The Daily Source of Urban Planning News

Highway Sign in North Carolina

Americans Aren't Likely to Start Driving at Pre-Pandemic Levels Soon

Vehicle miles traveled (VMT) and gasoline production trends point to VMT in the United States staying ten to 12 percent lower than in 2019 for the next few months, at least.

September 28 - Eno Center for Transportation

The Oval+

Covid-19 Outdoor Dining Rules Could Last Through 2021 in Philadelphia

Emergency outdoor dining regulations approved in June and set to expired in December could now be extended through the coming year.

September 28 - WHYY

Bank Owned

Wall Street Wagering on a Permanent Suburban Renter Class

Expectations that the economic downturn of the COVID-19 pandemic will create a wave of homeowners leaving the market, whether by choice or necessity, are driving big acquisitions by private equity firms and Wall Street investors.

September 28 - The Wall Street Journal

Raleigh, North Carolina

Richmond-to-Raleigh High-Speed Rail Gets Big Funding Win

Federal grant funding awarded recently takes a critical step toward making high-speed intercity rail service a reality between North Carolina and Virginia.

September 27 - The News & Observer

COVID-19 City

New Google Map Layer Shows COVID-19 Infection Rates

A new layer showing the seven-day average of confirmed COVID-19 cases started rolling out to Android and iPhones last week.

September 27 - The Verge


Washington, D.C.

Union Station Redesign Gets a Placemaking Do Over

Criticisms of a draft plan to revamp D.C.'s Union Station have described the proposal as far too concerned with car storage.

September 27 - Greater Greater Washington

New York City Open Streets

New York Outdoor Dining, Open Streets Programs Now Permanent

New York City will now be measurably less car-centric for the indefinite future.

September 27 - Eater New York


Oahu

Affordable Housing Project Fails From Community Opposition in Honolulu

The final demise of a closely watched, controversial affordable housing project was reported this week in Honolulu.

September 25 - KITV4

Car-Centric Planning

BLOG POST

4 Urban Planning Fails We Need to Correct in 2020

Here are four urban planning fails that should be near the top of the list as professionals assess what to address in 2020 and 2021.

September 25 - Devin Partida

Boston, Massachusetts

Mega-Project Aims to Transform South Boston

Developers with a ground lease for land owned by the University of Massachusetts Boston want to build a new mixed-use development to rival Kendall Square in nearby Cambridge.

September 25 - The Boston Globe

Washington D.C.

Vision Zero on the Streets of D.C.

Bike and pedestrian deaths have been on the rise in D.C. despite a Vision Zero commitment. New legislation will pave the way for new infrastructure and safety improvements.

September 25 - The Washington Post

Black Lives Matter

A New Guide to Black Voices on the City

Introducing a new interactive resource that presents the contributions of the Black community to a growing understanding of cities and the built environment.

September 24 - Black Voices on the City

irishtown bend

Legacy Cities, Post-Pandemic

The question of how the pandemic and all of its corresponding crises will alter the future of cities and planning has persisted since March. This article rightfully focuses those large, challenging questions of the Legacy Cities of the United States.

September 24 - Economic Innovation Group

Texas Bike Lane

Bike Ridership Booms in Some Unlikely Cities

A fitness tracking app reports dramatic increases in bike ridership since the onset of the coronavirus pandemic.

September 24 - Bloomberg CityLab

Oil

Gone by 2035: Gas-Powered Car Sales Have an Expiration Date in California

California Governor Gavin Newsom announced yesterday an executive order that would ban the sale of cars powered by internal combustion engines by 2035. California is the first state in the country to take such action.

September 24 - Palm Springs Desert Sun

Valley Metro

Phoenix's Valley Metro Works on Three Light Rail Project During Pandemic Lull

Construction continues on three Phoenix light rail projects set to be completed in 2024.

September 24 - Arizona Republic

CTA Buses

Pop-Up Bus Lanes Coming to Chicago

New pop-up bus lanes on two of the most heavily traveled bus routes in Chicago will help move essential workers more efficiently during the pandemic.

September 24 - Smart Cities Dive

Atlanta Park

Atlanta's Quarry Yards Bought for $127 Million by Microsoft; Development Plans Still Secret

Observers can only speculate about the development plans of the new owners of one of the city of Atlanta's largest development opportunities.

September 24 - The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Brooklyn, New York City

Rezoning a Wealthy Neighborhood in the Name of Equity

An opinion piece makes the case that a rezoning proposal for the Brooklyn neighborhood of Gowanus has a higher potential for new affordable housing and lower risk of displacement compared to other rezoning plans in the city.

September 24 - City Limits

Maryland Transit Administration

Purple Line Construction Halts in Maryland as Contractor Woes Deepen

Purple Line Transit Partners, the contractors managing construction of the beleaguered Purple Line in Maryland, have begun to walk off the job as a dispute about cost overruns brings the project to a screeching halt.

September 23 - The Washington Post

Post News

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Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.