Open Streets

Washington, D.C.

How Emergency Street Redesign Projects Fell Short of the Black Lives Matter Cause

A leading advocate for a new, equity centering approach explains how plans to redesign streets for the needs of the coronavirus pandemic left behind racial justice as a secondary concern.

June 9, 2020 - CityLab

Coronavirus Streets

NACTO Releases Pandemic Streets Design Guide

After three months of study and analysis, NACTO is providing authoritative guidance on new ways of thinking about rights of way now that the coronavirus has changed the way we live and work in cities.

May 25, 2020 - National Association of City Transportation Officials

Coronavirus and Transportation

New York's Open Streets Program Leaves Out Neighborhoods That Need Open Space Most

New York City has opened an increasing number of street miles for pedestrians and people on bikes, but far fewer streets have been opened in the neighborhoods that need it most—low income neighborhoods lacking walkable access to parks and open space.

May 25, 2020 - New York Daily News

New York City Restaurant

Cities Are Suddenly a Little Less Car-Centric

(Opinion) After devoting more than a century of planning and engineering effort to the movement and storage of cars above all other considerations, U.S. cities have suddenly, temporarily shifted priorities.

May 21, 2020 - James Brasuell

Al Fresco Gelato

Berkeley Could Redefine the Al Fresco Streets Movement

The city of Berkeley is pursuing an aggressive plan to open the streets for outdoor dining as an economic development tool for local commercial businesses.

May 17, 2020 - Eater San Francisco

pedestrians in a Time of Coronavirus

Vehicles Restrictions for COVID-19 Made Permanent for Seattle Streets

The temporary measures of the coronavirus pandemic are being made permanent fixtures on 20 miles of streets in Seattle.

May 10, 2020 - The Seattle Times

Coronavirus Social Distancing

Reopening Main Street

A Long Beach-based urban design firm shares design tips for reopening main streets while balancing public health and economic concerns—making space for parklets, pedestrians, and al fresco dining.

May 10, 2020 - studioneleven

Illinois

Another City Opens Street Space for Restaurants—This Time in Suburban Chicago

Tampa, Brookhaven, Vilnius, Hinsdale. These cities will be the answer to a COVID-themed trivia night some time soon.

May 8, 2020 - Chicago Tribune

Coronavirus Open Streets

Tampa Closes Streets to Open Outdoor Space to Restaurants

A pilot project in Tampa is closing select streets to cars to allow more space for dine-in restaurant service.

May 6, 2020 - That's So Tampa

Telegraph Avenue

Watch Oakland's Slow Streets Program in Action

Oakland offers a model for other streets looking to provide new space for pedestrians and people on bikes to get exercise at a space physical distance.

May 4, 2020 - StreetsBlog NYC

Public Wi-Fi

Outdoor Dining Over Cars—Could it Happen in the United States?

Could New York City follow in the footsteps of...Vilnius?

May 1, 2020 - Eater New York

San Francisco, California

Breaking News: 12 New 'Slow Streets' in San Francisco

Transportation officials in San Francisco are planning to restrict vehicle access on 12 streets around the city to make more room for pedestrians and people on bikes.

April 21, 2020 - San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency

Telegraph Avenue

74 Miles of 'Slow Streets' in Oakland

Suddenly, cars aren't the first priority on 10 percent of the roadway in Oakland, California.

April 12, 2020 - KRON

Empty Streets

Denver, Minneapolis Lead Nation in Open Streets for COVID Response

Denver now has more than 13 miles of streets closed to car traffic. Only Minneapolis has more.

April 6, 2020 - Denverite

Coronavirus Social Distancing

New Density Control Measure to Close Some New York Streets to Cars

To encourage recreational walking while practicing social distancing in order to reduce the spread of COVID-19, Gov. Andrew Cuomo asked the New York City mayor and city council speaker to devise a pilot project to provide for open streets.

March 26, 2020 - CNBC

Cleveland, Ohio

Street Closure, Park Experiment Hits a Snag in Cleveland

In July, a local nonprofit closed down an entire street in the Ohio City neighborhood of Cleveland for a placemaking experiment that had to be partially dismantled before the three-month duration of the program was complete.

August 14, 2019 - The Plain Dealer

Open Streets

First Open Streets Event Coming to D.C.

The nation's capital could soon join the 122 U.S. municipalities with open streets events.

March 28, 2019 - Curbed Washington D.C.

Belden Place

Proposal Would Ban Cars from Sections of Valencia Street in San Francisco

San Francisco active transportation supporters are pushing for a trial of pedestrianized Valencia Street between 16th and 17th streets and 23rd and 24th streets in the Mission District.

October 26, 2018 - Streetsblog SF

Group Meet Up

Pokémon Go to Expand its Reach in the Community

The makers of Pokémon Go, touted for its potential to activate sedentary Americans since its release last year, will take more initiative to participate in community-based events.

May 11, 2017 - Fast Company Co.Design

Champs-Elysees

Less and Less of Paris Open to Cars

Paris Mayor Anne Hildalgo announced a new plan to further restrict cars and trucks from the city center.

January 12, 2017 - The Independent

News from HUD User

HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research

Call for Speakers

Mpact Transit + Community

New Updates on PD&R Edge

HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research

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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.