The Daily Source of Urban Planning News

Crosswalk with pedestrians in front of four-story red brick buildings in New Haven, Connecticut

There is Nothing Illiberal About Walkability

Despite recent claims to the contrary, the concept of the 15-minute city promotes freedom of mobility and universal access to a city’s resources and amenities.

March 2 - The Washington Post

View of Seattle skyline with houses in foreground

Thousands of Seattle Housing Units Blocked by Lawsuits

Legal challenges filed by condo associations are holding up multiple high-rise housing developments that could bring much-needed housing and jobs to downtown Seattle.

March 2 - The Urbanist

Rendering of land bridge over freeway in St. Paul, Minnesota

St. Paul Land Bridge Study Wins Federal Grant

A proposed land bridge that would reconnect the Rondo neighborhood is one of the dozens of projects to be awarded a Reconnecting Communities grant this week.

March 2 - MinnPost

Vacant vintage Streamline Moderne blue and white Greyhound station in Jackson, Tennessee

Intercity Buses Face Station Closures and Labor Shortage

The closure of many former Greyhound bus terminals is making intercity bus travel more inconvenient for the riders who depend on it.

March 2 - Smart Cities Dive

Map of proposed freeway cap over Atlanta freeway

Atlanta Freeway Cap Among Reconnecting Communities Awards

The infusion of $1.1 million in federal funding helps move the project along, but the total cost remains far beyond the city’s current budget.

March 2 - Urbanize Atlanta


Los Angeles Protest

Quiz: How Well Do You Understand the Homelessness Crisis?

An online questionnaire illuminates the root causes of homelessness, debunking some common myths about unhoused people in America.

March 2 - Housing Matters

2-story Los Angeles dingbat apartment building getting soft-story seismic retrofit for earthquake safety

Los Angeles County Looks to Mandate Seismic Retrofits

A common building type is a major contributor to earthquake fatalities, prompting the Board of Supervisors to consider requiring safety upgrades on older buildings.

March 1 - Los Angeles Times


Rainbow painted crosswalk next to green painted bike lane on Seattle, Washington street

Seattle Vision Zero Review Largely Misses the Point

The city released what it called a comprehensive review of its Vision Zero initiatives, but one critic argues the report doesn’t address some key opportunities for improving road safety.

March 1 - The Urbanist

Pedestrians and cyclists in busy city crosswalk with blurred motion

Report: Pedestrian Deaths Rose Again in Early 2022

New data shows continued growth in pedestrian road deaths in most U.S. states.

March 1 - Governors Highway Safety Association

Tenant Protections

PLANOPEDIA

What Is Rent Control?

Rent control, also known as rent stabilization, is a controversial policy tool used by the government to limit rent increases by landlords.

March 1 - James Brasuell

Aerial direct overhead view of I-35 freeway in Austin, Texas

Austin City Council Calls for Changes to Interstate Widening Plan

Legally powerless to stop TxDOT’s plans for freeway expansion, Austin city leaders hope to influence the agency to take some mitigation measures as it widens I-35.

March 1 - KUT

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

Public Transit’s Existential Crisis

U.S. transit systems are still scrambling to find alternate funding sources and adjust their service to new needs as ridership remains below pre-pandemic levels.

March 1 - Governing

Portland Loo modular gray public bathroom booth sits on concrete slab with green lawn and tree in background in a park in Portland, Oregon

New York City Parks Getting Modular Public Bathrooms

The ‘Portland Loo,’ named after its birth city, is designed to withstand year-round weather and resist vandalism.

March 1 - Curbed

New York City sidewalk with outdoor dining patio with black and white striped umbrellas and black barriers protecting diners from traffic

BLOG POST

The Slow Retreat of Pandemic-Era Outdoor Dining Programs Continues

It’s been almost three years since the political dynamics of outdoor dining in the United States shifted, suddenly and overwhelmingly. Increasingly, the status quo is being restored.

March 1 - James Brasuell

View from overpass of highway with one truck and green median with Baltimore city in the background

USDOT Awards Reconnecting Communities Grants

The first $185 million in grants were awarded to projects that aim to improve mobility and reconnect neighborhoods isolated by highways and other infrastructure projects.

February 28 - U.S. Department Of Transportation

Aerial view of Montana state capitol building in Helena, Montana

Montana Could Overhaul Land Use Laws

State legislators want to make comprehensive changes to land use and zoning laws to alleviate a growing housing shortage in the state’s urban areas.

February 28 - Bozeman Daily Chronicle

Black and white photo of Pike Place Market entrance in Seattle with "PUBLIC MARKET" and "Meet the producer" signs

BLOG POST

A Chatbot Talks Regeneration and Recovery for Seattle

In his recent analysis of trends to watch for 2023, Managing Editor James Brasuell noted how ChatGPT might replace all the writers of Planetizen, and more. Chuck Wolfe decided to take literally Brasuell's “don't let it sneak up on you” admonition.

February 28 - Charles R. Wolfe

Smiling mother and child on busy public bus wearing Covid-19 protective masks

Making Transit More Family-Friendly

Public transit can often be inconvenient or unsafe for people with children in strollers and riders traveling for purposes other than commuting. Agencies are working on ways to fix that.

February 28 - Next City

Geothermal heat pump installed on wall next to water boiler

Houston Co-Housing Project to Use Geothermal Heating and Cooling

The development will also include communal kitchens, community gardens, and other shared spaces aimed at bringing neighbors together.

February 28 - Houston Chronicle

Elderly woman with short gray hair wearing blue surgical mask looks out window with wooden frame, a potted purple orchid on the windowsill

Study: Many American Seniors Can’t Afford to ‘Age in Place’

A lack of affordable housing and access to services and amenities make it difficult for many seniors to remain in their long-term homes or communities.

February 28 - Harvard Magazine

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

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