The Daily Source of Urban Planning News

JR Shinkansen

PLANOPEDIA

What Is High-Speed Rail?

Beginning with Japan in the 1960s, more and more countries are embracing high-speed trains to streamline domestic travel. Operating at speeds often in excess of 160 mph, high-speed rail networks are now well-developed across Europe and, more recently, in China.

March 23 - Philip Rojc

Accessory Dwelling Unit

6 Zoning Keys for Effective Missing Middle Housing

The inventor of the term missing middle housing has advice on writing zoning codes that effectively deliver on the potential of the tool.

March 23 - CNU Public Square

Empty Street

The Regional Economic Impacts of the Coronavirus

The effects of a nationwide economic recession will likely hit hardest those regions with vulnerable sectors.

March 23 - The Avenue (Brookings)

City Hall

Local Planning Departments Shutting Down in California

The entire state of California is now on a shelter in place order, but planning desks and public hearings on land use issues were already in the process of shutting down.

March 23 - Lay of the Land

Bike Lanes

Bogotá Expanding Bike Infrastructure to Respond to Coronavirus

Bogotá, Colombia is preparing for the coronavirus pandemic by making space for people on bikes in the public realm, calling bikes a hygienic option for mobility.

March 23 - SmartCitiesWorld


nyc. subway.

Annual Transit Shortfall Estimated at $26 Billion-$38 Billion

The realities of the coronavirus are most obvious in the declining ridership, and revenues, on public transit in the United States, but it's not enough to shut down public transit when so many people depend on safe, healthy service.

March 23 - TransitCenter

Los Angeles, California

BLOG POST

Debating the Future of Cities, and Urban Density, After the Pandemic

Numerous writers and experts are already examining the question about what happens to ideas about urbanism in a future forever altered by recent events.

March 23 - James Brasuell


Salt Lake City, Utah

Transit App Updating Transit Demand Estimates Daily

The Transit app has created the most comprehensive portal for transit ridership data—with a key caveat made about the source of the data.

March 23 - transit

Staten Island Ferry

New York and Illinois Follow in California's Footsteps by Declaring Shutdowns

Governors of three of the nation's largest states, containing the three largest cities, have issued emergency orders to slow the spread of COVID-19.

March 22 - The Washington Post

Roberto Clemente Bridge

A Pittsburgh Bike Plan Preview

Pittsburgh is expected to release its Bike(+) Plan later this year.

March 22 - Next City

Elderly Walking

Changing Perceptions of Aging in Planning

In planning, stereotypes of older adults still dominate, and it’s time for that message to change.

March 22 - Insights (Toole Design)

Philadelphia Jewelers' Row

The Role of Local Governments in Stabilizing the Economy

By providing support for workers and small businesses, local governments will play a crucial role in weathering the virus and stabilizing the economy.

March 22 - Brookings

Public Transit Ridership

40 Million Californians Ordered to Stay At Home to Contain Coronavirus

The largest state in the country has been ordered to shelter in place.

March 20 - California Coronavirus (COVID-19) Response

Seattle Electric Bus

King County Postpones August Target for Transit Sales Tax Initiative

King County, home to Seattle, will wait to ask voters to approve a 0.2% sales tax for funding transit until a time both when transit use is higher, and people aren’t facing waves of sudden unemployment.

March 20 - The Urbanist

Glendale, California

Economic Argument for Historic Preservation in L.A.: Older Housing is Affordable Housing

Donovan Rypkema and Adrian Scott Fine highlight myth-busting findings on the impacts of historic preservation overlay zones (HPOZs) on affordability, density, diversity, and economic resilience of neighborhoods across Los Angeles.

March 20 - The Planning Report

First-Time Buyers

More Questions Than Answers in Real Estate

The effects of the coronavirus pandemic on the U.S. real estate market are only beginning to show, but renters, homeowners, landlords, lenders, and more need to prepare for the worst.

March 20 - Connecticut Law Tribune

Construction Site

The Architecture Billings Index Was Strong on the Eve of the Pandemic

The Architecture Billings Index in February 2020 could lend hope in the current economic climate, or it could set a benchmark for a future recovery.

March 20 - Archinect

UC Berkeley and North Berkeley

The New Regionalism of the Coronavirus Pandemic

In the absence of federal leadership in dealing with the coronavirus pandemic, East Coast states and West Coast counties have collaborated to implement uniform containment strategies to arrest the spread of COVID-19, and it's catching on.

March 19 - CNBC

Grand Central Station Tunnel

Transit Agencies Seeking Federal Help as Ridership Plummets

Two of the most transit rich regions in the United States have sounded alarms about the need for federal relief as transit ridership plummets as workers stay home or avoid public transit. The APTA is supporting the cause.

March 19 - Government Technology

Accessory Dwelling Unit

Mayor Lightfoot Expected to Push for Legal Coach Houses in Chicago

Mayor Lori Lightfoot is expected to introduce legislation that would relax zoning restrictions on coach houses, known widely as accessory dwelling units, in the city of Chicago.

March 19 - Chicago Sun-Times

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Top Books

An annual review of books related to planning.

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The definitive ranking of graduate planning programs.

100 Most Influential Urbanists

The who's who of urbanism, according to Planetizen readers.

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A short list of voices on social, video, and podcasting platforms.

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.