The Daily Source of Urban Planning News

Lessons From Rent Control's Latest Election Rejection
California voters, with a reputation for liberal politics, have repeatedly refused to approve statewide rent control laws at the ballot box.

Reimagined Public Spaces and Programming During the Pandemic
Public spaces have become more important than ever. Here are five case studies of innovative and safely designed programming that engages people of all ages and backgrounds.

Planning with Gratitude
Being a planner is not easy. Our work may often leave us discouraged, frustrated, and cynical. But with Thanksgiving approaching, let's take some time to reflect and count our blessings.

Meet Google's Open Source, Time-Traveling Map
All historic maps are welcome in Google's open source machine learning project.

Transit Plans Change as the Pandemic Lingers
The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) this week proposed cuts to public transit service. In a decision that will likely repeat as more transit agencies undertake similar processes, the MBTA decided to prioritize buses over trains.

Street Redesign as an Economic Development Tool
The city of Covington in Kentucky is working on street improvements on key downtown streets in the hopes of attracting new business to the area.

From Vacant to Catalytic: Tampa to Upgrade City-Owned Property
West Tampa, among the Hillsborough River, is already gaining development momentum, and new plans to develop a city-owned property on the river could add fuel to the fire.

One Key, Underappreciated Affordable Housing Strategy: Repairing Existing Homes
The city of Philadelphia offers a case study for the challenges and potential benefits of home repair programs.

Veterans and Gold Star Families Can Now Visit National Parks for Free
A small token of gratitude to the veterans who fought to protect the freedoms of the United States, and the families who sacrificed everything.

Biden-Harris Transition Covid Task Force Announced
President-elect Biden made clear during the campaign that he will "follow the science" in tackling the number one priority of his administration—gaining control of the coronavirus. The 13-member task force with three co-chairs was announced Monday.

Edmonton Streets Slow Down
Some Edmonton streets will see a drop in speed limit by 10 km/h. Some Edmontonians would like to see the limit further reduced, while others think the reduction is a case of misguided priorities.

Massive Widening Planned for Interstate 10 in Maricopa County
The Arizona Department of Transportation has selected a developer for the Broadway Curve Improvement Project, which would widen Interstate 10, spanning multiple jurisdictions adjacent to Phoenix.

Hyperloop Gets its First Human Test Subjects
It has a long way to go to match the speed and capacity of high-speed rail technology, but at least the Hyperloop has achieved one critical benchmark: a test involving human passengers.

Roanoke Finds a Planning Work Around to Approve New Transit Station
With Planning Commission approval in hand, the Roanoke City Council will soon consider a controversial proposal for a new transit station in the city's downtown.

New Car Owners, Fewer Parking Spaces—Chickens Come to Roost in New York City
Many cities like New York have reallocated space formerly reserved for moving and storing cars to help restaurants and stores weather the pandemic, but as more residents rely on cars for the same reason, the dynamic threatens to boil over.

Why Have ADUs Proliferated in Portland, Lagged in D.C.?
A new report by the Urban Institute examines the consequences of small differences in land use regulations.

California Voters Chose Uber Over Employment Law—What it Means for the U.S.
After the most expensive initiative campaign in California history, California voters approved Proposition 22 by a wide margin. The consequences of the vote could go national.

A New Tool for More Flexible and Resilient Water Policies
A new book created by the Sonoran Institute explains how exploratory scenario planning can be useful to prepare for the uncertainty of water in the near- and long-term future.

Uncertain Times for Trade Shows and Conferences
Expecting a dark winter, conferences are being canceled worldwide, putting millions of jobs at risk.

How Seattle Plans to Leverage Public Resources to Protect Arts and Culture
The Cultural Space Agency, proposed in Seattle, would be a new type of public development authority, a city agency with a mission to preserve and create arts and culture in the face of gentrification.
Pagination
New York City School Construction Authority
Village of Glen Ellyn
Central Transportation Planning Staff/Boston Region MPO
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.