Infrastructure

HVAC technician on roof installing heat pump with tools in foreground.

Seattle Expands Heat Pump Rebates

Moderate-income households can access up to $8,000 in incentives to switch from oil heating systems to more efficient electric heat pumps.

September 24, 2024 - Smart Cities Dive

Two small wood homes with floodwaters in coastal Louisiana after Hurricane Ida.

Floodplain Development Largely Concentrated in Gulf Coast States

Many U.S. cities use ‘routine’ practices like zoning changes and permitting to discourage development in high-risk flood zones.

September 24, 2024 - Grist

Rear view of woman in blue coat riding bike on busy road signals with left hand to merge into lane of traffic.

The Risks of Self-Fulfilling Travel Forecasts

Transportation agencies continue to apply predict-and-provide planning which simply extrapolates past trends to predict future needs. It’s time to apply decide-and-provide planning to better achieve community goals.

September 23, 2024 - Todd Litman

People biking on paved bike trail in Arkansas.

Repositioning Bike and Walking Trails as Essential Infrastructure

Cities and states can access federal transportation funding by including trails in long-range transportation plans.

September 23, 2024 - Go Erie

The Boring Company

Musk ‘Supercomputer’ Raises Water, Power, and Pollution Concerns in Memphis

The facility, which was completed in just 122 days, was rushed through so quickly, it is still missing environmental permits and infrastructure needed to ensure it doesn’t put stress on the grid or local water supply.

September 20, 2024 - NPR - All Things Considered

Sign on glass building for Minneapolis International Airport with airplane landing reflected in building.

Minneapolis Airport Expansion Uses Geothermal Heating and Water Conservation Methods to Reduce Impact

The improved facilities are expected to reduce their total energy use by 19 percent.

September 20, 2024 - Smart Cities Dive

Red 'Welcome to Sacramento' sign in downtown Sacramento, California.

Sacramento’s Traffic Safety Crisis Could Be Declared a Public Emergency

Street safety advocates are calling for a stronger declaration that would focus on road design and equity.

September 19, 2024 - Streetsblog California

Sign for low emissions zone in downtown Madrid, Spain.

Madrid Uses Transit System for Parcel Delivery to Cut Emissions

A new pilot program uses trains to deliver packages at off-peak hours, lowering emissions from trucks.

September 19, 2024 - Global Railway Review

Solar panels installed as shade panels over parking lot with small cars parked underneath.

Commercial Buildings, Parking Lots Offer Significant Potential for Solar Energy

Massive swaths of flat rooftops, garages, and surface parking lots go underutilized. They could be producing renewable energy.

September 19, 2024 - Clean Technica

Week Without Walking banner.

‘Week Without Driving’ Challenge: Are You Up For It?

The Week Without Driving challenge, scheduled Sept. 30 to Oct. 6 this year, encourages motorists, particularly policy makers and planning practitioners, to experience the challenges facing nondrivers in automobile-dependent communities.

September 18, 2024 - Week Without Driving

Sunset view of Gateway Arch and downtown St. Louis, Missouri

St. Louis Zeroing in on Safe Streets

The city is creating its first Department of Transportation and using hundreds of millions in federal funding to launch road safety projects.

September 17, 2024 - Streetsblog USA

View of Madison St dedicated bus lane in Seattle, Washington.

Seattle Launches New Rapid Bus Line

The new RapidRide G is King County Metro’s most ambitious BRT line to date.

September 16, 2024 - The Urbanist

View of dirt trail between shrubs with downtown Los Angeles skyline in background.

The Essential Role of Parks in Advancing Sustainability

Parks are vital to sustainability, providing environmental, economic, and social benefits that improve public health, support biodiversity, and promote equity, as recognized in Los Angeles County’s OurCounty Plan.

September 16, 2024 - National Recreation and Park Association Open Space Blog

Street with blurred traffic and office buioldings in background in Tucson, Arizona at dusk.

When ‘Prioritizing All Modes’ Is a Lie

In many cases, it’s impossible to prioritize the safety of pedestrians and other vulnerable road users without sacrificing some speed.

September 16, 2024 - Anna Zivarts

Aerial view of Puente Hills landfill on green hill in Los Angeles County, California.

Puente Hills Landfill Redevelopment Plan Wins Award for Transformative, Climate-Responsive Design

This project to transform a former landfill into a climate-resilient public space has won the 2024 Global Impact Award from ASLA and IFLA for its innovative, community-driven design that addresses environmental and social challenges.

September 15, 2024 - American Society Of Landscape Architects

Pedestrian plaza construction site with orange cones and excavator in Jersey City, New Jersey.

How Jersey City Dramatically Improved Its Public Realm

The city’s new Department of Infrastructure consolidates the management of public amenities and has guided the creation of new bike lanes, pedestrian plazas, and parks.

September 15, 2024 - CNU Public Square

Close-up of laptop with GIS parcel map open and hand resting on keyboard in modern office.

New Book Shows How Geographic Technology Tackles Global Challenges

In his new book, Jack Dangermond explores the transformative impact of GIS technology in solving global challenges through spatial data, highlighting its widespread application across sectors and its potential to design sustainable futures.

September 15, 2024 - ESRI

Close-up of food waste inside a black plastic compost bin.

Massachusetts Has the Nation’s Only Successful Food Waste Ban

The state has reduced its methane emissions by 25.7 percent per ton of waste following a law that seeks to eliminate food waste from landfills.

September 13, 2024 - Fast Company

Talking Heads Little Creatures album cover.

Great Album Covers with Urban Planning Themes

Album covers that evoke urban themes.

September 13, 2024 - Gabe Bailer - PP - AICP - NJ Urbanthinker

Sandbags and red water-filled cylinders lined up on a concrete pier to prevent flooding.

Planning for Future Floods

New climate and flood models are needed to understand growing flood risks.

September 12, 2024 - Governing

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.