The Daily Source of Urban Planning News
CEQA Exemptions Could Finally Be Granted to Sustainable Transportation Projects
California has traditionally granted environmental exemptions to large projects like football stadiums, a practice criticized by environmentalists and urbanists alike. SB 288 would change that, with exemptions for sustainable transportation projects.
Maryland's Purple Line Light Rail Project in Crisis
The design-build team hired to build the Purple Line in Maryland could walk off the job unless a deal regarding the increasing cost of the project isn't brokered by June 20.
Bus Priority Plans Could Be Accelerated in Toronto
Political will is building behind the idea of improving bus infrastructure to support frontlines workers in the most heavily effected parts of Canada's largest city.
Demand for City Living Hasn't Declined Yet, According to Real Estate Searches
Media is full of stories about people fleeing the city for suburban or even rural climes during the pandemic. The data from real estate search sites tell a different story.
The Bike as a Symbol of Freedom
It's no geographic accident that so many of the images emerging from nationwide protests have featured numerous protestors on bikes. These forces have been coalescing for years.
What's So Special About Oregon and Utah?
These two Western states did something that none of the 20 other states in the nation going the wrong way in the pandemic have yet to do: they paused their reopening plans due to rising coronavirus infections and hospitalizations.
D.C. Metro Begins 24/7 Work to Improve Train Rails on Multiple Lines
Train rail construction work is underway in Washington D.C. with a planned project completion date on Labor Day.
Lack of Progress on Racial Justice Is Blocking Progress on Climate Justice
Climate justice and social justice are closely linked. Black climate expert Ayana Johnson explains why racial justice strides are required to make leeway for climate change issues.
Academic Studies: Staying at Home Saved Millions of Lives Globally
Separate coronavirus studies from the University of California at Berkeley and Imperial College London published June 8 in the journal Nature show the life and health-saving value of domestic stay-at-home orders, global lockdowns, and other measures.
Pandemic Expected to Dampen Enthusiasm for Mixed-Use Developments
The retail component of the mixed-use development business model is expected to face a long, challenging downturn, and developers and designers are looking in other directions to make ends meet in the meantime.
Ithaca Approves Historic #CancelRent Legislation
Ithaca, New York is the first city in the nation to go through with a plan to cancel rent, giving three-quarters of the residents in the city a needed safety net as the coronavirus pandemic and resulting economic crisis persists into the summer.
Watch: Responding to Anti-Black Racism in Planning and Urbanism
A must-watch conversation between BIPOC researchers and advocates working in the realm of planning and urbanism is available to watch on YouTube.
Can it Happen Here? Is it Happening Here?
An urban planning scholar of foreign conflict shares insights into how recent political unrest in the United States resembles and distinguishes from the ethnic and nationalistic conflict experienced in other countries in recent decades.
The Great Retrofit: Transforming Tysons With Walkable Residential Development
A 2010 comprehensive plan set a goal to add 100,000 residential units with walkable access to public transit to this unincorporated corner of Fairfax County in Northern Virginia.
Another Way to Achieve Racial Justice: Zoning Reform
An opinion piece calls out suburban communities for perpetuating structural inequality and housing discrimination. Recently converted social justice advocates should focus their zeal on zoning reform, according to the argument that follows.
Bus Lanes Arriving on Busy D.C. Street
D.C. is eliminating 74 parking spots on 14th Street NW to make space for dedicated bus lanes and a new protected bike lane.
Environmental Impact Statement for Lake Powell-to-Utah Water Pipeline Released
Paiute Indians in Arizona oppose a plan to pipe Colorado River water from Lake Powell in Arizona to St. George in Utah, according to documents released by the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation.
Dallas Launches 'Slow Streets' Pilot Program
The new slow streets program in Dallas uses community input to create locations for slow streets, each designed to encourage physical activity while maintaining safe distance.
BLOG POST
Lessons from Pandemics: Valuing Public Transportation
Public transit is critical for efficient and equitable transportation, but it is currently under threat due to fears of COVID-19 contagion. Now, more than ever, planners must communicate transit benefits and respond to inaccurate criticisms.
Metra North Central Service Line Riders Push for More Service
A new report imagines more robust service on one of Metra's regional commuter lines in Chicago.
City of Moorpark
City of Tustin
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
Transportation Research & Education Center (TREC) at Portland State University
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.
