The Daily Source of Urban Planning News

The Push To Decriminalize Jaywalking
Supporters of decriminalization argue that jaywalking laws don’t keep pedestrians safe and disproportionately burden Black and brown communities with fines.

How To Build More Affordable Housing in Idaho
Idaho cities can remove barriers to development, adjust zoning codes, and encourage the construction of accessory dwelling units and single-occupancy apartments to sustainably accommodate the state’s growing population.

Missouri Criminalizes Sleeping Outside
The state legislature passed a bill that bans sleeping on state land and threatens to pull state funding from cities with high rates of homelessness.

Can On-Demand Transit Replace Traditional Buses?
For small towns and hard-to-reach areas, on-demand microtransit could offer an effective alternative to fixed-route buses.

Massachusetts Legislation Would Require Low-Income Transit Fares
After a similar bill was vetoed by Governor Charlie Baker in 2020, the Massachusetts senate has reintroduced an amendment that would mandate discounted transit fares.

New York City Issues Nearly All Its Housing Vouchers
After a slow start to the program, the city has distributed 91 percent of the housing vouchers issued through the American Rescue Act. Now housing agencies must help recipients actually find housing.

Capsule Housing: Affordable Solution or Dystopia?
Like Japan’s capsule hotels, the ‘podsharing’ housing model offers minimal, shared living space—but can it work as a long-term housing solution?

Presidio Tunnel Tops Links San Francisco Parks Above Seven Lanes of Traffic
Encompassing 14 acres, the project spans a major parkway and includes a two-acre children’s play area, trails, several overlooks, and gathering spaces from picnic areas to a campfire circle.

Planning for a New Nature Center at a Geological Wonder
Los Angeles County is seeking public input for the Devil’s Punchbowl Natural Area Nature Center replacement planning project.

To Meet Housing Goals, California Cities Turn to Mall Redevelopment
As brick-and-mortar stores decline due to the rise of e-commerce, cities look to mall sites as ideal locations for new housing.

BLOG POST
Opinion: Stop Trusting Elon Musk—on Tunnels, on Teslas, on Everything
Musk has leveraged social media intrigue and a hot streak on the market to become the standard bearer for autonomous vehicle technology. Trust Tesla at public peril, argues James Brasuell in this opinion piece.

BLOG POST
Book Review: Arbitrary Lines
In addition to attacking zoning laws' limitations on housing, Gray argues that zoning fails to limit nuisances.

Ways the EPA Can Still Fight Climate Change
Despite the Supreme Court’s recent decision to limit the EPA’s ability to regulate emissions from power plants, the agency still has a range of tools at its disposal for enforcing pollution controls and reducing harmful emissions.

The American Commute Is Getting More Expensive
The average cost of commuting in the United States rose by 35 percent since last year, according to a new report.

FEATURE
Toward Community
An opinion piece by Angie Schmitt reclaims higher ideals for the planning profession.

Los Angeles County Allocates $9 Million for Parks in High Need Areas
The funding is from Measure A, the Safe, Clean Neighborhood Parks and Beaches Measure, a parcel tax approved by nearly 75 percent of voters in 2016.

The City Haunts Itself
According to one author, urban ghost stories are one way humans fight the alienation of modern life.

Transit Ridership Continues Slow Recovery
Even as gas prices rise, ridership on many public transit systems continues to remain well below pre-pandemic levels.

Friday Funny: The Onion Blasts U.S. for Slow Trains
The satirical news site The Onion has imagined a world where China and the United States are competing over which country can operate the slowest, least dependable train systems.

Report: U.S. Greenhouse Gas Reductions Not Hitting Paris Agreement Goal
The United States is making modest gains in the power and transportation sectors, but emissions in the industrial sector are holding steady, absent new reduction initiatives.
Pagination
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
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Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.