The Daily Source of Urban Planning News

Bright green vintage streetcar and cyclist on Market Street in San Francisco, California.

SF’s Market Street Will no Longer be Car-free

The city will allow Waymo robotaxis and ride-hailing app vehicles to drive down the car-free stretch of Market Street as part of Mayor Dan Lurie’s effort to help revitalize local businesses.

August 22 - San Francisco Chronicle

Head-on view of cars stopped at intersection on one-way street in San Francisco, California on a sunny day.

One-Way Streets Have Worse Crashes, Higher Crime and Lower Property Values — Why do we Still Use Them?

How reverting one-way streets to two-way can boost both safety and economic development.

August 22 - Next City

People walk down street with colorful umbrellas in front of ground floor retail in Honolulu, Hawaii.

The Case for a Walkable Honolulu

Why supporting mixed use development and ground-level retail can solve the city’s housing and walkability crises at the same time.

August 21 - Honolulu Civil Beat

People waiting at a Los Angeles Metro bus stop with black and white M logo.

LA Bus Ridership Keeps Dropping as ICE Raids Continue

Bus boardings fell for a second month amid fears of immigration raids.

August 21 - Los Angeles Times

Amtrak train on tracks with Philadelphia, Pennsylvania skyline in background.

Loss of SEPTA Funding Could Kill Amtrak’s Fifth Busiest Line

The Philadelphia transit agency’s funding challenges could eliminate its contributions to Amtrak’s Keystone Service linking Philly and NYC.

August 21 - Pennsylvania Capital-Star


Midtown Manhattan skyline with Chrysler Tower in background against colorful sunset.

NYC's Plan to add 9500+ Housing Units to Midtown

The city council approved a rezoning plan that will allow high-density mixed-use development in a formerly manufacturing-only district.

August 21 - JD Supra

Aerial view graphic of surburban homes with green laws and ponds with grey streets spelling out SOS.

Are Regional Governments the Answer to the Housing Crisis?

A never-realized model of regional governance once proposed in California could help ease the housing crunch and create more housing in suburbs and peripheral areas.

August 20 - Business Insider


Donald Trump signing executive order in Oval Office with other officials behind him.

Trump Revives 2019 Plan to Cut Housing Assistance for Undocumented Immigrants

The proposed change to HUD rules would restrict federal housing aid from households that include undocumented people.

August 20 - Bloomberg CityLab

Submerged black car and people in small boat in flooded neighborhood in Grafton, Illinois.

Mayors Along the Mississippi See Climate Change Coming — and are Shoring up Together

The Mississippi River Cities and Towns Initiative is bringing together local officials to address climate resilience across the region.

August 20 - Ten Across

Green two-story wood house in Brighton, Massachusetts on a sunny day with small red sedan parked in front.

BLOG POST

Parking: The Dark Matter of the Urban Universe

Parking regulations affect our lives and communities in many, often mysterious ways. These impacts are often overlooked, resulting in bad policies. It's time to apply urban planning magic: fewer driveways and better managed public parking.

August 20 - Todd Litman

View from bus-mounted AI-assisted camera identifying vehicles parked in red designated bus lane.

AI-Powered Bus Lane Cameras Are Speeding up Buses by up to 36%

More cities are turning to automated enforcement to keep bus lanes clear of cars and improve service.

August 19 - Fast Company

Skyline of Richmond, British Columbia with water in the foreground.

Court Favors First Nations in Landmark Metro Vancouver Land Claim

The longest trial in Canadian history ended with the BC Supreme Court awarding rights to a 750-hectare parcel in Richmond to First Nations groups.

August 19 - Global News

Empty train platform in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania with snow falling.

SEPTA to Cut 1/5 of Service Starting Aug 24

The Philadelphia transit agency is eliminating 32 bus lines and slashing service on dozens of others after the state legislature failed to come to an agreement over funding.

August 19 - CBS News

A living room in Logan Square, Chicago, IL with white walls and large windows filled with lots of plants and furniture.

The Death of the Living Room

High housing costs are squeezing out common shared spaces in many UK apartments, leading to social isolation and negative mental health impacts.

August 19 - The Independent

Two young women prepare to step onto the escalator to the lower subway platform of New York City's Second Avenue Line.

After 50 Years, Subway to East Harlem to Break Ground

The MTA approved a contract to extend the Q Line to three new stations, with surface work slated to begin in September.

August 19 - Gothamist

Metal gate with Texas logo and star with wide open field with white wind turbines behind it.

FEATURE

Texas Rural Communities Could Lose Billions From Renewable Energy Tax Credit Cuts

Texas produces more solar and wind energy than anywhere in America — and the tax revenue from it pays for rural schools, hospitals, law enforcement and more. The One Big Beautiful Bill threatens that.

August 19 - Julia Tilton

A red San Diego trolley car stopped at a platform with people waiting in San Ysidro, California near the Mexico border.

1,000 New Homes Sprouting Around San Diego Trolley Station

Multiple projects, helped along by city and state incentives, will densify the area around the Palm Avenue station.

August 18 - The San Diego Union-Tribune

Multicolored modular emergency resnpose homes in Lahaina, Hawaii with rainbow in background.

Modular Homes Offer ‘Dignified’ Shelter for Maui Wildfire Survivors

FEMA is replacing traditional trailers, which quickly deteriorate and are unfit for long-term habitation, with modular, fire-resistant homes designed to last.

August 18 - The New York Times

Aerial of Grants Pass, Oregon wth white city hall building in foreground and hills with colorfull fall leaves in background.

Grants Pass to Provide 150 Camping Spaces, $60k in Services After Disability Rights Suit

The city previously made headlines for the U.S. Supreme Court case allowing penalties for camping prohibited by local ordinances.

August 18 - Oregon Capital Chronicle

Man and woman talking in front of project presentation board at public meeting.

The Problem With Outsourcing Public Engagement

Why hiring outside consultants to represent public works projects at meetings often misses the point of having public officials hear community concerns.

August 18 - Streets MN

Post News
Senior Planner

City of Thousand Oaks

Community Development Director

City of Wisconsin Rapids

Professor of Urban Planning

Harvard University Graduate School of Design

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.

FREE Course: Walkable City 1: Why Walkability?

After describing his path towards focusing on walkability as the essence of good planning, Jeff Speck marches through his five principal reasons for making more walkable places.

Reinventing Malls: Planning Alchemy—Turning Gray Fields Into Gold

The course focuses on the opportunities and imperatives that shape reinvention of mall sites.