Government / Politics

Elaine Chao

Report Finds Conflicts of Interest in Elaine Chao's Time as Transportation Secretary

The U.S. Department of Justice in the final weeks of the Trump administration rejected an attempt to broaden the investigation into former Secretary Elaine Chao's potential ethics violations.

March 8, 2021 - The New York Times

Polar Vortex

Texas Grid Operator to Be Investigated by Congressional Subcommittee

Texas' costliest natural disaster will be the subject of a congressional investigation by a House Oversight subcommittee thanks to Rep. Ro Khanna, D-Calif., who is concerned about ERCOT's lack of preparation for extreme winter weather.

March 7, 2021 - The Texas Tribune

Border Wall

The Failures of the U.S.-Mexico Border Wall

Trump's promised "impenetrable" wall has proven to be anything but.

March 7, 2021 - High Country News

Newark

Newark Launches Land Bank to Revive Long-Vacant Properties

The land bank will assess proposals for the sale and redevelopment of 100 city-owned properties in neglected neighborhoods.

March 7, 2021 - Next City

School Drop Off

Opinion: Stop Paving Seattle Playgrounds for Parking Lots

Seattle schools are often forced to reduce their playground space in favor of parking and circulation for private cars, but altering the city code could change that.

March 5, 2021 - The Urbanist

Downtown Houston

Tracking Resilient Houston's Progress

The Resilient Houston initiative promises to strengthen the city's infrastructure and increase its capacity to thrive and adapt under crisis.

March 5, 2021 - Rice Kinder Institute for Urban Research

Maryland Monorail

Proposed Maryland Monorail is 'Feasible' but Not Very Effective, Study Says

The MDOT study found that the monorail line would draw many of its riders from existing public transit systems.

March 5, 2021 - The Washington Post

COVID Testing

'By the Numbers': California Shows How to Reopen Safely

Unlike other states that lifted restrictions statewide after coronavirus cases plummeted, California replaced its regional stay-home order with a county-based blueprint, permitting counties to advance based on performance in three health metrics.

March 4, 2021 - The Mercury News

Burnside Street, Portland, Oregon

Portland had an 'Unusual and Tragic' Year for Traffic Deaths

The Portland Bureau of Transportation's annual traffic crash report highlights the city's slow progress towards its Vision Zero goal.

March 4, 2021 - Bike Portland

Los Angeles BRT

L.A. Metro Will Pilot Free Fares for Most Riders

The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority will let low-income residents and K-12 students ride for free starting in January 2022.

March 4, 2021 - LAist

Rural Bus Stop

Public Transit Isn't Just for Big Cities

Funding cuts and uneven investment in rural areas have left millions of Americans trapped without adequate transportation.

March 4, 2021 - Institute for Policy Studies

New York Historic map

New York City Aims for Comprehensive Long-Range Planning

The city's proposed comprehensive planning bill could create a more equitable and collaborative planning process

March 4, 2021 - Gotham Gazette

COVID-19

Texas Lifts Coronavirus Restrictions, Ends Mask Mandate, Despite CDC Warning

Gov. Greg Abbott announced that he is reopening Texas 100% and lifting the state mask mandate, as is Gov. Tate Reeves of Mississippi. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is warning of a variant-induced fourth surge.

March 3, 2021 - Austin American-Statesman

Brick Apartments

The Need for Social Housing in Seattle

Seattle trails international peer cities in its social housing stock, but there are steps city leaders can take to produce more units and increase affordability.

March 3, 2021 - The Urbanist

Pandemic Shutdown

Massachusetts Reopens, But Too Early?

Many coronavirus restrictions were lifted on Monday in Massachusetts by Gov. Charlie Baker due to falling COVID cases and hospitalizations, but many experts feel the move is too hasty and could lead to a resurgence in the virus.

March 3, 2021 - Associated Press

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

PennDOT Proposes Bridge Tolls to Fund Critical Repairs

With gas tax revenues projected to fall this fiscal year due to the pandemic, the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation argues it needs additional revenue to bridge its growing funding gap and repair crucial infrastructure.

March 2, 2021 - Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Tiger Woods Crash

Tiger Woods Crash: Blame the Road, Not the Driver, Say Authorities

"Purely an accident" is how the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department characterized the one-person, single-vehicle rollover crash that severely injured golfing celebrity Tiger Woods on Feb. 23 while driving on the Palos Verdes Peninsula.

March 2, 2021 - Los Angeles Times

Piedmont Park Atlanta

New Healthy Regions Planning Exchange Targets Health Inequities

A new Regional Plan Association initiative is assessing potential solutions to historic inequities in planning policy.

March 2, 2021 - Regional Plan Association

Desalination Plant Australia

Environmentalists Object to California Desalination Plan

Critics of a controversial desalination project planned for Orange County claim Governor Newsom is pressuring officials to support the plant in spite of environmental concerns.

March 1, 2021 - Los Angeles Times

Coronavirus

A Fourth Coronavirus Surge is Likely

The plunge in daily new coronavirus cases has ceased and may be climbing again, but the news is brighter when looking at the summer. Most of the public health experts interviewed by The New York Times believe a surge is likely but not inevitable.

March 1, 2021 - The New York Times

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.

Top Books

An annual review of books related to planning.

Top Schools

The definitive ranking of graduate planning programs.

100 Most Influential Urbanists

The who's who of urbanism, according to Planetizen readers.

Urban Planning Creators You Should Know

A short list of voices on social, video, and podcasting platforms.