The Daily Source of Urban Planning News
Federal Report Calls Encampment ‘Sweeps’ Ineffective and Costly
Weeks after federal officials evicted unhoused people from a Washington, D.C. park, research indicates that similar actions, which usually come at a high cost to cities, have little impact on homelessness in the long term.
St. Louis Pledges to Repair Sidewalks. Residents Have Heard it Before.
A $6 million program takes aim at a backlog of thousands of requests for sidewalk maintenance, but critics say requiring property owners to foot half of the bill excludes less affluent neighborhoods.
Ohio Budget Could Fund Rural Roads, Ban Center Bike Lanes
Amendments proposed in the state budget would also prohibit automated traffic enforcement and allow residents to travel to Canada, Mexico, and the Caribbean with Real IDs in lieu of passports.
New Jersey Offshore Wind Projects Face Opposition
Local critics of Gov. Phil Murphy’s plan to install hundreds of wind turbines off the New Jersey coast plan to sue the state to stop or delay the projects, citing aesthetic, environmental, and economic concerns.
FEATURE
Reshaping Cities for Present-Day Populations
The demographic changes of the last few years give city planners and urban designers an opportunity to reimagine how public spaces can most effectively promote public health, wellbeing, and equity.
Report: How States Can Incentivize Housing Production
With many cities and local jurisdictions using zoning codes to slow housing development, policymakers at the state level are taking action to increase the housing supply.
Lawsuits Follow Housing Plan Failures in the San Francisco Bay Area
The Regional Housing Needs Assessment drama continues in California.
Where Washington Students Lack Safe Walking Routes
In many rural and suburban Washington state communities, children who walk or bike to school don’t have access to safe, adequate pedestrian facilities.
Financial Dire Straights for L.A.’s Skid Row Housing Trust
Terrible news about the financial situation at one of L.A.’s most prominent homeless service providers broke earlier this month.
Opinion: Hit the Brakes on Dallas Freeway Plan
A proposal to bury a Dallas freeway may not be the best way forward for the area’s residents.
Analysis: Build It (Housing) and They Will Come
Some of the fastest-growing metro areas in the country are also the ones building the most new housing.
All-Door Boarding Stuck in Neutral in New York City
MTA leadership has decided all-door boarding will lead to fare evasion and isn’t willing to adopt a program that was already well underway.
BLOG POST
Opinion: Induced Travel Demand Induces Media Attention
Induced demand is a popular concept among urbanists, but does its pervasiveness obscure the true costs of mobility?
D.C. Red Line to Boost Weekday Service
Trains will arrive at shorter intervals during rush hours on the line’s busiest days.
Extreme Heat Responsible for Growing Death Rates Among Unhoused People
Extreme heat events like the ‘heat dome’ that baked Southern California last summer kill a disproportionate number of people experiencing homelessness, who have fewer resources to protect themselves from the scorching sun.
Op-Ed: San Francisco’s Downtown Plan Nothing Revelatory
Mayor London Breed’s newest proposal for revitalizing downtown San Francisco faces some sharp criticism for offering no new solutions after the city failed to deliver on goals and recommendations made in 2020.
Colorado Rent Control Bill Back in the House
A bill that would allow Colorado cities to enact rent stabilization policies is under discussion again, with some tweaks.
New Federal Grant Program Supports Transit-Oriented Housing
Local governments can apply for part of a $5 million program aimed at helping them identify appropriate sites, preserve affordable housing, and build more housing near transit.
FEATURE
Planning Trends to Watch in 2023
The days and weeks since the arrival of Covid-19 have been filled with so much noise about the future, it’s been difficult to distinguish between big stories and frivolous distractions. Planetizen is here to help.
How Vehicle Ownership Impacts Roadway Design
New research assesses the potential implications of reduced car ownership on the design of roads and communities.
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.
