More States — and the Feds — Are Getting into Zoning Reform for Sustainable Transport

New efforts by federal and state authorities to encourage the construction of housing in walkable and transit-rich communities suggests that many cities’ best chance at progressive zoning reform will come from the top down, rather than the grass roots.

On May 16, the Biden administration announced a slate of new initiatives aimed at increasing housing production in dense U.S. cities, including a promise to immediately “reward jurisdictions that have put in place land-use policies to promote density and rural main street revitalization.” The White House also explicitly highlighted “transit-oriented development” as one of its primary goals, signaling a rare willingness to exercise federal influence over city-building policies that are typically left up to local policymakers alone.