The Daily Source of Urban Planning News

25 mph speed limit sign partially obscured by red and orange fall leaves

Study: Seattle’s Lower Speed Limits Reduced Crash Injuries

A change in the city’s speed limits has been shown to reduce the likelihood of injuries during collisions.

March 30 - Insurance Institute for Highway Safety

Couple embracing happily in front of home with "SOLD" sign

Millennials Now Majority Homeowners

Just over half of people in the ‘Y’ generation now own homes, but the largest generation also continues to dominate the rental market.

March 30 - RentCafé

Rivian electric Amazon delivery van delivering packages curbside on New York City street

Minnesota Lawmakers Propose New Ridehailing, Delivery Fees

The proposed fees on transportation network companies and delivery services would help cover buddget shortfalls for transportation and transit in the state.

March 30 - MinnPost

Main Street Sign with Traffic Light in the Background in Downtown Houston, Texas

Part of Houston’s Main Street to Be Permanently Pedestrianized

A seven-block stretch downtown will remain closed to cars after the success of a pandemic-era outdoor dining program.

March 30 - Houston Chronicle

Empty Parking Lot

Parking Reform Gains Momentum

More cities and states around the country are recognizing the value of eliminating parking requirements.

March 30 - Congress For New Urbanism


Pennsylvania

Pittsburgh Developers Push Back on Zoning Review Fees

An increase in fees for commercial construction projects is raising concerns from local developers who say the industry already faces rising costs to build in the city.

March 30 - Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Aerial view of traffic on road and buildings in the Bronx, New York City

MTA Proposes Pollution Mitigation Spending for the Bronx

Acknowledging the impact the city’s proposed congestion pricing program could have on underserved neighborhoods, the agency plans to spend over $130 million in revenue from the program on air filtration, trees, and other pollution reduction measures.

March 30 - The New York Times


South of Market

11,000 Housing Units Possible with S.F. Office Conversions, Study Says

A new study by SPUR and the Urban Land Institute’s San Francisco chapter estimates a specific number of apartment units that could be built from vacant office units in the city.

March 29 - The San Francisco Chronicle

Two people riding bikes with helmets on paved park trail

‘Arrested Mobility’: How Transportation-Related Laws Impact Black Americans

A far-reaching new study highlights the disproportionate effect of biking and walking laws on the mobility of Black Americans.

March 29 - Streetsblog USA

California

California Attorney General Wants to Get Serious About Housing

A bill sponsored by the AG’s office would give the state’s top attorney more power to intervene in lawsuits related to the state’s housing laws.

March 29 - San Francisco Chronicle

Close-up view of empty bus from behind seat. Seats have blue upholstery

Opinion: Free Fares Won’t Solve the Transit Crisis

“The biggest US transit agencies must be allowed to simply focus on delivering high-quality service. There is no Plan B.”

March 29 - Vox

The city of Duluth, Minnesota, pictured from Lake Superior.

‘Climate-Proof Duluth’ Is Changing

Climate refugees are already on the move in the United States. The New York Times recently conducted an exploration on of the most desirable locations to escape wildfires, drought, and sea-level rise.

March 29 - The New York Times

Traffic

Atlanta Housing Targets 10,000 Affordable Units in Five Years

Atlanta Housing plans to use a combination of development and preservation to ensure 10,000 affordable housing units in the next five years.

March 29 - SaportaReport

Crowds of tourists at the Washington, D.C. Cherry Blossom Festival walking along a lake lined with blooming cherry trees

D.C. Transit and Roadways Overwhelmed by Cherry Blossom Tourists

Metro had the highest ridership numbers in more than seven years last Sunday as hundreds of thousands of cherry blossom enthusiasts crowded the system.

March 29 - The Washington Post

Two white two-story Sears Roebuck catalog homes in Tuscumbia, Alabama

The Return of ‘Catalog Homes’

Sets of pre-approved housing plans can lower construction costs, shorten timelines, and encourage more badly needed housing production.

March 29 - Route Fifty

Aerial view of desalination plant in Carlsbad, California

Federal Loan to Support San Diego Desalination Plant Overhaul

The financing will go toward funding an updated cooling system and ensuring the protection of local marine life.

March 28 - The San Diego Union-Tribune

Buses in downtown Seattle on the dedicated 3rd Avenue bus lanes

Seattle Bus Lane Cameras Capture Over 100,000 Violations

An automated traffic enforcement pilot program caught drivers illegally using transit lanes more than 110,000 times in less than a year.

March 28 - Axios

People walking on the Camino de Santiago trail in Spain

The Joy of Walking

An essay meditating on the simple pleasures of a good walk.

March 28 - The New York Times

Illinois State Capitol dome and city in Springfield, Illinois

Illinois Legislature to Consider Affordable Housing Tax Credit

A proposed tax credit could create thousands of new affordable housing units per year, its proponents say.

March 28 - The Real Deal

St. Louis Metrolink

St. Louis Train Expansion Planning Receives Federal Funding

The Bi-State Development Agency received roughly $7.4 million for efforts to expand the city’s MetroLink train system.

March 28 - St. Louis Post-Dispatch

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