The Daily Source of Urban Planning News

Part II: The New Regionalism of the Coronavirus Pandemic
Part I was shutting down the economy on a multi-state basis in the absence of federal leadership. Part II will be opening them up in spite of federal assertiveness.

America's 'Most Endangered River' in 2020: The Mighty Mississippi
Heavy flooding are expected to strain the Mississippi and Missouri rivers in Spring 2020, just as resources are stretched thin by the coronavirus.

Census Bureau Seeks Delay
Citing complications from the coronavirus pandemic, the U.S. Census Bureau is seeking a 120-day delay in concluding the Census process, with potential consequences lasting into 2021.

COVID-19 Impacts on the Future of Transportation
MoveLA's Denny Zane and Gloria Ohland assess the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on public transit.

Few Homeowners in Forbearance in April; Number Expected to Grow
The Mortgage Bankers Association surveyed the U.S. home mortgage servicing market for indications about how the nation's 26.9 million home loans were holding up during the first weeks of the pandemic.

Texas Losing its Housing Affordability Advantage
Trends pre-dating Covid-19 showed housing affordability slipping away from many residents in Texas. The pandemic will likely only exacerbate the trend, according to this analysis.

Strengthening the Safety Net With Universal Housing Assistance
The Urban Institute simulated a model to predict the cost of a universal housing assistance program to support those who face homelessness.

Superstar Cities Are Struggling Now, But Could Recover to Gain Even More Economic Power
The public health and economic crises caused by the coronavirus are threatening to further entrench inequality in America—between regions and within cities.

Concern About the Direction of the Next Federal Stimulus Bill
Congressional leaders are discussing the shape and size of the next federal stimulus bill. The following critique argues that the next bill should do more to expand testing, contact tracing, and quarantine capacity at the state level.

BLOG POST
Does Dispersion Help?
Only 7 percent of U.S. residents live in the nation's largest metropolitan area (New York). Has that made coronavirus less deadly?

A Rare Chance for Urban Innovation
The realities of social distancing are allowing for innovations and experimentations with real opportunities for long-term benefit in cities, according to an article by Allison Arieff.

Experts Expect Rent to Drop, Along With Incomes
There is no silver lining in the news that experts expect the cost of rental housing to decline as a result of the coronavirus pandemic.

Office-to-Residential Conversions Considered as Workers Go Remote
Reduced demand for office space after coronavirus could lead New York landlords to consider the conversion of offices to residential spaces.

BLOG POST
Lessons from Pandemics: Comparing Urban and Rural Risks
Many people assume that infectious disease risks make cities dangerous, but this is generally untrue. Other factors have more effect on pandemic risk and mortality rates, making cities safer and healthier than rural areas overall.

Another State (Ohio) Gets It Right
Washington and California have been praised for early efforts to mitigate community spread of the novel coronavirus, resulting in relatively low rates of infection, hospitalization, and ultimately, death. Add Ohio to the bunch.

Early Indications of Car Industry's Future Emerge
Evidence from Wuhan, China, the used car auction market in the United States, and the Trump administration reveal some of the potential futures for the car industry.

Race, Planning Intersect as the Coronavirus Kills Black and Latino Americans at Higher Rates
Black and Latino Americans in the United States are dying from COVID-19 at a much higher rate than whites. The foundation for the tragedy has been laid for decades.

Ups and Downs for Self-Driving Cars During the Pandemic
While some driverless car companies have expanded operations in the past month, some industry observers caution that the business of autonomous vehicles remains stuck in neutral.

Questioning Washington State's Commitment to Greenhouse Gas Reductions
Lawmakers in Washington state fell short of passing comprehensive legislation this year to meet long-term goals of reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

Distance Learning and University Challenges Under COVID-19
University of California Board of Regents Chair John A. Pérez shares the University of California's real-time response to the COVID-19 pandemic, highlighting economic and pedagogical impacts for the system.
Pagination
City of Moorpark
City of Tustin
Tyler Technologies
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.