The Daily Source of Urban Planning News

White park shuttles with large Zion logo on side and red rock cliffs in background in Zion National Park.
Since Zion's Shuttles Went Electric “The Smog is Gone”

Visitors to Zion National Park can enjoy the canyon via the nation’s first fully electric park shuttle system.

July 15 - Reasons to Be Cheerful

Chart of federal transportation funding comparing Biden and Trump administration spending.

Trump Distributing DOT Safety Funds at 1/10 Rate of Biden

Funds for Safe Streets and other transportation safety and equity programs are being held up by administrative reviews and conflicts with the Trump administration’s priorities.

July 15 - Transportation for America

Close-up on yellow and black TAXI sign on top of beige car in central Munich, Germany.

German Cities Subsidize Taxis for Women Amid Wave of Violence

Free or low-cost taxi rides can help women navigate cities more safely, but critics say the programs don't address the root causes of violence against women.

July 15 - Bloomberg

Worker painting metal roof white.

New Atlanta Law Requires ‘Cool Roofs’

Painting roofs with reflective coatings can significantly reduce indoor temperatures and improve energy efficiency, sometimes at a lower cost than traditional roof treatments.

July 15 - Next City

Blurred crowd on New York City subway escalator.

MTA Poised to Break Ridership, On-Time Service Records

New York City’s transit system saw strong increases in ridership and improvements in service quality in the first half of 2025.

July 15 - 6sqft

Cars in busy traffic with emissions visible from exhaust pipes.

BLOG POST

Taking Green Amendments to the Street

Several states have "green amendments" declaring that state residents have the right to a healthy environment. Could these amendments be used to challenge policies that increase car-related pollution?

July 15 - Michael Lewyn


Aerial view of Chicago skyline on bright day with turquoise Lake Michigan in foreground.

FEATURE

The Great Lakes Cities are Touted as a Climate Refuge. The Reality is Much More Complex.

Sewage overflows, invasive species and polar vortexes — America’s climate haven might be more illusive than we think.

July 15 - Greg Flisram

Bend, Oregon

Bend, Oregon Zoning Reforms Prioritize Small-Scale Housing

The city altered its zoning code to allow multi-family housing and eliminated parking mandates citywide.

July 14 - Strong Towns


Blue and silver Amtrak train with vibrant green and yellow foliage in background.

Amtrak Cutting Jobs, Funding to High-Speed Rail

The agency plans to cut 10 percent of its workforce and has confirmed it will not fund new high-speed rail projects.

July 14 - Smart Cities Dive

Green Skid Row mural satirizing city limit sign in downtown Los Angeles, California.

LA Denies Basic Services to Unhoused Residents

The city has repeatedly failed to respond to requests for trash pickup at encampment sites, and eliminated a program that provided mobile showers and toilets.

July 14 - Los Angeles Public Press

Two men in collared shirts and slacks looking and pointing at drainage ditch.

Alabama Community Sues State DOT Over Flooding

Residents of Shiloh, Alabama want to hold the state department of transportation responsible for flooding caused by a highway expansion project.

July 14 - Inside Climate News

Historic courthouse building in Center City Philadelphia.

The Link Between Public Transit and Justice

The chancellor of the Philadelphia Bar Association argues that a robust transit system is key to ensuring people on all sides of the justice system can access courts and resources.

July 14 - City & State

White banner with red "SPACE AVAILABLE" text hanging at top of white office building.

Congress Kills Office Conversion Tax Credit

A federal tax incentive for energy efficiency upgrades is going away next year.

July 14 - Smart Cities Dive

Cyclist on folding bike riding next to silver car on city street.

How the ‘Big Beautiful Bill’ Impacts Transportation

Five ways the bill negatively impacts U.S. transportation policy.

July 14 - Streetsblog USA

Wood-framed multi-family building under construction with red crane behind it.

California Creates Housing-Focused Agency

Previously, the state’s housing and homelessness programs fell under a grabbag department that also regulates the alcohol industry, car mechanics, and horse racing.

July 13 - CALmatters

Green vintage Chicago streetcar from the 1940s parked at the Illinois Railroad Museum in 1988.

Chicago’s Ghost Rails

Just beneath the surface of the modern city lie the remnants of its expansive early 20th-century streetcar system.

July 13 - WTTV

Red and black pavilion with visitor information in public park in Knoxville, Tennessee.

Baker Creek Pavilion: Blending Nature and Architecture in Knoxville

Knoxville’s urban wilderness planning initiative unveils the "Baker Creek Pavilion" to increase the city's access to green spaces.

July 13 - Dezeen

Adult holding hands of two children, all wearing winter coats, in crosswalk in New York City during holidays with trees decorated with lights in background.

Pedestrian Deaths Drop, Remain Twice as High as in 2009

Fatalities declined by 4 percent in 2024, but the U.S. is still nowhere close to ‘Vision Zero.’

July 13 - Streetsblog USA

View of dense apartment buildings on Seattle waterfront with high-rise buildings in background.

King County Supportive Housing Program Offers Hope for Unhoused Residents

The county is taking a ‘Housing First’ approach that prioritizes getting people into housing, then offering wraparound supportive services.

July 11 - Real Change

Aerial view of suburban housing near Las Vegas, Nevada.

Researchers Use AI to Get Clearer Picture of US Housing

Analysts are using artificial intelligence to supercharge their research by allowing them to comb through data faster. Though these AI tools can be error prone, they save time and housing researchers are optimistic about the future.

July 11 - Shelterforce Magazine

Green bike share bikes parked in a row on a commercial street with outdoor dining and greenery.

Making Shared Micromobility More Inclusive

Cities and shared mobility system operators can do more to include people with disabilities in planning and operations, per a new report.

July 11 - Cities Today

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