Neighborhood opposition is hampering plans to convert a section of New York City's Prince Street into a car-free pedestrian mall every Sunday.
"A Department of Transportation proposal to close six blocks of Prince St. in Soho to car traffic on Sundays is steering proponents and opponents on a collision course, as they paint vastly different portraits of what will transpire if the plan is enacted."
"Sean Sweeney, director of the Soho Alliance neighborhood association, has taken to calling the pilot program - which is scheduled to run on a trial basis between Memorial Day and Labor Day - the 'Prince St. Mall.'"
"Those who support the proposal take issue with the term."
"'It already is a mall, it is just that people drive their S.U.V.'s through it,' said Ian Dutton, vice chairperson of the board's Traffic and Transportation Committee."
"The two main issues for debate are the resulting car traffic in the surrounding streets, and the prospect of increasing the number of street vendors."
"In nearby Little Italy, several streets have been closed to pedestrians during the summer, and both sides of the Prince St. debate point to Little Italy as an example of what they don't want to see happen in Soho."
"'This already exists on Mulberry St., and the neighbors hate it,' said Sweeney."
FULL STORY: Prince St. mall plan provokes road rage

Rethinking Redlining
For decades we have blamed 100-year-old maps for the patterns of spatial racial inequity that persist in American cities today. An esteemed researcher says: we’ve got it all wrong.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

Walmart Announces Nationwide EV Charging Network
The company plans to install electric car chargers at most of its stores by 2030.

New State Study Suggests Homelessness Far Undercounted in New Mexico
An analysis of hospital visit records provided a more accurate count than the annual point-in-time count used by most agencies.

Michigan Bills Would Stiffen Penalties for Deadly Crashes
Proposed state legislation would close a ‘legal gap’ that lets drivers who kill get away with few repercussions.

Report: Bus Ridership Back to 86 Percent of Pre-Covid Levels
Transit ridership around the country was up by 85 percent in all modes in 2024.
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.
City of Moorpark
City of Tustin
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