This week, NACTO released a preview of its Urban Street Design Guidebook, a document meant to assist local governments in designing their streets on the principle that they're spaces for people and commerce as well as arteries for traffic.
Published to coincide with the start of the annual National Association of City Transportation Officials' Designing Cities conference, the guide [PDF] "documents the design principles and strategies that the nation's largest cities are adopting to confront new and growing demands on their streets," says Ray H. LaHood, Secretary of the US Department of Transportation, and conference keynote speaker.
He continues: "[f]rom Bus Rapid Transit to bikeways and public seating, the guide showcases a new model for streets that work better for cities and the people who live, work, and own businesses in them. And not just better in terms of livability--as the data that accompanied today's release indicates, this model is better in terms of business income, jobs and economic growth."
This week's release only provides an overview of the strategies necessary for transforming our streets to suit the needs of 21st Century cities, the full document is slated to be completed next summer.
FULL STORY: Street Design 101: New Guidebook for Cities Released

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

The Simple Legislative Tool Transforming Vacant Downtowns
In California, Michigan and Georgia, an easy win is bringing dollars — and delight — back to city centers.

San Francisco's School District Spent $105M To Build Affordable Housing for Teachers — And That's Just the Beginning
SFUSD joins a growing list of school districts using their land holdings to address housing affordability challenges faced by their own employees.

In More Metros Than You’d Think, Suburbs are Now More Expensive Than the City
If you're moving to the burbs to save on square footage, data shows you should think again.

The States Losing Rural Delivery Rooms at an Alarming Pace
In some states, as few as 9% of rural hospitals still deliver babies. As a result, rising pre-term births, no adequate pre-term care and "harrowing" close calls are a growing reality.

The Small South Asian Republic Going all in on EVs
Thanks to one simple policy change less than five years ago, 65% of new cars in this Himalayan country are now electric.
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.
Smith Gee Studio
City of Charlotte
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
Transportation Research & Education Center (TREC) at Portland State University
US High Speed Rail Association
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
Municipality of Princeton (NJ)