The Daily Source of Urban Planning News

Blurred photo of crowded, brightly lit restaurant

Houston’s Restaurant Resurgence Points to Economic Recovery

The city’s restaurants are bouncing back faster than other industries, providing a key source of jobs.

January 4 - Urban Edge

U-Haul moving truck with back door open and loading ramp down on residential street in Houston, Texas

Texas, Florida Saw Most Growth in 2021, Says U-Haul

Based on an index comparing inbound and outbound moving truck rentals, Texas had the largest population growth in the United States in 2021, while California and Illinois saw the biggest losses.

January 4 - U-Haul International

Person on bike wearing backpack with small bus and Boston buildings in background

Massachusetts Passes New Road Safety Law

The legislation requires cars to keep four feet away from cyclists and other “vulnerable” road users and eases the process for lowering speed limits on state-owned roads.

January 4 - The Boston Globe

Capitol

What to Expect from U.S. Climate Policy in 2023

2022 was full of historic legislative accomplishments on climate policy. 2023 is unlikely to achieve the same significance, though the changing climate demands more of the same.

January 4 - The Washington Post

Black and white 25 mph speed limit sign on post with trees in background

Tacoma’s Lower Speed Limits Take Effect

The city hopes reducing speed limits will help them achieve their Vision Zero pledge.

January 3 - King 5 News


6th Street Viaduct against the Los Angeles skyline at dusk

L.A. Planning Department Adjusts to State Housing Laws

Los Angeles Director of Planning Vince Bertoni was recently interviewed the effects of new state planning and housing laws in the state’s most populous city.

January 3 - The Planning Report

San Diego Waterfront

Opinion: To Meet Climate Goals, San Diego Must Improve Bike Infrastructure

The city wants to drastically reduce carbon emissions, but bike advocates argue it has not done enough to make biking and walking in the city safer and more convenient.

January 3 - San Diego Magazine


Single-family homes in a suburb of Dallas, Texas

BLOG POST

Is Exclusionary Zoning a Good Thing?

Some commentators defend exclusionary suburban zoning on the ground that it makes affluent suburbanites more willing to pay for public services. But does exclusion create losers?

January 3 - Michael Lewyn

The San Francisco Bay Area is visible from San Carlos, across the bay to the East Bay. Mount Diablo looms in the background.

California Continues its Losing Streak

California's population continued to shrink for a third consecutive year according to the U.S. Census Bureau's population estimates for the year ending July 2022, but business columnist Jonathan Lansner saw glimmers of hope in the data.

January 3 - The Mercury News

A view of Houston's freeways, with downtown in the background.

Rising Costs Threaten TxDOT’s $85 Billion Highway-Building Plans

Texas Transportation Commissioners must have a hangover—backing off its highway building ambitions just a few months after approving the $85 billion Unified Transportation Plan in August 2022.

January 3 - Houston Chronicle

Sunset view of downtown Youngstown, Ohio over a bridge

Hometown Bike Share Company to Launch in Youngstown

A Black-led, family-owned company is bringing e-bikes to the Ohio town.

January 3 - Next City

Woman sitting on bench at rural bus stop

Urban Population Shrinks After Census Definition Change

The U.S. Census Bureau raised the bar for communities to qualify as urban areas.

January 3 - U.S. Census Bureau

A shipping freighter, bearing agricultural materials, floats on a narrow waterway, bound by levees.

Complaint Blames Bay Delta Ecological Crisis on Racism

Advocates hope to enlist the federal government in forcing state regulators to set clean water standards for the San Francisco Bay Delta.

January 2 - Stocktonia

Power transmission lines surrounded by orange California poppies and silhouette of mountains in background

Why California’s Power Lines Take So Long to Build

The years-long permitting process for new transmission lines is slowing the state’s shift to clean energy.

January 2 - Governing

Google Street View of modern multistory apartment building in Washington, D.C.

D.C. Nonprofit Aims to Preserve Affordable Housing

A luxury apartment building acquired by the Washington Housing Conservancy will be converted into 212 rent-stabilized housing units for middle-income workers.

January 2 - WTOP

Construction Worker

The Infrastructure Sector Is Bleeding Workers

With an aging workforce and few new workers entering the sector, cities could find themselves short of the workers needed to build and maintain projects funded by the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act.

January 2 - Route Fifty

An electric bicycle is shown with the legs of a human who is riding the e-bike.

Transportation Predictions for 2023

Seventeen transportation experts and professionals weigh in on what they think trends in the sector will look like in 2023.

January 1 - The Verge

Large numbers of young people, some wearing and masks and others note, walk around an outdoor shopping mall in Southern California.

Five Takeaways From California’s 2022 Demographic Changes

California’s recent population losses could provide an opportunity for state leaders to address the challenges facing the state.

January 1 - Mercury News

Row Houses at 48th between Walton and Cedar, West Philadelphia

New Short-Term Rental Rules to Take Effect in Philadelphia

The new rules are an attempt to get a handle on the short-term rental industry, which, due in part to little enforcement of existing regulations, has yielded ‘bad actors.’

January 1 - The Philadelphia Inquirer

New York Housing

Op-Ed: New York Needs a Needs a Housing Breakthrough

The region has taken some steps to address the critical housing shortage, but alleviating the crisis requires a more comprehensive, statewide effort to build new housing, increase affordability, and prevent displacement.

January 1 - City and State New York

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.