The Daily Source of Urban Planning News

The Housing Affordability Recipe
Smart policies can ensure that low- and moderate-income households can find suitable housing in good neighborhoods where transportation costs are low. The research is clear: upzoning works.

Biden Administration Hits Automotive Emissions Reset Button
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has rolled back Trump administration reductions of auto emission standards enacted by the Trump administration, and is taking first steps toward a new emissions agreement with automakers.

Austin Casts a Controversial Vote on Public Camping as the City Faces Growing Pains
Voters in Austin voted to reinstate a ban on public camping, taking steps to criminalize homelessness before the State Legislature could.

Poised for a New Era of Parks Planning in Bellevue, Washington
The last round of capital investment made possible by a 2008 parks levy offers a chance to look further into the future in Bellevue, Washington.

FEATURE
A Comment for the L.A. River Master Plan
Five themes proposed to achieve justice and sustainability for the Los Angeles River and its surrounding communities.

Senate Committee Hearing Signals Possible Shift in Federal Transit Funding
Transit advocates were pleasantly surprised to hear senators address specific questions about the 80/20 split in transportation funding, transit operations, and rural transit needs.

Northeast Ohio Agency Set to Reject Three Highway Proposals
The agency's recommendations are based on a new method of cost-benefit analysis that includes equity and environmental sustainability as key measures.

Highway Sign Typefaces, Explained
The latest Vox explainer video tackles the eminently fascinating topic of highway sign fonts.

Opinion: 'Commuter Rail' Must Adapt to the New Commute
The sharp historic division between commuter rail and other forms of transit has limited the ability of regional rail systems to serve more users.

Pandemic Still Surging in Parts of the U.S.
Bloomberg News' 'Evening Briefing' on April 29 looked at the global pandemic, noting the horrific scenes in India, Brazil's rising death toll, and added, "Coronavirus mutations are also wreaking havoc in America." Oregon is their focus.

Record Number of Single-Family Rentals Reflect the Expensive U.S. Housing Market
Home builders are building a record number of single-family rentals, and young, modest-income households with children are more likely to live in those new homes.

Florida Highway Project Faces Opposition From All Sides
Critics worry the proposed 330-mile corridor would encourage sprawl, harm wildlife, and saddle the state with decades of debt.

PLANOPEDIA
What Is Levittown?
Known as the archetypal post-war American suburb, Levittown was the first mass-produced housing development and set a standard for planned subdivisions for decades to come.

Proposed Megaproject the Latest to Redefine Los Angeles' Core
A proposed $2 billion megaproject would expand the footprint of the ongoing reinvention of Downtown Los Angeles and its surrounding neighborhoods.

America's 'Most Beautiful McDonald's'?
The Long Island restaurant is housed in a historic 18th century farmhouse.

Affordable Housing Needs Assessed Ahead of Cincinnati's May Election
Cincinnati voters will consider Issue 3 at the ballot box on May 4, potentially guaranteeing $50 million in annual funding for the city's Housing Trust Fund.

Atlanta Launching Affordable Housing Development Program for City-Owned Land
The Atlanta Department of City Planning has identified 877 acres of land on 490 parcels for potential affordable housing development.

Watch: Debunking Myths About Houston's Lack of Zoning
A video published last week by City Beautiful reveals the myths and misconceptions of Houston's land use regulation system.

Pandemic Street to Outlast Pandemic in California (By 2.5 Months)
Gov. Newsom's unexpected announcement that the pandemic would end on June 15 led one city to consider reopening its al fresco street and parklets to motor vehicles. After hearing from the public, the city council sided with diners over drivers.

Texas Legislature Would Preempt Local Law to Ban Homeless Encampments
The state of Texas and the city of Austin are moving in opposite directions on how best to respond to the needs of people experiencing homelessness.
Pagination
Central Transportation Planning Staff/Boston Region MPO
Heyer Gruel & Associates PA
Institute for Housing and Urban Development Studies (IHS)
City of Grandview
Harvard GSD Executive Education
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.