Planetizen

‘Builder’s Remedy’ Housing Project on Yosemite Border Draws Opposition From Locals, Environmentalists - h/t San Francisco Chronicle Local residents are raising questions about a proposed 110-unit development in an isolated region adjacent to the national park.

‘Builder’s Remedy’ Housing Project on Yosemite Border Draws Opposition From Locals, Environmentalists - h/t San Francisco Chronicle

Caltrain Outlaws Cargo Bikes, Child Seats as Demand Overwhelms Bike Cars - h/t Streetsblog San Francisco Around 20 percent of Caltrain passengers use a bike to get to or from stations.

Caltrain Outlaws Cargo Bikes, Child Seats as Demand Overwhelms Bike Cars - h/t Streetsblog San Francisco

Report: Land Under US Highways Could Earn Over $5 Billion in Property Taxes Yearly - h/t Bloomberg CityLab An analysis of 142 U.S. cities reveals the economic potential of land used for highways.

Report: Land Under US Highways Could Earn Over $5 Billion in Property Taxes Yearly - h/t Bloomberg CityLab

Report: Hundreds of Vacant NYC Public Housing Units ‘Taken Over’ by Squatters - h/t City Limits The city’s housing authority says it often takes months to renovate apartments for new tenants, leading to hundreds of empty units that pose safety risks to neighbors.

Report: Hundreds of Vacant NYC Public Housing Units ‘Taken Over’ by Squatters - h/t City Limits

Report: US Transit Returns $5 for Every $1 Invested - h/t Mass Transit An analysis from APTA shows the rippling positive impacts of transit funding.

Report: US Transit Returns $5 for Every $1 Invested - h/t Mass Transit

US Traffic Deaths Fell by 12% in One Year. How Did it Happen? - h/t Streetsblog USA Biden-era investment in safe streets, shifts in travel patterns brought on by the pandemic, and increased traffic enforcement are all possible reasons why traffic deaths dropped significantly between 2024 and 2025.

US Traffic Deaths Fell by 12% in One Year. How Did it Happen? - h/t Streetsblog USA

Austin Approves Over $10 Million for Homelessness Programs - h/t Community Impact Newspaper The funding package supports emergency shelters totaling close to 500 beds.

Austin Approves Over $10 Million for Homelessness Programs - h/t Community Impact Newspaper

Judge Rules to Keep NYC Congestion Pricing, Ending Trump's Legal Challenge - h/t Curbed The decision likely deals a fatal blow to efforts to end the program, but the Trump administration says it will explore other avenues for reversing the congestion pricing scheme.

Judge Rules to Keep NYC Congestion Pricing, Ending Trump's Legal Challenge - h/t Curbed

February Must-Reads: Top 10 Articles From Last Month Transit agencies like BART and TriMet face lingering budget shortfalls, forcing major service cuts and layoffs, while federal plans to ban fare-free transit throw a wrench in NYC Mayor Mamdani’s proposal to make the city’s buses ‘fast and free.’

February Must-Reads: Top 10 Articles From Last Month

Missing the Games? For 20 Years, Town Planning Was an Olympic Sport. - h/t Atlas Obscura In the first half of the 20th century, the Olympic games actually had a medal competition for town planning.

Missing the Games? For 20 Years, Town Planning Was an Olympic Sport. - h/t Atlas Obscura

FTA Offers $100 Million in Transit Grants to World Cup Host Cities - h/t USA Today Championship soccer games will be held in 11 U.S. cities this summer as part of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

FTA Offers $100 Million in Transit Grants to World Cup Host Cities - h/t USA Today

Nevada’s Highway Safety Plan Targets 35% Drop in Traffic Deaths by 2035 - h/t Fox 5 Vegas The 2026-2030 plan aims to reduce deaths and serious injuries with a long-term goal of eliminating traffic deaths by 2050.

Nevada’s Highway Safety Plan Targets 35% Drop in Traffic Deaths by 2035 - h/t Fox 5 Vegas

Denver Cut Unsheltered Homelessness Almost in Half Even as Unhoused Population Grows - h/t Governing While the total number of Denver residents without permanent housing is growing, the city has leveraged its resources to quickly create over 1,000 new emergency shelter beds.

Denver Cut Unsheltered Homelessness Almost in Half Even as Unhoused Population Grows - h/t Governing

Mamdani Administration Promises 20-30 New Public Bathrooms by End of Summer - h/t Smart Cities Dive Of the city’s 1,000 public restrooms, just 30 percent are located outside of parks.

Mamdani Administration Promises 20-30 New Public Bathrooms by End of Summer - h/t Smart Cities Dive

Sunbelt Cities Rank Lowest in Nation for Street Safety - h/t Streetsblog USA Cities with low road safety rankings are overwhelmingly newer and located in the South and Southwest.

Sunbelt Cities Rank Lowest in Nation for Street Safety - h/t Streetsblog USA

BART Announces Major Service Cuts, Fare Increases in Face of $376M Deficit - h/t Mass Transit If a November ballot measure fails to bring new funding, BART’s ‘alternative service plan’ would reduce frequencies to 30 minutes, raise fares by 30%, and close up to 15 stations.

BART Announces Major Service Cuts, Fare Increases in Face of $376M Deficit - h/t Mass Transit

28 States and DC Could Legalize ‘Balcony Solar’ - h/t Canary Media Plug-in solar panels, which are becoming popular across Europe, live in a regulatory gray area in the United States.

28 States and DC Could Legalize ‘Balcony Solar’ - h/t Canary Media

In Defense of QUIMBY — a Rebuttal Psychology shows that residents love what planners and architects don’t. Experience tells me that they’re right.

In Defense of QUIMBY — a Rebuttal

MARTA’s NextGen Bus System to Relaunch With Increased Frequency, New Last-mile Rideshare Program - h/t 11 Alive Atlanta’s transit agency will enhance service on some routes while compensating for service cuts on others with a new on-demand service.

MARTA’s NextGen Bus System to Relaunch With Increased Frequency, New Last-mile Rideshare Program - h/t 11 Alive

Washington Urban Forestry Program Faces 'Existential' Budget Cut - h/t The Urbanist A proposed budget eliminates funding for a key urban forestry program that funds greening efforts across the state.

Washington Urban Forestry Program Faces 'Existential' Budget Cut - h/t The Urbanist

Alysa Liu's Oakland Training Center Highlights the Importance of California's Defunded Redevelopment Agencies - h/t Next City The financial and legal ecosystem that led to the creation of the Oakland Ice Center no longer exists after California dissolved its state redevelopment agencies.

Alysa Liu's Oakland Training Center Highlights the Importance of California's Defunded Redevelopment Agencies - h/t Next City

San Jose to Lease Units in Downtown High-rise for Affordable Housing - h/t The Mercury News An innovative pilot program subsidizes rent in a market-rate building for middle-income residents.

San Jose to Lease Units in Downtown High-rise for Affordable Housing - h/t The Mercury News

Iowa County Passes Restrictive Data Center Ordinance - h/t Inside Climate News A new Linn County ordinance requires data center builders to conduct environmental reviews, limit light pollution and noise, and compensate the county for infrastructure costs.

Iowa County Passes Restrictive Data Center Ordinance - h/t Inside Climate News

Mamdani Proposes Reviving Sunnyside Yard Project in Meeting With Trump - h/t Curbed A proposed redevelopment in Trump’s native Queens could create as many as 12,000 new housing units.

Mamdani Proposes Reviving Sunnyside Yard Project in Meeting With Trump - h/t Curbed

Review: Why Nothing Works In “Why Nothing Works,” Marc Dunkelman argues that America’s political gridlock stems from an internal progressive conflict between Hamiltonian centralized efficiency and Jeffersonian individualized safeguards.

Review: Why Nothing Works

Hawaii’s Pearl Harbor Bike Path is Flooding More Often, Forcing Commuters Onto More Dangerous Roads - h/t Honolulu Civil Beat The 5-mile trail serves as a key bikeway for commuters connecting to local transit.

Hawaii’s Pearl Harbor Bike Path is Flooding More Often, Forcing Commuters Onto More Dangerous Roads - h/t Honolulu Civil Beat

San Jose Moves to Rein in Flock Cameras, Joining in Backlash Amid Privacy Concerns - h/t The Mercury News The city’s police chief is asking to limit the company’s data retention and sharing abilities.

San Jose Moves to Rein in Flock Cameras, Joining in Backlash Amid Privacy Concerns - h/t The Mercury News

Idaho Bill Would Offer More Property Tax Breaks to Affordable Housing Developers - h/t Idaho Statesman The proposal would loosen regulations on developments with rent affordable to households making 60% AMI or less.

Idaho Bill Would Offer More Property Tax Breaks to Affordable Housing Developers - h/t Idaho Statesman

Salt Lake City Could Allow Backyard Homes on up to 3/4 of Residential Lots - h/t Salt Lake Tribune A proposed zoning change would expand the residential areas where accessory units can be built.

Salt Lake City Could Allow Backyard Homes on up to 3/4 of Residential Lots - h/t Salt Lake Tribune

Study: Roundabouts are Primarily in Wealthier Neighborhoods - h/t Streetsblog USA A North Carolina study sheds light on inequities in roas safety interventions.

Study: Roundabouts are Primarily in Wealthier Neighborhoods - h/t Streetsblog USA