The Daily Source of Urban Planning News

Downtown Boise

Boise Using Adaptive Reuse to Convert Offices to Affordable Housing

Under the city's Grow Our Housing program, vacant offices could see a new life as below-market rentals.

February 19 - NextCity

CN Tower rises above Gardiner Expressway on Toronto Waterfront

Opinion: Build Housing, Not Expressways

As it rebuilds the Gardiner Expressway, Toronto could use the opportunity to create more real estate for affordable housing.

February 19 - Globe and Mail

Colorado Bike Lane

Colorado is Using Free E-Bikes to Fight Climate Change

A state program is giving free electric bikes to residents in an effort to provide more transportation options and reduce dependence on cars.

February 18 - CPR News

Sharpsburg EcoDistrict

Sharpsburg Ecodistrict the World's Third EcoDistricts Certified Community

The Sharpsburg Ecodistrict in Pennsylvania has been recognized with EcoDistrict Certification, joining Millvale and Etna to become the third certified community in Southwestern Pennsylvania's Triboro Ecodistrict—and the world.

February 18 - evolveEA.com

Miner Street Al Fresco

Rethinking Streets During the Pandemic

A new book from the "Rethinking Streets" series identifies 25 quick redesigns cities can use to reconfigure streets for the realities of the COVID-19 pandemic.

February 18 - Rethinking Streets During COVID-19


Polar Vortex

California-Style Rolling Blackouts Come to Texas

As bad as the power outages are in Texas, they would be much worse if the independent energy grid operator hadn't initiated rolling blackouts. In an extensive interview with CBS Austin, Bill Magness, the head of ERCOT, explains what went wrong.

February 18 - CBS Austin

Expo Line

Congestion Pricing Study Taking Shape in Los Angeles

New York City is the furthest along with a congestion pricing scheme, but San Francisco and Los Angeles are catching up in California.

February 18 - The Source


Economic Recovery Plan

FEATURE

A Strategic Approach to Economic Recovery Planning

Six components of a strategic plan for city and regions to guide their short-term actions for equitable economic recovery from the pandemic.

February 18 - Alisa Pyszka

New York MTA subway station

MTA Misses Deadline for State-Mandated Cost Comparison to World Cities

With some of the highest per-mile costs in the world, the state wants more accountability for New York City's transit spending.

February 18 - New York Daily News

Anacostia River

Can D.C. Build its Bridge Park Without Displacement?

The park's non-profit developer has engaged in a years-long community outreach process and invested over $60 million in community initiatives.

February 18 - NextCity

Wheelchair ramp

PLANOPEDIA

What Is the Americans With Disabilities Act?

The effects of the landmark Americans With Disabilities Act are visible throughout the built environment—on sidewalks, on buses, and in almost every building and public facility in the country.

February 17 - plnz-admin

COVID-19

BLOG POST

Haves and Have Nots: Planning and the Deep Divides of the Pandemic

The latest in a series of compendia gathering news and analysis about the effects of the COVID-19 on the built and natural environments—now and long into the future.

February 17 - James Brasuell

New York City Public Housing Project

The Faircloth Amendment and Public Housing, Explained

The amendment is a thorn in the side of affordable housing advocates, who blame "Faircloth Limits" for inhibiting public housing construction.

February 17 - Next City

Illinois Freeway

ICLEI-USA Refutes Study Alleging Cities Undercount GHG Emissions

The organization claims the standards used by cities are consistent and capture the most policy-relevant emissions.

February 17 - ICLEI USA

Westside Los Angeles

Monorail or Heavy Rail Planned for L.A.'s Busy Connection Between the Valley and the Westside

It' down to two options for a rail transit connection over the Sepulveda Pass, following the path of Interstate 405 between the San Fernando Valley and the Westside of Los Angeles.

February 17 - Urbanize LA

Kogi Los Angeles

Food Trucks on Demand

Move over, ride-hailing companies. Food trucks have been responding to demand in neighborhoods.

February 17 - Washington City Paper

Zebra crossing

Federal Transportation Manual Update a Chance for Improvement

After 11 years, the federal transportation manual is getting an update to reflect the rise of autonomous vehicles, shared mobility, and modernized pedestrian infrastructure.

February 17 - Streetsblog USA

Providence

Civil Rights Complaint for Providence's Kennedy Plaza Redesign

The state's plan to dismantle and reorganize its busiest bus plaza faces allegations of civil rights violations.

February 17 - Streetsblog Mass

One57

Pied-à-Terre Tax Would Generate Significantly Less Revenue in NYC Than Estimated, Report Says

A pied-à-terre tax proposed by New York State legislators faced the scrutiny of the Independent Budget Office.

February 17 - The Real Deal

Water Pollution Control Plant

BLOG POST

How Cities Are Using Wastewater to Test for COVID-19

Some scientists and city officials are moving ahead with a different way to track the virus’s spread: wastewater testing.

February 16 - Devin Partida

Post News

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.