and white photo of San Francisco city hall neoclassical dome with person walking across crosswalk in foreground.

San Francisco Mayor Backtracks on Homelessness Goal

Mayor Dan Lurie ran on a promise to build 1,500 additional shelter beds in the city, complete with supportive services. Now, his office says they are “shifting strategy” to focus on prevention and mental health treatment.

July 9 - The San Francisco Standard


Brutalist grey department of housing and urban development building in Washington DC.

How Trump's HUD Budget Proposal Would Harm Homelessness Response

Experts say the change to the HUD budget would make it more difficult to identify people who are homeless and connect them with services, and to prevent homelessness.

July 9 - Shelterforce Magazine

Lancaster Boulevard with tree-lined median and wide sidewalks in Lancaster, California.

The Vast Potential of the Right-of-Way

One writer argues that the space between two building faces is the most important element of the built environment.

July 9 - Streetsblog USA

Logo for Planetizen Federal Action Tracker with black and white image of U.S. Capitol with water ripple overlay.

FEATURE

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

July 9 - Diana Ionescu

Sign in front of building for seior services center in St. Petersburg, Fl.

Florida Seniors Face Rising Homelessness Risk

High housing costs are pushing more seniors, many of them on a fixed income, into homelessness.

July 9 - WESH

Boston Red Line train with skyline in background.

Massachusetts Budget Helps Close MBTA Budget Gap

The budget signed by Gov. Maura Healey includes $470 million in MBTA funding for the next fiscal year.

July 9 - Smart Cities Dive

View down center of street in Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Milwaukee Launches Vision Zero Plan

Seven years after the city signed its Complete Streets Policy, the city is doubling down on its efforts to eliminate traffic deaths.

July 9 - Urban Milwaukee

Street with parking protected bike lane and parked cars in downtown Portland, Oregon.

Portland Raises Parking Fees to Pay for Street Maintenance

The city is struggling to bridge a massive budget gap at the Bureau of Transportation, which largely depleted its reserves during the Civd-19 pandemic.

July 8 - Willamette Week

Aerial view of Spokane, Washington with river in foreground.

Spokane Mayor Introduces Housing Reforms Package

Mayor Lisa Brown’s proposals include deferring or waiving some development fees to encourage more affordable housing development.

July 8 - The Spokesman-Review

Close-up on black and white "Bike Lane Ends" sign with bike logo.

Houston Mayor Kills Another Bike Lane

The mayor rejected a proposed bike lane in the Montrose district in keeping with his pledge to maintain car lanes.

July 8 - Houston Public Media

New York City subway train on elevated track in yellow light.

Aging NYC Subway Cars No Match for Extreme Heat

The MTA receives thousands of complaints about broken air conditioning on subway cars each summer.

July 8 - Gothamist

Google street view of wide street in Cleveland, Ohio with blue 55th Street sign and red brick three-story building visible in right corner.

Cleveland to Boost Bike Safety With New Bike Lanes, School Programs

The program, using curriculum created by Cleveland Bikes, is part of a broader effort to improve safety along school routes.

July 8 - Signal Cleveland

Aerial view of heavily damaged mobile homes after a hurricane in Florida.

Florida Home Insurers Disproportionately Dropping Low-Income Households

Non-renewal rates are highest in inland counties, not the coastal areas most immediately vulnerable to storms.

July 8 - Inside Climate News

1965 photo of Rose Quarter freeway interchange in Portland, Oregon.

FEATURE

Will the Reconnecting Communities Program Survive Trump?

A freeway cap in Portland, Oregon is in jeopardy. But the visionary “restorative redevelopment” next door goes on.

July 8 - Benjamin Schneider

Post News
Home and Land Services Coordinator

Appalachian Highlands Housing Partners

Associate/Senior Planner

Gallatin County Department of Planning & Community Development

Senior Planner

Heyer Gruel & Associates PA

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