The Daily Source of Urban Planning News

Blue and yellow light rail train at station in Minneapolis, Minnesota

The Advocacy Coalition Behind Minnesota’s Transit Funding Victory

The Minnesota State Legislature recently approved one of the most significant funding bills ever devoted to transit at the state level. The bill required rare political alignment and a new brand of advocacy.

August 16 - TransitCenter

Red brick historic Central Railroad of New Jersey Terminal, Liberty State Park, New Jersey with glass high-rise building in background.

BLOG POST

How Transit Villages Are Reshaping New Jersey’s Urban Landscape

Will the Garden State become Manhattan 2.0 in the next 50 years? Probably not. Will it look different from today? Probably yes.

August 16 - Marcelo Remond

A sign announces the Kingston, New York Historic District

Kingston, New York Goes 100 Percent Form-Based for its New Code

Kingston recently adopted a form-based code, taking the rare step to entirely replace its old zoning code with form-based standards while also repealing parking requirements and allowing accessory dwelling units and missing middle housing.

August 16 - Times Union

California state capitol building dome with U.S., California, and POW/MIA flags on flagpole

BLOG POST

California Adopts CEQA Reforms for Infrastructure, Leaves Out Residential

The state of California adopted reforms to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pertaining to climate-friendly infrastructure projects, but residential development interests hoping for relief from CEQA will have to wait.

August 15 - James Brasuell

A tent covered in blue and black tarps sits on a downtown Los Angeles sidewalk with the white ziggurat-topped L.A. City Hall looming in the background

Los Angeles Wants to Transfer Public Land to Marginalized Groups

A systematic reparations plan has begun in the city of Los Angeles, though it’s still too early to tell about the scale and impact of the plan.

August 15 - City News Service via the Eastsider


Distant view of Lewiston, Idaho nestled in green hills against cloudy blue sky

The Housing Crisis Grows in Rural Idaho

The state’s smaller communities are feeling the pressure of sharply rising housing costs, stagnating wages, and an aging population.

August 15 - Boise Dev

Montana

Landmark Climate Decision Rules in Favor of Montana Youth

The ruling in Held v. Montana is the first of its kind in the United States, according to reports.

August 15 - The Washington Post


Worker wearing orange hard hat and vest over light blue long-sleeved shirt and jeans inspects rooftop solar panel

Report: Cities’ Climate Plans Fail to Include Workforce Development

While a few cities have detailed goals and investment strategies for building their green workforce, most U.S. cities fail to address the need for the training and education of a new generation of workers.

August 15 - Route Fifty

Small brick building with green roof housing old train station and visitor center in Van Buren, Arkansas

Arkansas DOT Solicits Input for Rail Plan Update

Transportation advocates want to see expanded intercity and regional rail service, along with improved core bus services.

August 15 - Arkansas Democrat Gazette

Blue and beige secure bike lockers in underground passageway etched with bicycle logo

Opinion: Secure Bike Parking Benefits Cities

The conversation around bike infrastructure isn’t complete without addressing one major issue: where can we park?

August 15 - Momentum Magazine

FedEx cargo bike parked on street in Strasbourg, France

NYC to Approve Larger Cargo Bikes

With delivery companies increasingly using cargo bikes to make deliveries faster and more efficient, the new rule could open the door to a ‘delivery revolution.’

August 15 - StreetsBlog NYC

Indian Trail, North Carolina

The Social and Economic Impacts of Exclusionary Zoning

A new book further reveals the inequities perpetuated by restrictive zoning policies.

August 14 - Smart Cities Dive

View of plain building staircase with light coming in from window on landing

Editorial: Legalize Single-Staircase Buildings in California

A state bill that would allow multifamily buildings to only include one staircase could help boost the housing supply and encourage more spacious and well-designed apartments.

August 14 - Los Angeles Times

California State Capital

California First in the Nation to Limit Embodied Carbon in Buildings

California’s Building Code accomplished a first-in-the-nation step to mitigate carbon emissions from the construction and maintenance of buildings, by limiting embodied carbon in some commercial and school buildings.

August 14 - The Architect’s Newspaper

View from back of mother and hcild holding hands and walking down asphalt walkway painted with game grid.

BLOG POST

Do Americans Really Prefer Sprawl?

Not if they live in a large metro area.

August 14 - Michael Lewyn

Rendering of Texas Central high-speed rail train stopped at covered platform in Dallas, Texas

Amtrak Exploring Partnership for Central Texas Bullet Train

A privately funded high-speed rail line could link Houston and Dallas.

August 14 - Houston Chronicle

A tiny home in a residential neighborhood.

What Happened to the Tiny Homes Revolution?

Tiny homes were one of the hot button topics of the previous decade. In 2023? Not so much.

August 14 - Grist

White and green Rhode Island Public Transit Agency bus

Rhode Island Ends Free Transit Program

The state’s public transit agency cited cost overruns and a looming ‘fiscal cliff.’

August 14 - The Center Square

View of high-rise buildings and construction cranes in midtown Manhattan against sunset sky

Zero New Housing Permits Issued in Manhattan Last Month

July was a dead month when it comes to approving new housing units.

August 14 - The Real Deal

Cruise (owned by General Motors) self driving vehicle performing tests on the city streets

California Approves Autonomous Cars Over Local Concerns

Despite repeated calls from San Francisco officials to slow the deployment of self-driving cars, a state commission approved expanded access to San Francisco streets.

August 13 - CALmatters

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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.