We've been measuring traffic congestion all wrong, a new report shows, and that's been making more highways look like the solution to long commutes. They're not.
The "Urban Mobility" report prepared by the Texas Transportation Institute has been the go-to reference on traffic congestion, and consistently makes the case for new roads.
CEOs for Cities takes another look at the numbers and says that TTI's methods are flawed and are part of the reason we've ended up with sprawling cities.
As Streetsblog puts it in their look at the report, "The misleading metrics in the UMR are a convenient bludgeon for the highway lobby."
CEOs for Cities President and CEO Carol Coletta says in the press release, "This analysis, once again, shows that many of the assumptions driving big investments of taxpayer dollars that shape our communities are outdated. Driven Apart adds to the growing body of evidence that shows compact development that puts many destinations close at hand has unexpected benefits - in this case, less time spent in traffic requiring less spending on highways. If we heed its findings, we'll save time and money."
Thanks to Noah Kazis
FULL STORY: Report: Want to Ease Commuter Pain? Highways and Sprawl Won’t Help

New York Governor Advances Housing Plan Amid Stiff Suburban Opposition
Governor Kathy Hochul’s ambitious proposal to create more housing has once again run into a brick wall of opposition in New York’s enormous suburbs, especially on Long Island. This year, however, the wall may have some cracks.

Rethinking the Role of Parking in the American City
In cities big and small, the tide is turning against sprawling parking lots, car-centric development, and minimum parking mandates.

Friday Eye Candy: 20 AI-Generated Cityscapes
AI-generated images are creating new landscapes and cityscapes, capable of inspiring awe or fear.

Proposed Pool Would Make an Olympic-Sized Play Area in the San Francisco Bay
The San Francisco Bay is usually an undesirable place to swim, except for a hearty few. A development proposal seeking assistance at the state level would add a pool to the Bay’s waters to make the idea of going for a swim more appealing.

Chicagoland Transit Agencies Call for State Funding as Budget Shortfall Looms
Illinois transit agencies want to see changes to a law requiring them to collect half of their revenue from transit fares, arguing that low ridership and staffing shortages will lead to a massive budget gap without intervention.

Panel: Minneapolis Zoning Updates Should Reflect Mixed-Use Future
A discussion of post-pandemic changes in work and commuting concluded that the city’s overhaul of its zoning code should be less restrictive with land uses.
Princeton Planning
City of College Park
Houston-Galveston Area Council
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
City of Spearfish
City of Lomita
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.