The Daily Source of Urban Planning News

How Cities Can Plan For the Rise of Autonomous Vehicles
When cars first started proliferating on American roads, it led to increased sprawl and flight from central cities. What can we do now to prevent the same problem as AVs become more widespread?

Philadelphia's Intercity Bus Riders Are Getting Shortchanged
Despite the popularity of intercity bus services, most users have to wait on unshaded sidewalks with none of the amenities of traditional bus depots.

Missing Middle Housing, Form-Based Code Added to the Zoning Menu in Iowa City
The Iowa City Planning Commission approved a rezoning amendment that will allow new missing middle density and implement a form-based code for the city's South District. The city could expand the concepts as it expands the city in the future.

Coming Soon to Austin: More Electric Buses, Two New High-Frequency Lines
Austin's transit agency is accelerating its move toward an all-electric fleet with the addition of 200 new electric buses.

Million-Dollar Homes Becoming Standard Fare Across Los Angeles
As households with means seek to escape crowded apartment buildings and take advantage of historically low mortgage rates, average home prices of over $1 million are proliferating across the LA region.

Why Don't State DOTs Believe in Induced Demand?
Despite evidence that widening roadways is only a temporary solution to congestion, a decades-long inertia leads states to continue pushing expansion projects against local opposition.

Transit Riders Want An Improved Experience Post-Pandemic, Survey Says
A survey of public transit users indicates riders want to see more tech features that improve their experience, such as trip planning and improved payment platforms.

Capital Bikeshare Reinstalls White House Station
The station on the White House grounds has been reinstated as part of Capital Bikeshare's push to expand the network by dozens of new stations by the end of the year.

Study: Uber and Lyft Trips Cost the Planet More Than Trips in Personal Vehicles
The cost of 'deadheading'–the time ride-hailing drivers spend looking for fares–offsets any environmental benefits created by the industry, despite early claims that the apps would reduce congestion and air pollution.

The Role of Play in Public Space Design
'Playable' public spaces can be a powerful tool for creating vibrant, communal, and equitable cities.

Houston Area Loses $64 Million in Federal Transportation Funds Due to Delays and Lack of Oversight
The funding was directed to congestion mitigation, air quality, and transportation alternatives projects.

Eviction Moratorium Spurs Passionate Debate in Seattle
Renter protections are a contentious issue, but that only increases the need for honest and transparent debate.

State Law Preempts Federal Transit Relief Funding in Idaho
Idaho state law prevents local voters from implementing the sales taxes that generate revenue to match federal funding for transportation projects, taking local and regional projects out of the running for many federal grant programs.

Affordable Housing Planned Around Atlanta's New Westside Park
The 65 new units will include single-family homes with ADUs, duplexes, and fourplexes, according to Invest Atlanta.

Affordable Housing Bonus Program Expanded in Philadelphia
The city of Philadelphia launched a height and density bonus in 2018 to create incentives for the development of affordable housing, but so far the results have proven underwhelming.

New York Mayor's 'Gridlock Alerts' Go Unheeded
Mobility advocates say the city must do more to make transit and alternative transportation modes more convenient for drivers.

Americans Walk More Than Ever
An analysis of searches for walking directions shows dramatic increases in walking in cities across the country.

With Little Government Assistance, Intercity Bus Services Struggle to Regain Footing
Although intercity buses provide a crucial service to millions of Americans, the industry has been shut out of recent pandemic assistance programs while riders continue to experience dismal facilities and shrinking service options.

Boosters and Breakthroughs in Vermont
The most vaccinated state in the U.S. may tell us where the future of the country is headed in the war against the coronavirus. Could it become a 'pandemic of the vaccinated'?

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