The Daily Source of Urban Planning News
Opinion: San Francisco’s Central Subway Is a Bad Investment
Critics of the subway project argue that the line is too short and disconnected from other transit options to be useful. Meanwhile, projected costs continue to rise.
Where Floods Follow Wildfires
Neighborhoods not previously at risk of flooding face new challenges as burn scars from recent fires leave them vulnerable to floods.
Colorado Planning for a Less Car-Dependent Transportation Future
Multiple funding plans are on the brink of reformulating the state of Colorado’s approach to transportation—away from cars and toward active transportation and high-capacity public transit.
Milwaukee Selects Developers to Rehab Vacant Homes
A record 66 developers applied to refurbish 150 vacant, city-owned homes.
Revisiting New York’s Massive Sunnyside Yard Master Plan
You might have lost track of the Sunnyside Yard Master Plan—a proposal for 12,000 new housing units in Queens—because it was announced to the public in March 2020 and has since been shelved.
FEATURE
A Sustainable Future Requires Smart, Data-Driven Public Transport Networks
Devin de Vries, CEO of WhereIsMyTransport, makes the case for new and improved mobility as a tool for sustainability and equitable economic development.
How the Electric Grid Can Handle All the New Electric Vehicles
A key question of the U.S. approach to greenhouse gas reductions is whether an already stressed electric grid will be able to handle a whole fleet of new electric vehicles.
L.A. Bus Stops Offer No Relief From Searing Temperatures
As heat waves intensify, bus riders in Los Angeles are forced to wait at bus stops that offer little shade or seating, putting vulnerable residents at risk of heat stroke and other health impacts.
Spokane’s Missing ‘Missing Middle Housing’
City records show that Spokane has issued few permits for duplexes, triplexes, and other forms of mid-density housing.
Faster Food
Responding to pandemic-era shifts in customer demand, fast food and fast-casual chains are stripping away dining rooms, restrooms, and human cashiers in favor of drive-through and automated pickup options.
TxDOT Blocks San Antonio Bike Lanes
The agency argues that the city cannot introduce lane reductions on a state road, putting a long-planned bike lane project in jeopardy and superseding local decisionmaking.
Jaywalking Up for Decriminalization in Denver
Like other city and state leaders, Denver’s city council will weigh a proposal to decriminalize jaywalking in an effort to reduce interactions with law enforcement and improve transportation equity.
Richard Florida Explains the Housing Crisis
The urbanist puts the blame for rising housing costs largely on landlords and property owners, arguing that much of the wealth created by modern capitalism is ‘plowed back into dirt.’
Bringing Back America’s Town Squares
Digital connection is no substitute for the vitality and community created by open, pleasant public squares and plazas.
Centering Bikes in the Future of Mobility
Those in search of high-tech solutions for urban congestion and pollution often overlook the bicycle as a powerful, if simple, tool for reducing both and improving urban transportation.
Access to Flood Risk Data Shifts Homebuyer Behavior
With climate risks threatening more communities, providing clear, accessible risk information to potential homebuyers can help households make informed decisions and inform local resiliency efforts.
New Downtown Master Plan for Danville, California
The city of Danville, located along the Easy Bay Area’s I-680 corridor, last week approved a new master plan for its downtown, with funding for implementation made possible by the American Rescue Plan Act.
Unhoused Austin Population Spikes Under Reinstated Camping Ban
The Texas capital is struggling to house its unsheltered residents even as the city commits more resources to building and acquiring more affordable housing units.
Is ‘Protected Bike Lane’ an Oxymoron?
Some research suggests that separated and even ‘protected’ bike lanes actually increase the likelihood of car-bike collisions.
Baltimore Judge Tosses Regional Transit Voter Question
The Baltimore City Board of Elections and a local circuit court judge have blocked the efforts of transit advocates to seek support from voters for a regional transportation authority.
City of Moorpark
City of Tustin
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
Transportation Research & Education Center (TREC) at Portland State University
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.
