The Daily Source of Urban Planning News

New York City Open Streets

Cities Rethinking the Value of Parking

The effort to reclaim public and private spaces from car storage had some setbacks since the days of al fresco and open streets in the first years of Covid-19. But widespread parking reforms and new evidence shows the public is rethinking parking.

October 17 - Globe and Mail

A Metro Los Angeles bus driver is behind the wheel while wearing a mask.

How to Hire and Retain Bus Drivers During the Great Resignation

Bus systems all over the country are cutting service due to an ongoing shortage of operators—the drivers who make the whole system go. A few examples of success provide a way forward.

October 17 - TransitCenter

People on bikes in downtown Denver, Colorado

Success of Denver’s E-Bike Rebate Continues Unabated

The city’s latest round of vouchers were snapped up by the public within minutes of being released, showing the unrelenting popularity of the e-bike rebate program.

October 17 - Bloomberg CityLab

Aerial photo of the US 131/M-6/68th St. interchange in Wyoming, MIchigan

Op-Ed: Michigan Needs a New Transportation Strategy

One writer calls on the state to stop expanding roads and channel funding to projects that support Michigan’s sustainability goals.

October 17 - Bridge Michigan

Twin Cities

New Studies Shed Light on Relationship Between Zoning and Racial Integration

While zoning is just one of many factors impacting racial integration and economic mobility, it is an issue with some of the more straightforward solutions.

October 17 - Mercatus Center


Desalination

Orange County Desalination Plant Wins Key Approval

A desalination plant is moving forward in Orange County with California Coastal Commission approval just a few months after another, uch more expensive project, failed the same test.

October 16 - Orange County Register

View of dried-up Colorado River

Federal Program Provides Direct Payments for Colorado River Water Conservation

A water buyback program will pay farmers who reduce their water use in an effort to sustain the West’s reservoirs, which are at historically low levels.

October 16 - KUNC


View down center of street in Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Milwaukee Transit to See More Service Cuts

With a projected budget gap of $20 million by 2025 and ridership declining, the city’s transit agency plans to make cuts and adjustments to service.

October 16 - Urban Milwaukee

Site plan for CHEERS shoreline project

Cleveland Resilience Project Approves Design Contract

The plan to protect Cleveland’s waterfront from storm damage got a boost as the Port approved a $3.75 million design contract.

October 16 - Cleveland.com

Self-Driving Cars

National Transportation Safety Board Recommend Speed Limiters for U.S. Automobiles

While advocates say technology can be a critical tool in reducing the carnage on U.S. roads, CNN can't get over the idea as an invasion of privacy and personal liberty.

October 14 - Jalopnik

Brick apartment building with For Rent sign

Renting on the Rise, With Consequences for Neighborhoods

A higher share of Americans are renters than at any point in decades. Neighborhoods all over the country, especially in downtowns, have many more renters than they did in 2010.

October 14 - RentCafé

Nederlandsche Bank building, Amsterdam

The Cradle-to-Cradle Approach to Building

The circular economy. Cradle-to-cradle. The regenerative economy. Whatever you call it, an approach to building that eliminates waste would transform the next generation of the built environment.

October 14 - The New York Times

View of Ft. Lauderdale, Florida barrier island

Hurricane Ian Puts Renewed Focus on Florida's Barrier Islands

Ian did not impact Southeast Florida, but coastal residents there took notice of the state's deadliest hurricane since 1935 that devastated much of Southwest Florida last month, particularly the barrier islands off the Gulf Coast.

October 14 - WPTV News

A image of the World's Columbian Exposition overlayed with a picture of Keanu Reeves in the rain from the movie Point Break.

Keanu Reeves, Daniel Burnham Dream No Longer a Reality

Keanu Reeves will no longer portray Daniel Burnham in a film adaptation of The Devil in the White City.

October 13 - Variety

View of downtown Fresno, California

Fresno Development Will Provide Little Parking

The builder is relying on demand for lower-cost, transit-oriented housing units for residents who don’t own private cars, opting to provide only seven parking spaces for a 37-unit building.

October 13 - Fresnoland

Fire burning on hillside behind house in Azusa, California

California Needs More Housing—But Where?

The state’s housing shortage is complicated by the growing number of places threatened by wildfires.

October 13 - CALmatters

Adobe and wood bus stop shelter on deserted road in Navajo Nation

FTA Announces $9 Million in Tribal Transit Funding

The money will be distributed among 25 tribal communities to improve key transit services.

October 13 - Federal Transit Administration

Aerial view of Chattanooga, Tennessee

Chattanooga Plans to Convert Hotel to Supportive Housing

At a recent meeting, the city’s mayor urged the city council to support the effort to repurpose a derelict hotel into a permanent supportive housing complex.

October 13 - Chattanooga Times Free Press

Aerial view of Montgomery County, Maryland homes and trees

Mass Resignation at Montgomery County Planning Board

All board members tendered their resignation after a series of investigations into improper behavior by board members.

October 13 - DCist

Virginia

How Banks Perpetuate Overbuilt Parking

Even as cities and states are reducing or eliminating parking requirements, lenders often require parking to release loans to developers.

October 13 - Axios

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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.