Government / Politics

Dartmouth Dorms

College Campuses Offer Opportunity to Demonstrate COVID Containment Strategies

As college students return for the fall semester, college towns are rightfully concerned about an influx of COVID cases, yet self-contained campuses have the potential to succeed where local and state governments may have failed.

August 28, 2020 - Penn State News

Trailer Parks

Owners and Renters of Manufactured Homes Lack Assistance During the Pandemic

Millions of people who live in manufactured homes were already vulnerable. The pandemic has made their housing situations even more precarious.

August 28, 2020 - Urban Wire

Hurricanes

The Compounding Dangers of the Virus and Natural Disasters

As Hurricane Laura intensified into a Category 4 storm, public officials had to make decisions about evacuation during a time of sheltering in place. Researchers at Texas A&M University developed a risk index to guide decisionmaking processes.

August 28, 2020 - The Conversation

Smart City

For Success, Smart Cities Need Stakeholder Engagement

Smart cities technologies are not going to lead to the right outcomes unless end users are recognized as integral players in the planning process.

August 27, 2020 - Smart Cities Dive

Walking

Professional Planners Anticipate Post-Pandemic Active Commuting

Many planners say they want to try out active commutes when in-office work becomes possible. How will a fresh look at their local streets influence planning professionals and planning practice?

August 27, 2020 - Streetsblog USA

Harvey Floods Houston

The Racial Inequity of Disaster Recovery

Disaster recovery in the Houston area has been inconsistent, with low-income residents of color continuing to struggle to put their lives and communities back together.

August 27, 2020 - Urban Edge

New York City Subway

Destroyed Subway Car Windows Contribute to MTA Budget Deficit

As the Metropolitan Transportation Authority grapples with a $16 billion deficit, smashed train windows are adding to the cost.

August 27, 2020 - The New York Times

Paradise, California

In Paradise, Using Greenbelts to Manage Wildfires

The Camp Fire in California devasted the town of Paradise. As rebuilding progresses, local leaders are looking to protect the town using nature-based fire resilience strategies.

August 27, 2020 - Bloomberg CityLab

Post Office

If the Postal Service Erodes, So Does American Life

An urban designer argues that protecting the U.S. Postal Service is crucial for maintaining civic values, social ties, and urban life.

August 26, 2020 - Fast Company

U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development

Ben Carson’s Clear Disdain for Fair and Affordable Housing

Carson has spent much of his time as HUD secretary attacking the housing programs, initiatives, and regulations central to the agency’s mission.

August 26, 2020 - Curbed

Methane

EPA Completes Rollback of Obama-Era Methane Regulations

The new rules are significantly less stringent in mandating repair of methane leaks and regulation of emissions.

August 26, 2020 - Scientific American / E&E News

New York Subway

MTA Spending Millions on Cleaning, but Disagreement Over the Need

Deep cleaning of the New York City subway and bus system is part of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority’s coronavirus response. But it is costly and time consuming, and the public health benefits are not entirely clear.

August 26, 2020 - Politico

Northern California Toll Lane

Tolling All Freeway Lanes in the Bay Area?

What's more surprising is seeing who is making the proposal and why. The first step would be to have the concept included in Plan Bay Area 2050.

August 26, 2020 - San Mateo Daily Journal

Rockaway Beach Bus

Racism Has Shaped Public Transit, and It’s Riddled with Inequities

Former Houston METRO Board Member Christof Spieler highlights the racism embedded even in the way transit agencies were created.

August 25, 2020 - Urban Edge

Railroad

First Steps for Virginia Eastern Shore Rail Trail Project

A 49-mile length of railway in rural Virginia is at the start of the process of becoming a rail trail.

August 25, 2020 - The Virginia Mercury

I-45 and I-69

Sun Belt Cities Are Facing Many Changes and Challenges

Cities across this swath of the country have rapidly growing populations and economies. At the same time, Sun Belt cities are contending with a common host of urban issues that should not be overlooked.

August 25, 2020 - Urban Edge

Downtown Honolulu as seen from the top of Diamond Head

Five Actions to Combat COVID-19 in Hawaii

A data-driven approach is needed to figure out how the disease has spread in the islands and what can be done to contain it.

August 25, 2020 - Honolulu Star-Advertiser

New York City

Design Collective Using Black-Centered Approaches to Transform Cities

BlackSpace seeks to empower Black practitioners and change the way planning and design happens in and affects Black communities.

August 25, 2020 - Fast Company

Masks for Public Health

Georgia Mask Ban Reversed After White House Coronavirus Task Force Issues Critical Report

Shortly after a private White House report blasted Georgia's pandemic response, Gov. Brian Kemp issued an executive order allowing cities and counties to impose requirements on mask-wearing. The report was leaked to The Atlanta-Journal Constitution.

August 24, 2020 - The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Uber Car

Ride-Hailing Services Shutdown in California Averted

Uber and Lyft were set to cease operations in California, but an appeals court has granted them a reprieve and the controversy continues.

August 24, 2020 - 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.