The Daily Source of Urban Planning News

Acela train at Wilmington station in Wilmington, Delaware.

The Passenger Rail Revival Is Here

For the first time in decades, multiple rail projects are moving forward that could have a transformative impact on train travel in the United States.

May 21 - Route Fifty

View of street in small town of Camillus, New York on a cloudy day.

FEATURE

Rural New York Explores Creative Housing Solutions

Rural communities and small cities are implementing affordable housing solutions at the local level, while the state budget prioritizes urban areas.

May 21 - Mark McNulty

Apartment For Rent Sign

HUD Proposal Would Soften ‘One-Strike’ Policy

Formerly incarcerated people are often barred from publicly subsidized housing, putting them at higher risk for homelessness and recidivism.

May 20 - Truthout

Water flowing through Glendale Narrows section of Los Angeles River in Glendale, California with a concrete bridge, power lines, and hills in background.

Los Angeles County Making Progress in Stormwater Capture

During this “super year” of storms, L.A. County has successfully captured 96 billion gallons of stormwater which is enough to meet the needs of about 2.4 million people a year.

May 20 - Los Angeles Times

Aerial Texas Hill Country at sunset, with an aerial view of a highway interchange and Interstate 35 in Austin, Texas.

The True Cost of Texas Highways

An explainer of the monetary, environmental, and social costs of exuberant road building.

May 20 - KERA News


Atlanta Scooter

Georgia Partnership Seeks to Boost Clean Transportation in Black Communities

The Electric Black Future initiative seeks to address historic disparities in transportation, energy, and technology workforce by helping Black communities in three Georgia cities shape their e-mobility futures.

May 20 - WABE

Rolling green hills in San Fernando Valley, Los Angeles

Regenerating and Healing Land Through Parks

Through thoughtful planning and restoration efforts, parks can help heal degraded land, meeting multiple community needs, improving soil quality, restoring native vegetation, and creating habitats for wildlife.

May 20 - National Recreation and Park Association Open Space Blog


A city council meeting.

Is 'Hacking' a Planning Commission a Good Idea?

Does giving short shrift to grassroots tradition cut against the dynamics of community-based decision-making?

May 20 - Resurgence: A Journey via Substack

View from above of wood-frame multifamily housing under construction next to green trees.

Biggest US Housing Gains in Southern and Western States

Nationwide increases in housing stock since 2020 mirror post-pandemic moving patterns, with six states in the West and South accounting for half of new units.

May 20 - Stateline

Downtown Cincinnati, Ohio

Cincinnati’s Controversial Zoning Plan Clears First Hurdle

The “Connected Communities” zoning plan aims to increase middle housing near transit and in Cincinnati neighborhoods’ business districts.

May 20 - WCPO

Herd of cattle grazing in field with cowboy on horse watching them.

BLM Grazing Lands Largely Fail Health Assessment

Grazing lands under the agency’s management are not meeting its own criteria for ecosystem conservation and sustainable use.

May 19 - High Country News

Blue electric bus labeled with 'All-Electric Bus Wind Powered by PGE' in white in Tigard, Oregon.

TriMet Ridership Grows Thanks to Realignment, Schedule Changes

The agency’s response to post-pandemic changes in travel behavior is paying off.

May 19 - Portland Tribune

Close-up from back of woman walking on crosswalk with two small children on either side of her riding bicycles with training wheels.

When Small Projects Make a Big Impact

Small, mundane infrastructure projects can make meaningful changes for pedestrian and bike safety.

May 19 - Mayors Innovation Project

Rendering of aerial view of greenbelt separating farmland and residential area for California Forever development.

BLOG POST

Two and a Half Cheers for the Tech Billionaires

For all of California Forever's flaws, it is a litmus test: are California’s public officials and housing advocates really serious about trying to meet the Bay Area’s housing needs, or is housing for them just another series of performative gestures?

May 19 - Alan Mallach

Grand Coulee Dam in Washington state.

Northwest Power Demand Could Surge as Data Centers, Transportation Electrification Ramps Up

New estimates project a steady increase in electricity demand due to population growth, data centers, and the shift to electric power in homes, buildings, and transportation.

May 17 - Governing

Blurred traffic speeding by on freeway with Los Angeles skyline in background.

California Testing Per-Mile Gas Tax Alternatives

A summer pilot program will test the fairness and efficacy of collection mechanisms for mileage-based fee options.

May 17 - Newsweek

Close-up of 'Pay rent' note in red marker on day 1 of monthly calendar.

After Months of Decreases, Rents Nationwide Are Going Up

Average rents rose by $12 around the country so far this year.

May 17 - Smart Cities Dive

Aerial view of downtown New Orleans, Louisiana.

How New Orleans is Reaching Unhoused Residents

A new city office brings together resources to offer wrap-around services and housing to the most vulnerable residents.

May 17 - Governing

Double-lane interestate in the desert with two semi-trucks and five cars driving toward the camera, low mountains in the background.

Arizona to Build ‘Testbed’ for Autonomous Vehicles

The Arizona Department of Transportation announced a public-private partnership to install fiber-optic infrastructure along 405 miles of interstate highways to enable vehicle connectivity.

May 16 - Government Technology

Two women on either side of reception desk talking to each other with row of computers between them.

BLOG POST

How Tech Helps Cities Serve Residents More Effectively

Explore tech solutions enhancing urban service delivery, fostering better citizen engagement and efficiency in municipal operations.

May 16 - Devin Partida

Post News

Top Books

An annual review of books related to planning.

Top Websites

The best of the Internet—since 2002.

Top Apps

Planning apps for a brave new world.

Top Schools

The definitive ranking of graduate planning programs.

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.