The Daily Source of Urban Planning News

How To Make the Clean Water Act Work Better
A legal scholar suggests mechanisms for closing loopholes that limit the law’s effectiveness.

Study: Air Pollution Disproportionately Impacts Communities of Color
The negative effects of poor air quality occur at higher rates in low-income neighborhoods and communities of color, according to new research.

Dallas Could Eliminate Parking Requirements
Supporters of the measure say it would contribute to economic development and make local development more affordable.

Federal Funding Takes Aim at Public Transit
Close to $10 billion in federal funding will help local transit agencies with maintenance, operations, and equipment costs.

NYC Bike Deaths Hit 23-Year High
In 2023, 30 people on bikes died on New York City roads.

San Joaquin Valley Struggles to Lower Emissions
The San Joaquin Valley has some of the worst air pollution and particulate matter emissions in the nation, but agricultural sources are loosely regulated.

California Approves Waymo Driverless Taxis
Waymo’s autonomous vehicles can begin picking up passengers in Los Angeles and San Francisco in spite of opposition from local officials.

Car-Free Arizona Suburb Gains Residents
The project, dubbed Culdesac, offers EV rentals, free light rail passes, and other perks instead of private parking.

EPA Releases Equity Action Plan
The agency is taking a more holistic approach to addressing environmental justice concerns.

Texas Faces Higher Wildfire Risks
Climate change is causing more destructive wildfires, prompting home insurers to reconsider coverage in the state.

Feds Unlock Covid Aid Funds for Affordable Housing
New initiatives from the Treasury Department will let unspent assistance dollars fund a wider range of housing projects.

Former Georgia Mall Revived by Pickleball
Macon-Bibb County is converting the largely defunct commercial center into a civic complex with county offices and recreation facilities.

Feds Award Senior Housing Grants; Experts Say More is Needed
A federal infusion of cash could help create more affordable housing for seniors, but many still struggle to afford housing.

Study: Unhoused People at Much Higher Risk of Death
The mortality rate among people experiencing homelessness jumped by 203 percent between 2011 and 2020.

New Waterfront Park Opens at the Port of Los Angeles
The $77.3 million new park offers unprecedented public access to the water’s edge for the Wilmington community where 18% of the total land area is taken up by oil refineries — almost 3.5 times more space than is dedicated to green space.

Downtown Chicago Vacancy Rates at All-Time High, Slashing Building Values
Record vacancy rates and the high cost of borrowing money are fueling a commercial real estate crisis in downtown Chicago.

Urban Ag Activists Up In Arms About New Study
Researchers looked at the carbon footprint of urban farming versus conventional, and the results were surprising.

Traffic Deaths Rise Sharply on Western Roads
The region is seeing higher rates of road deaths in part due to larger vehicles, high speed limits, and inadequate pedestrian infrastructure.

Understanding Accessibility in the Public Right-of-Way
A ‘best practices’ manual guides accessibility on streets and sidewalks, but remains legally unenforceable.

Newark Kicks Off $1 Home Sale Program
The city sold seven properties as part of an effort to revive blighted sites and encourage housing production.
Pagination
New York City School Construction Authority
Village of Glen Ellyn
Central Transportation Planning Staff/Boston Region MPO
Chaddick Institute at DePaul University
Institute for Housing and Urban Development Studies (IHS)
City of Grandview
Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada
Toledo-Lucas County Plan Commissions
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.