Skip to Content
Streetsblog USA home
Streetsblog USA home
Log In
Podcast

Talking Headways Podcast: The End of “Planning By Pitchfork” in Houston

podcast icon logo

On September 30, Houston passed a new comprehensive plan, more than 14 years in the making, and ceased to be the largest city in the United States without one. Jay Crossley of Houston Tomorrow and Streetsblog Texas joins us this week to discuss Plan Houston and how it allows the city to stop "planning by pitchfork."

Houston is famously a city without much zoning. Hear Jay's thoughts about how this works to the city's advantage, whether locals oppose changes to neighborhoods as vociferously as people in other cities, and how different departments will now coordinate under Plan Houston.

We also discuss how the goals of Plan Houston were shaped, what got left out intentionally, what was jammed in at the last minute, and how it may change in the future.

Stay in touch

Sign up for our free newsletter

More from Streetsblog USA

The Real Reason America Can’t Have The Tiny Japanese-Style Cars Trump Says He Wants

Trump is right that kei cars are super-kawaii — but he's wrong that clearing the regulatory decks is enough to bring them to U.S. shores.

December 16, 2025

Tuesday’s Headlines Were So Much Older Then, We’re Younger Than That Now

Getting around without driving can be tough for anyone, but particularly seniors and children.

December 16, 2025

Boston’s New ‘CharlieCard’ Raises Privacy Issues in an Age of High-Tech Tracking

The new CharlieCard provides several benefits, but riders should also be aware of the military vendor that's operating the new system.

December 15, 2025

Ride E-Scooters, Do Crime? Study Explores Relationship Between Micromobility and Vehicle Offenses

"I suspect there are confounding factors that make the link from e-scooters to crime spurious."

December 15, 2025

Find Out Exactly How Much Downtown Highways Cost Your City

"How much does it actually cost to be car dependent?" This Dallas-based analyst set out to answer that question for cities across the U.S.

December 15, 2025

Monday’s Headlines Are Under Repair

The Biden administration's Reconnecting Communities program received $14 billion in requests for $1 billion total funding. A new bill would greatly expand it.

December 15, 2025
See all posts