Infrastructure

Post-Tropical Cyclone Sandy made landfall at 8pm ET on October 29, 2012 about 5 miles southwest of Atlantic City, NJ, as seen in this NOAA GOES-13 satellite colorized infrared image from the same time.

Jail the Planners for Not Preventing Sandy!

Ed Blakely indicts the planning profession for failing to protect our communities from the threat of a changing climate. How can we plan places that serve as bulwarks from the worst physical traumas, while providing economic and social resiliency?

November 5, 2012 - Edward J. Blakely

Lava visible in crater with steam coming out in Hawaii.

Can Geothermal Energy Fuel Hawaiʻi’s Future?

Gavin Murphy, a New Zealand-based consultant with experience in indigenous-led geothermal projects, argues that Hawaiʻi is poised to achieve energy independence and economic growth by respectfully developing its untapped geothermal resources.

March 24, 2025 - Honolulu Civil Beat

Close-up on charging port for electric cars.

Electric Surge: EV Chargers Outnumber Gas Nozzles in California

California now has 48% more electric vehicle chargers than gasoline nozzles, reflecting its rapid shift toward clean transportation and aggressive zero-emission goals despite federal pushback.

March 24, 2025 - Inside EVs

Oil pumpjack in a field at sunset.

How Orphan Oil Wells Threaten West Texas Communities

Abandoned and orphaned oil wells in West Texas are causing costly environmental hazards like sinkholes and leaks, prompting urgent calls for increased funding and regulation to address a growing statewide and national crisis.

March 24, 2025 - Oil Price

Close-up of rear car bumper in traffic on freeway.

Research Shows More Roads = More Driving

A national study shows, once again, that increasing road supply induces additional vehicle travel, particularly over the long run.

March 23, 2025 - Road Capacity as a Fundamental Determinant of Vehicle Travel

Close-up of "City Hall" plaque on building with gold lettering on black.

Can Progressive Planners Appeal to Conservative Principles?

Trump’s approach to policies like NYC’s congestion pricing isn’t just irrational and wasteful — it defies the tenets of conservatism. But there are ways to reframe the issues.

March 23, 2025 - Bloomberg CityLab

Close-up on pedestrian crosswalk light in downtown Milwaukee, Wisconsin with historic building with steeple visible in background.

Milwaukee Announces 60 Traffic Calming Projects for 2025

The city has successfully reduced traffic deaths and aims to eliminate them completely within the next decade.

March 23, 2025 - Urban Milwaukee

White bike symbol painted on green bike lane.

OKC Approves 7.2 Miles of New Bike Lanes

The city council is implementing its BikeWalkOKC plan, which recommends new bike lanes on key east-west corridors.

March 21, 2025 - Oklahoma City Free Press

Group of people being led in yoga by two instructors on large public lawn.

The Panacea of Outdoor Human Movement

Humans relish in over-complicating things, but the sweetest and healthiest things in life are the simplest.

March 20, 2025 - April Economides

Orange "Bike Lane Closed Ahead" sign on a-frame in roadway.

USDOT Could Pull Green Infrastructure Grants

A new department memo requires a review of projects with the goal of removing bike, pedestrian, and electric vehicle infrastructure.

March 18, 2025 - Transportation for America

Park pond at sunset with Los Angeles skyline in background.

Expanding Green Spaces in Greater LA: Challenges and Solutions

Creating parks and open space in L.A. County requires overcoming land scarcity, high costs, and other challenges through strategic partnerships, innovative multi-benefit designs, and policy reforms to ensure equitable access and sustainability.

March 17, 2025 - Los Angeles County Chief Sustainability Office

View of Central Park lake with people sitting on lakeside rocks and NYC high-rises in background.

Public Parks as Climate Resilience Tools

Designed with green infrastructure, parks can mitigate flooding, reduce urban heat, and enhance climate resilience, offering cost-effective solutions to environmental challenges while benefiting communities.

March 16, 2025 - Grist

Cyclists and a red T train on the Longfellow Bridge in Boston, MA at sunset.

What the Proposed Federal Budget Means for Transit, Rail

The proposed FY 2025 budget keeps spending for public transit and passenger rail essentially the same as in 2024.

March 16, 2025 - American Public Transportation Association

Aerial view of freeway in Orlando, Florida with construction work.

Disconnecting Communities: Measuring the Social Impacts of Freeways

Research from 50 major U.S. cities shows social connections are weakest in neighborhoods where highways are present.

March 16, 2025 - Next City

Bird's eye view of coastal erosion next to a roadway in Sunset Cliffs, California.

‘Innovative DOT’ Guide Offers Path to Resilience for State DOTs

A new resource offers concrete recommendations for thriving in a changing transportation landscape, prioritizing a ‘fix it first’ approach to infrastructure maintenance.

March 14, 2025 - Transportation for America

Close-up of smart phone with USDOT website open.

USDOT Eliminates Environmental, Equity Considerations

A new memo rescinds Biden-era regulations that prioritized renewable energy, accessibility, and equity for historically disadvantaged communities.

March 13, 2025 - Smart Cities Dive

White self-driving Waymo vehicle on street in Phoenix, Arizona.

Is Infrastructure Ready for Autonomous Vehicles?

Assessing the readiness of current infrastructure for autonomous vehicles to understand the challenges and necessary adaptations for seamless integration in urban environments.

March 13, 2025 - Devin Partida

Quiet tree-lined street in Stockholm, Sweden in summer.

‘Stockholm Tree Pit’ Saves Dying Urban Trees

After noticing that two-thirds of its trees were dying, Stockholm developed a new planting method to protect trees surrounded by concrete.

March 12, 2025 - Reasons to Be Cheerful

Green Detroit public transit electric bus with high-rise modenr building in background.

Analysis: Just 5 Percent of Detroit Bus Stops Have Shelters

The city’s thousands of bus stops are sorely lacking in seating and shelters to protect riders from rain, snow, and sun.

March 12, 2025 - Bridge Detroit

Row of concrete Jersey barriers running down the middle of a multi-lane road.

‘Colorado Barrier’ Repurposes Old Tires for Road Safety

The recycled rubber barrier can protect pedestrians and people in cars on lower-speed streets.

March 12, 2025 - Equipment World

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.