Street Design

Atlanta Regional Planners Adopt ‘Safe System’ Approach to Transportation
A new Road Safety Strategy was recently adopted by the Atlanta Regional Commission with a promise to create “a comprehensive framework and action plan to support the long-term safety vision and goals” of the region.

The Responsibility of the Building to the Street
Structural engineers are responsible for ensuring that buildings do not fall over. Mechanical engineers must ensure that people inside can breathe. But what responsibility do building designers have to the street outside?

Cleveland Ready for Vision Zero
Cleveland is working to become the latest U.S. city to set a goal to eliminate traffic fatalities.

What Is Traffic Calming?
Traffic calming is a set of design interventions aimed at slowing or diverting car traffic to reduce the chance of crashes and improve safety for all road users.

4 Proven Steps for Improved Pedestrian Safety
Experts from the National Association of City Transportation Officials (NACTO) present four steps for reducing the number of pedestrians killed by drivers.

Chicago Plans ‘Better Streets for Buses’
The city of Chicago is taking first steps toward a commitment to better bus service in the design and configuration of the city's streets.

Federal Highway Administration Moving Toward Complete Streets
The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) released a report to Congress this week that takes initial steps toward making complete streets the default model for funding and designing federally controlled roads.

San Francisco Not Living Up to 'Transit First' Promise
Despite a stated goal of encouraging other modes, the city's streets still overwhelmingly prioritize cars.

To Build More Affordable Housing, Start With Narrower Streets
New research shows that reducing wasteful use of street space and eliminating overly wide streets would increase opportunities for housing development and higher density.

An Oasis In The Desert
A redesign costing a mere $12 million transformed the main street of the desert city of Lancaster, Calif., from an ordinary retail strip to a genuine place. If Lancaster can do it, any city can.

How Much Land Is Lost to Wide Streets?
New research assesses the land value of street space in 20 of the largest counties in the United States.

Atlanta Adding Multi-Modal Options to Bridge its Downtown Freeway
After reconfiguring the 14th Street Bridge, which crosses the Downtown Connector (I-75/I-85) in Atlanta, the Midtown Alliance and the city have their sights set on similar multi-modal improvements for the 10th Street Bridge.

Zero Traffic Deaths Isn't as Far Fetched as It Sounds
Even supporters of Vision Zero—a goal to eliminate traffic fatalities from roadways adopted by cities and states all over the United States—doubt that such lofty ambitions are possible. But there are plenty of reasons to believe in the cause.

Sweden's 'One-Minute City' Reimagines the Street at a Hyper-Local Level
Rather than trying to meet all of a community's needs within a one-minute radius, Sweden's Street Moves pilot program gives residents the power to decide how street space gets used.

The Post-Pandemic Street
From designing streets to designing process.

Indianapolis to Upgrade Bus Stops to 'Super Stops'
Downtown Indianapolis bus stops are getting a makeover with enhancements that prioritize buses and improve rider safety.

Bogotá Uses 7,000 Public Design Proposals to Redesign its Main Artery
To reimagine the city's most important artery, Bogotá sought community input via an innovative online platform.

Opening Up Downtown Spaces for the Post-Pandemic City
Toronto's University Avenue is set for a major makeover, transforming nearly ten acres of pavement to connect with other open spaces to create a contiguous 90 acres of open space, ideal for safe outdoor street life.

How Oakland Is Fixing its Pandemic Planning Equity Problem
The Oakland Slow Streets program, one of the most controversial developments of the early pandemic, has evolved to become the Essential Places initiative, thanks to new planning practices and a commitment to equity in Oakland, California.

Street Redesign as an Economic Development Tool
The city of Covington in Kentucky is working on street improvements on key downtown streets in the hopes of attracting new business to the area.
Pagination
City of Madera
City of Santa Clarita
Borough of Carlisle
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
Chaddick Institute at DePaul University
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
Colorado Energy Office
Pima County Community College District
City of Piedmont, CA
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.