The Daily Source of Urban Planning News

White and blue TriMet MAX light rail train on street in Portland, Oregon.

Portland Train Speed Limited by Extreme Heat

When temperatures hit 100 degrees, the city’s two train systems face challenges that force them to slow their speeds or stop operations altogether.

July 8 - KGW

A orange-and-blue tent set up next to a tree in a paved courtyard and a cardboard box of posessions next to the tent entrance.

FEATURE

U.S. Supreme Court Upholds Camping Bans, but Challenges of Addressing Homelessness Remain

In Grants Pass v. Johnson, the Supreme Court upheld an Oregon city’s ban on camping in public places, paving the way for similar bans in cities across the country but doing nothing to solve the cause of homelessness.

July 8 - Brian J. Connolly

View of trees and pond at Ernest E. Debs Regional Park in Los Angeles, California.

From Academia to Action: An Indigenous Reforestation Effort in Los Angeles

Ary Amaya, a UCLA graduate student, leads an Indigenous-led reforestation effort in Los Angeles, integrating cultural practices and ecological restoration across 27 acres to promote Indigenous sovereignty and sustainable land management.

July 8 - UCLA Newsroom

Green oil well in California neighborhood.

California's Struggle to End Neighborhood Oil Drilling Faces Fierce Industry Opposition

Assembly Bill 1866 aims to address the health hazards caused by idle oil wells in low-income communities by enforcing stricter regulations on oil companies to accelerate well cleanup, despite significant opposition from the oil industry.

July 8 - Inside Climate News

7 Bus Chicago CTA

Chicago Transit Ridership Continues to Grow

The city’s three regional agencies are seeing ridership reaching 64 percent of 2019 levels.

July 8 - Mass Transit


White water tower with KYLE text against blue sky with white clouds.

Austin Suburb Launches Walkability Study

Kyle, Texas is developing a Sidewalks Master Plan to improve walking facilities.

July 8 - Hoodline

Honolulu public bus.

Youth Activists Secure Landmark Climate Agreement for Zero Emissions in Hawaii

The unprecedented climate settlement compels the state's transportation department to achieve zero emissions by 2045, marking a significant victory for climate justice and constitutional rights.

July 8 - The Guardian


Garrison Dam in North Dakota.

North Dakota Tribe Reclaims Agricultural Heritage with Massive Greenhouse Project

The Mandan, Hidatsa, and Arikara Nation in North Dakota is launching a massive greenhouse project to regain their agricultural heritage and achieve food sovereignty.

July 8 - Associated Press

Roadside "Fire Danger Extreme Today!" sign in Cleveland National Forest, California.

California Voters to Decide on Major Climate Funding in November

Californians will determine whether to approve a $10 billion bond for climate and environmental projects, which seeks to address critical issues such as wildfire prevention, safe drinking water, and protection of disadvantaged communities.

July 7 - Los Angeles Times

A close-up of the water line on a freshwater beach, small waves lapping at the shore, the water green with algae

Predicting Toxic Algae Blooms with AI Modeling

Scientists hope to use AI and machine learning models to forecast water quality issues caused by toxic blue-green algae blooms.

July 7 - Los Alamos Reporter

Map of Long Island, NY, with hundreds of restroom place markers all over it.

When You Gotta Go: NYC Launches Public Restroom Map

New York City created a Google Maps layer to help residents and tourists alike more easily locate public restrooms.

July 7 - Bloomberg CityLab

Yellow Flood Area road sign in Piney Point, Maryland.

EPA Report Highlights Dire Impacts of Climate Change

The latest edition of the “Climate Change Indicators in the United States” report highlights the severe and widespread impacts of climate change on health and the environment, emphasizing the urgent need for action to mitigate these effects.

July 7 - U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

Text reading June's Must Reads: Our Top 10 Articles from Last Month with a satelite image of a green lake in the background.

BLOG POST

June’s Must-Reads: Top 10 Articles From Last Month

As summer heats up, catch up on last month’s most compelling stories.

July 5 - Mary Hammon

7 Bus Chicago CTA

Chicago Announces First Five ‘Better Streets for Buses’ Corridors

The CTA will develop a series of options for improving bus service on key transit corridors.

July 5 - Chicago Transit Authority

Traffic light with blurred cars and streetcar in background.

BLOG POST

Applying the New Traffic Safety Paradigm

The new traffic safety paradigm recognizes exposure — total vehicle travel — as a risk factor, and therefore the additional casualties caused by planning decisions that induce more driving, and the safety benefits of VMT reductions.

July 5 - Todd Litman

Small New York City street with brownstone homes and cars parked on one side.

NYC ‘City of Yes’ Seeks to Scale Back Parking Requirements

A rise in permit applications after recent changes to parking requirements shows how parking mandates stifle new residential development and raise the cost of housing.

July 5 - StreetsBlog NYC

Historic red tile roofed train depot in Fresno, California.

Historic Fresno Train Depot Will Become Part of HSR Station

The 150-year-old building will see new life as a retail space as part of a flurry of new development along the upcoming high-speed rail line.

July 4 - Fast Company

Close-up of silver modern drinking fountain.

New Orleans Program Installing Public Water Fountains

The city plans to install drinking fountains in more neighborhoods to provide access to water for unhoused residents.

July 4 - KRVS

Rendering of electric bus terminal in Miami, Florida.

Miami Breaks Ground on All-Electric Transit Center

The terminal will have the capacity to power 100 electric buses.

July 4 - ENR Southeast

Blue train with white star and NC logo at platform in North Carolina.

New East Coast HSR Line Breaks Ground

The passenger rail line will connect Raleigh and Richmond as part of the growing Southeast Corridor.

July 4 - Newsweek

Post News
Senior Manager Operations, Urban Planning

New York City School Construction Authority

Building Inspector

Village of Glen Ellyn

Manager of Model Development

Central Transportation Planning Staff/Boston Region MPO

Top Books

An annual review of books related to planning.

Top Schools

The definitive ranking of graduate planning programs.

100 Most Influential Urbanists

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

Urban Planning Creators You Should Know

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.