The Daily Source of Urban Planning News

Chicago Transit

Chicago's New Strategic Plan for Transportation Prioritizes Equity and Accountability

The plan calls for safer streets, more equitable distribution of resources, and expanded community engagement.

August 1 - Streetsblog Chicago

Toronto Freeway

Does Highway Removal Make Cities Healthier?

Highway removal can improve the air quality and health of the immediate environment, but displacement and gentrification threaten to exclude former residents from the benefits.

July 30 - NextCity

 on I84 in Northern Oregon…one hand on the wheel and one on the shutter, at 75 mph

In Extreme Heat Waves, Cities Need 'Social Resilience' to Help the Most Vulnerable

This summer's heat waves wreaked havoc on physical infrastructure, but also highlighted vulnerabilities in our social support systems.

July 30 - The Washington Post

Old Courthouse in Denton, Texas

Denton Plans to Replace Most Bus Routes With On-Demand Microtransit

Transit advocates worry that outsourcing fixed-route service will decrease service levels and raise costs for riders.

July 30 - TransitCenter

TransLink SkyTrain

Canada's Minister of Infrastructure Underscores Importance of Transit-Oriented Development

On the heels of a billion-dollar federal contribution to Vancouver's SkyTrain, the minister emphasized the need for policies that encourage affordable housing near transit.

July 30 - Daily Hive


Toll Road

Video: Why U.S. Road Tolling Is So Complicated

States increasingly count on toll roads to supplement gas tax revenue, but why does the U.S. still lack national interoperability?

July 29 - Cheddar.com

Crash

Major Flaws in the U.S. Car Crash Reporting System

The lack of a nationwide standard and extensive officer discretion lead to inconsistent data when it comes to traffic crashes and fatalities.

July 29 - Streetsblog L.A.


Bike Shed Netherlands

Busting Myths About Car-Light Cities

According to one Canadian couple living in Holland, walkable cities and good bike infrastructure aren't just a Dutch anomaly.

July 29 - Streetsblog USA

People boarding bus at LA Metro Bus Stop, Alvarado Street, Los Angeles

Where to Preview L.A.'s New Bus Shelters

Angelenos can try out the new designs at six locations this summer, with the full program set to launch in 2022.

July 29 - Urbanize LA

Walkable Urban Commercial District

The Complexities of the '15-Minute City'

What does a '15-minute city' truly mean–and how achievable is it in the U.S.?

July 29 - Governing

San Francisco Muni Buses

San Francisco Seeks Public Input on Post-Pandemic Muni Service

The SFMTA is considering a "high-access network" that would let people reach more destinations and increase frequency on some Muni lines.

July 29 - Human Transit

Car Share

Opinion: Boost Public Car Share to Reduce Private Vehicle Ownership

Research shows that consistent access to shared cars drastically reduces car ownership rates, but U.S. regulations often impede success for private fleets.

July 29 - Streetsblog New York City

Vision Zero

Breaking News: 'Vision Zero' Resolution Introduced in Congress

The resolution acknowledges the epidemic of traffic fatalities and calls on DOT to focus on traffic safety with the goal of reducing roadway deaths to zero by 2050.

July 29 - Streetsblog USA

Homeless Encampment

Austin Selects Two Potential Sites for Sanctioned Encampments

The city plans to install temporary housing and facilities as part of its efforts to reduce homelessness and help people move into permanent housing.

July 29 - Urbanize Austin

Pioneer Square, Seattle

Tree Equity Score: The U.S. Needs 522 Million More Urban Trees

As climate change intensifies the urban heat island effect, poorer neighborhoods bear the brunt of tree canopy inequity.

July 28 - The Urbanist

Rendering of the proposed Liberty Canyon Wildlife Corridor

California Wildlife Crossings Get New Funding

The state is budgeting $61 million to build wildlife crossings that increase biodiversity, help species thrive, and save both human and animal lives.

July 28 - CALmatters

Hospital Signs

Living (and Dying) with COVID: How Many Deaths are Acceptable?

Political analyst Philip Bump asks the "unstated, unpleasant question" that the U.S. has struggled with since the inception of the pandemic, more relevant now with the widespread availability of vaccines that are effective at preventing most deaths.

July 28 - The Washington Post

Place It Workshop

Community Land Trusts: Combining Scale and Community Control

Pitting the straw men of scale and community control against one another does the field more harm than good.

July 28 - Shelterforce

Sound Transit train

Sound Transit Facing Major Budget Shortfall for Light Rail Projects

Since voters approved a measure expanding Seattle's light rail network, construction and land costs have soared, adding billions to the projected price tag.

July 28 - Seattle Times

Empty Homes

Defining the 'Community' in Community Land Trusts

As community land trusts take root and expand, they face numerous questions on how to stay communally-focused while their geographic scope grows.

July 28 - Shelterforce

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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.