Parking guru Donald Shoup discusses how the city of Los Angeles can fix its roughly 4,300 miles of sidewalk that require some degree of repair, for free.

According to a recent Op-Ed by Donald Shoup in the Los Angeles Times, "the city of Los Angeles has 10,750 miles of public sidewalks, and about 40% need some degree of repair, which the city estimates will cost at least $1.5 billion." Los Angeles got itself into this predicament after shifting sidewalk repair liability in 1973 from the state and owners of abutting properties to the city. In 1976 though, funding dried up and since then Los Angeles has resorted to either patching asphalt on cracked sidewalk, or more likely, nothing at all.
Shoup suggests Los Angeles can learn from cities like Pasadena and Piedmont, which mandate property owners fix abutting broken sidewalks when selling the property, also known as point-of-sale program. Point-of-sale programs have precedent in Los Angeles, as property owners are currently required to install a low-flow flush toilets before selling the property. For this to work, "before a property is sold, the city inspects the sidewalk fronting the property. If the inspector finds a broken sidewalk that is unsafe, the owner must fix it before the sale is final."
Shoup discusses some of the advantages of this program, such as raising property sale value and neighborhood values.
FULL STORY: A big step toward safer sidewalks

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.

California High-Speed Rail's Plan to Right Itself
The railroad's new CEO thinks he can get the project back on track. The stars will need to align this summer.

San Francisco Muni Raises Fares a Second Time
A 10–cent fare hike for adults is part of the agency’s plan to chip away at a growing budget deficit.

Electric Grid Capacity Could Hamstring EV Growth
Industry leaders say the U.S. electric grid is unprepared for the increased demand for power created by electric cars, data centers, and electric homes.

Texas Bill Supports Adaptive Reuse in Commercial Areas
Senate Bill 840, which was preliminarily approved by the state House, would allow residential construction in areas previously zoned for offices and commercial uses.
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 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