The Daily Source of Urban Planning News
College Campuses Offer Opportunity to Demonstrate COVID Containment Strategies
As college students return for the fall semester, college towns are rightfully concerned about an influx of COVID cases, yet self-contained campuses have the potential to succeed where local and state governments may have failed.
Owners and Renters of Manufactured Homes Lack Assistance During the Pandemic
Millions of people who live in manufactured homes were already vulnerable. The pandemic has made their housing situations even more precarious.
Critics Say Boston Tree Removal Plan Reflects Environmental Racism
A road project in Boston involves removing hundreds of mature trees. Residents say the plan is an environmental justice issue.
The Compounding Dangers of the Virus and Natural Disasters
As Hurricane Laura intensified into a Category 4 storm, public officials had to make decisions about evacuation during a time of sheltering in place. Researchers at Texas A&M University developed a risk index to guide decisionmaking processes.
For Success, Smart Cities Need Stakeholder Engagement
Smart cities technologies are not going to lead to the right outcomes unless end users are recognized as integral players in the planning process.
Professional Planners Anticipate Post-Pandemic Active Commuting
Many planners say they want to try out active commutes when in-office work becomes possible. How will a fresh look at their local streets influence planning professionals and planning practice?
The Racial Inequity of Disaster Recovery
Disaster recovery in the Houston area has been inconsistent, with low-income residents of color continuing to struggle to put their lives and communities back together.
Destroyed Subway Car Windows Contribute to MTA Budget Deficit
As the Metropolitan Transportation Authority grapples with a $16 billion deficit, smashed train windows are adding to the cost.
How to Produce Equitable Pedestrian Plans
The majority of pedestrian master plans consider how to make equitable walking infrastructure. Less than half of plans implement strategies to address the fact that people of color are disproportionately represented in pedestrian fatalities.
In Paradise, Using Greenbelts to Manage Wildfires
The Camp Fire in California devasted the town of Paradise. As rebuilding progresses, local leaders are looking to protect the town using nature-based fire resilience strategies.
Rethinking the Indelible Lines of Subdivision
The subdivision process imposes rules that result in a lack flexibility, convoluted urban design, and diced up landscapes.
The Changing Geography of the Pandemic
During the pandemic's first phase in March and April, the Northeast was devastated by COVID-19. After Memorial Day, the surge was in the South and West. As cases decrease nationwide, they are now spiking in the Midwest, particularly North Dakota.
Book Review: 'Ghost Road' and Visions for Autonomous Transporation
Anthony M. Townsend's new book goes beyond autonomous automobiles to examine autonomous transportation in a larger context.
If the Postal Service Erodes, So Does American Life
An urban designer argues that protecting the U.S. Postal Service is crucial for maintaining civic values, social ties, and urban life.
The Undeniable Link Between Redlining and Extreme Heat in American Cities
The country’s history of racist and segregationist housing policies is affecting vulnerable low-income communities of color that are bearing the brunt of climate change impacts.
Ben Carson’s Clear Disdain for Fair and Affordable Housing
Carson has spent much of his time as HUD secretary attacking the housing programs, initiatives, and regulations central to the agency’s mission.
How to Adopt Long-Term Anti-Racism Solutions as an Urbanist
Nic Esposito calls for an "anti-racist reframe" of urbanism to address the attitudes and policies that have perpetuated racist systems and upheld capitalism at all costs.
EPA Completes Rollback of Obama-Era Methane Regulations
The new rules are significantly less stringent in mandating repair of methane leaks and regulation of emissions.
MTA Spending Millions on Cleaning, but Disagreement Over the Need
Deep cleaning of the New York City subway and bus system is part of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority’s coronavirus response. But it is costly and time consuming, and the public health benefits are not entirely clear.
Tolling All Freeway Lanes in the Bay Area?
What's more surprising is seeing who is making the proposal and why. The first step would be to have the concept included in Plan Bay Area 2050.
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.
