The Daily Source of Urban Planning News

"It's The Climate" sign over street in Grants Pass, Oregon.

Oregon Town Seeks Funding for Ambitious Resilience Plan

Like other rural communities, Grants Pass is eager to access federal funding aimed at sustainability initiatives, but faces challenges when it comes to meeting grant requirements.

February 18 - The Daily Yonder

Hazy sky with Portland, Oregon skyline barely visible in background. Man walking in foreground.

Report: 25 Percent of Americans Live With Poor Air Quality

Fires and extreme heat are generating more harmful particulate matter.

February 18 - Health Day

Person on folding electric bike wearing messenger bag resting foot on ground on urban street.

New Jersey Senate Committee Passes E-Bike Insurance Bill

Lawmakers say the admittedly flawed bill will undergo changes before its final passage.

February 18 - StreetsBlog NYC

Aerial view of Cambridge, Massachusetts.

What Is Cambridge’s Affordable Housing Overlay?

A controversial policy is helping create more affordable housing units in the Massachusetts city, but fears of overwhelming density are likely unfounded.

February 18 - The Crimson

Bird's eye view of green painted bike lane with one cyclist.

LA’s Mobility Plan Implementation Faces Opposition

The city’s firefighters’ union claims that bike and bus lanes would slow response times and impede access for first responders.

February 16 - Los Angeles Times


Close-up of map with Canton, Georgia.

Georgia County Adopts On-Demand Transit

Cherokee County will shift its public transit system to an app-based service.

February 16 - Cherokee Tribune & Ledger-News

Three brick apartment buildings of various heights with fire escapes in New York City.

Research: Housing First Works

Randomized trials show a high rate of success for the Housing First approach to reducing homelessness.

February 16 - Housing Matters


Empty interior of New York City bus with blue seating.

A Grim Financial Outlook for Transit Agencies

Transit ridership will likely remain below pre-pandemic levels through 2024, according to analysts.

February 16 - The Daily Record

Traffic on a busy city street.

Calculating Vehicle Travel Reduction Benefits

The Rocky Mountain Institute's new Smarter MODES Calculator quantifies economic, social and environmental benefits provided by shifts from automobile travel to more resource-efficient modes. This includes benefits that are often overlooked or undervalued in conventional planning.

February 15 - Smarter MODES Calculator

Close-up of signs calling for action on climate change being help up by multiple people outdoors.

Report: 15 Percent of Americans Deny Climate Change

A new study affirms other research showing that a small but vocal minority of Americans don’t believe climate change exists.

February 15 - The Guardian

Yellow and black light rail train at street-level station with downtown Los Angeles skyline in background.

Los Angeles Transit Ridership Grew in 2023

Metro attributes the growth to new destinations, added security, and a streamlined train system.

February 15 - Los Angeles Daily News

Newly constructed houses in Tempe, Arizona.

Arizona State Lawmakers Seek to Override Local Zoning to Spur Housing Development

The proposal would eliminate minimum lot sizes, setback requirements of more than five feet, minimum square footage, and “neighborhood character” requirements.

February 15 - East Valley Tribune

Blurred image of pedestrians on busy street with 'smart city' network rendering superimposed.

BLOG POST

Securing Smart Cities: Financial Cybersecurity in an Urban Age

Explore financial cybersecurity in smart cities, addressing urban vulnerabilities and strategies for protection.

February 15 - Devin Partida

Stone hoodoos at Bryce Canyon National Park, Utah at golden hour.

How the Great American Outdoors Act Improved Public Lands

The 2020 federal law has helped fund park maintenance projects and improve access to public lands.

February 15 - High Country News

Person on bike on New Jersey boardwalk.

Opinion: New Jersey’s E-Bike Insurance Proposal Would Have Chilling Effect on Micromobility

A proposal to require insurance for low-speed electric bikes could hamper the adoption of non-auto modes, advocates argue.

February 15 - Streetsblog USA

CLose-up of pothole in asphalt road filled with water reflecting grey cloudy sky.

Poor Road Quality Leading to Higher Gas Use

Commuters in Massachusetts communities with worse roads use more gas, with the costs disproportionately impacting low-income households.

February 15 - University of Massachusetts Amherst

Central hall at Grand Central Station, New York City.

Excerpt: How Individualism Harms Public Transit

Jarrett Walker calls for a more social approach to transit planning.

February 14 - Next City

Rendering of electric scooters, electric cars, light rail train, and apartments in background.

Arizona’s ‘Car-Free’ Community Takes Shape

Culdesac Tempe has been welcoming residents since last year.

February 14 - The Cool Down

TOD Opportunities Around America's First True High-Speed Rail Line

Brightline West hopes to break ground, in anticipation of a 2027 opening. Cities in the Inland Empire and High Desert areas of Southern California are looking to take advantage.

February 14 - California Planning & Development Report

View of a housing permit document with a home blueprint, stamped "approved."

Pre-Permitted Housing Plans Can Combat Blight, Revive Neighborhoods

Faced with blighted neighborhoods where the cost of building a house would exceed its eventual market value, the city of Kalamazoo, Michigan, streamlined the permitting process to help lower development costs.

February 14 - Strong Towns

Post News
Senior Manager Operations, Urban Planning

New York City School Construction Authority

Building Inspector

Village of Glen Ellyn

Manager of Model Development

Central Transportation Planning Staff/Boston Region MPO

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.