The Daily Source of Urban Planning News

Popularity of Opportunity Zone Program Grows During the Pandemic
Investors are looking for safe places to park capital gains as volatility roils the stock market. Opportunity zone programs fit the bill.

New Weekly Survey from U.S. Census Bureau Provides Crucial Insight for Recovery Efforts
Weekly releases of key data sets illustrate the impact of the coronavirus pandemic on U.S. citizens as a U.S. Census Bureau effort to enable data-driven decision-making in recovery planning.

Electric Bike Sales Explode as Cities Rethink Streetscapes
North America has experienced a 5% jump in rates of cycling since the U.S. started staying home. As electric bikes enjoy impressive sales increases, cities around the world consider making the shift permanent by planning bike-friendly infrastructure.

Miss the Subway? There's an App for That
The NYC Subway Sounds app is a great tool for dealing with nostalgia for the old ways of life.

FEATURE
Cities Are Suddenly a Little Less Car-Centric
(Opinion) After devoting more than a century of planning and engineering effort to the movement and storage of cars above all other considerations, U.S. cities have suddenly, temporarily shifted priorities.

Adapting Public Engagement to Social Distancing
TransitCenter published a new report on the emerging practices of public engagement at a time when large gatherings have been prohibited.

Proposed Mass Timber High-Rise In Seattle Adds Six Stories
A proposal for the development of a mass timber high-rise in First Hill is under community review in Seattle. The project, which adjusted plans to add an additional 6 floors, proposes the tallest mass timber building in Seattle.
Renter Coalition Takes Ownership From Landlord, With City Help
A few months ago, it seemed that a large group of renters in Minneapolis would be forced from their homes as the economic effects of the pandemic hit. Now these residents will own their forms in a city-supported cooperative.

Fatal Collisions Increase Per Vehicle Miles Traveled During Pandemic
Data from the National Safety Council show the first evidence that with fewer cars on the road during the pandemic, fatal collisions have actually been more common for every mile driven.

2020 ParkScore Ranks Minneapolis at the Top
The need for access to parks and open space has never been as obvious, or as pressing.

ADU Ordinance Ready for City Council Scrutiny in Chicago
Chicago residents will have the option of building coach houses or convection units if a new law passes as written through the Chicago City Council.

Subway Ridership Starting to Rise in New York City, but not as Quickly as Car Trips
A noticeable increase in subway ridership has been taking place on subway trains in New York City, but not enough to call it a comeback, yet.

'Ramps to Nowhere' Will Come Down in Seattle as New Debates Heat Up
The history of Seattle's opposition to car infrastructure is being commemorated while it's being made.

Dams Break in Michigan: Nation's Crumbling Infrastructure Takes Center Stage Again
Reports of catastrophic infrastructure failure today in Michigan, a state already facing some of the worst consequences of the Covid-19 pandemic.

History in the Making: BART Extension into San Jose Ready for June Opening
Twenty years after voters first approved funding to build a BART extension into the heart of the South Bay Area, the project is finally ready to offer rides to the public.

2020's Hot Transportation Trend: The Bike
A prominent consequence of the stay-at-home orders and social distancing of the Covid-19 pandemic in the United States has been a dramatic surge in the popularity of bike transportation.

Greenhouse Gas Emissions Reduced 17% Worldwide in April, Study Says
A recently published study predicts a 4 to 7 percent decline in greenhouse gas emissions for 2020 compared to 2019.

New Ideas in Urban Research
Findings from graduating doctoral students undertaking urban-related research.

Uncertain Futures for U.S. Restaurants Raise Larger Concerns About City Vitality
In many American cities, restaurants are beacons of economic revitalization and social vibrancy. Calculations are still being made to determine the toll taken on the nation's eateries, and in turn, the urban economies they serve.

1,000-Plus Mixed-Income Units Planned in Miami
A planned development made possible by a ground lease with the county could add over a thousands mixed income units to the housing market in Miami.
Pagination
Tyler Technologies
New York City School Construction Authority
Village of Glen Ellyn
Transportation Research & Education Center (TREC) at Portland State University
Chaddick Institute at DePaul University
Institute for Housing and Urban Development Studies (IHS)
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.