Infrastructure

View of people sitting in lightly sloped green lawn with Spanish colonial-style building and cityscape in background in San Francisco, California.

How Local Park Agencies Contribute to Decarbonization Efforts

Park agencies play an important role in decarbonization by creating and managing parklands, promoting sustainable practices, and engaging communities to combat climate change and enhance public health and biodiversity.

July 23, 2024 - National Recreation and Park Association Open Space Blog

Blue and green city bus blurred in transit on New York City street.

Planning for Equity in an Ideologically Conservative Community

To support equity goals, planners must accommodate diverse ideological perspectives, including political environments that focus on functional fairness rather than demographic categories.

July 22, 2024 - Todd Litman

Aerial view of wide roadway and arc bridge in Denver, Colorado.

Colorado Requires DOT to Reduce Emissions. Is it Working?

A new rule calling for emissions reduction plans as part of highway projects has led to two canceled road expansions and a shift toward greener transportation investments.

July 19, 2024 - MSN

Bike bridge in Boise, Idaho.

‘Data Bikes’ Help Governments Understand Bike Path Conditions

Sensors on specially equipped bikes can collect information on trail accessibility and pavement conditions to prioritize maintenance projects.

July 18, 2024 - Route Fifty

Overhead view of multilane elevated highway with multiple levels.

Reconnecting Communities Grant Round Offers $600M for Highway Mitigation Projects

The program is part of the 2021 infrastructure law and calls for improving access in communities disadvantaged by freeways.

July 18, 2024 - Smart Cities Dive

Bus terminal at Aurora Village Transit Center in Shoreline, Washington.

King County to Sunset Public Restroom Program

The agency cites the high cost of the program and a county code that bars restroom facilities from transit centers as reasons for ending the six-month pilot.

July 17, 2024 - The Urbanist

Arizona Streets

Deadly Contact Burns Rising in the Southwest

As heat waves become more frequent and severe, hospitals are seeing more patients admitted with serious, sometimes life-threatening burns from asphalt and other outdoor surfaces.

July 17, 2024 - The New York Times

Skyline of Louisville, Kentucky with pedestrian walkway in foreground and vehicle bridge.

Louisville Creates its First Municipal DOT

The new department will be tasked with speeding up transportation and infrastructure projects.

July 17, 2024 - WHAS 11

Group of people and kids biking through small roundabout in Long Beach, California.

Long Beach Has Installed Nearly 100 Traffic Circles

They range from large traffic circles that reduce congestion to small neighborhood roundabouts designed to slow local traffic.

July 16, 2024 - Streetsblog LA

House filled with sand and damaged by debris after Hurricane Sandy.

FEMA Rule Calls for Updated Flood Modeling

Agency-funded projects will be required to be elevated at least 2 feet above the projected local flood level.

July 16, 2024 - Construction Dive

Close-up of green neon Restrooms sign.

When Bathroom Access Restricts Mobility

For parents of young children, people with mobility equipment, and others, a lack of accessible public restrooms can mean limited outings.

July 16, 2024 - The Good Men Project

Close-up of fleet modern electric EV delivery vans being charged in covered parking garage.

USDOT Unveils Strategies to Achieve Near-Zero Transportation Emissions

Three key strategies — reducing travel distances, increasing energy-efficient travel modes, and transitioning to zero-emission vehicles and fuels — are recommended to meet national climate goals under the Paris Agreement.

July 15, 2024 - Smart Cities Dive

Flooded freeway underpass with red and white WRONG WAY sign in Houston, Texas during Hurricane Beryl in July 2024.

Houston Could Face Stronger Storms. Is the City Prepared?

Experts say Hurricane Beryl, which landed as a category 1, revealed that the city’s infrastructure may not successfully withstand stronger storms.

July 15, 2024 - Inside Climate News

University of Freiburg modern glass library building.

Using AI to Model Climate Impacts

A German research team used AI to understand how thermal stress will impact urban infrastructure down to the street level.

July 15, 2024 - Phys.org

Aerial view of wide multilane road intersection.

Fixing the Notorious ‘Stroad’

Why roadways that try to serve everyone can be some of the most dangerous.

July 15, 2024 - The Conversation

Two utility workers looking up at power lines against purplish sunset sky.

Federal and State Responses to Extreme Heat

Governments are mobilizing resources to address the impacts of longer and more intense heat waves on public health and infrastructure.

July 12, 2024 - Pew Trusts

Freeway interchange with traffic in Austin, Texas.

Report: Vision Zero Saving Lives in Austin

Safety improvements at major intersections led to a 22 percent reduction in deaths and severe injuries and saved the city over $28 million.

July 11, 2024 - Community Impact Newspaper

Facade of Newark Penn Station in Newark, New Jersey.

Gateway Tunnel Project Ready to Move Forward

The project is primarily funded through federal agencies and will improve a key link between New Jersey and New York City.

July 11, 2024 - NorthJersey.com

Aerial view of downtown Spokane, Washington.

Spokane City Council Calls for ‘Safe Streets Now!’

The Washington city approved a resolution aimed at improving pedestrian safety.

July 10, 2024 - Longview News Journal

Aerial view of park playground in West Los Angeles, California.

LA County Releases Funding for Parkland Acquisition in Underserved Communities

Los Angeles County has released $14.5 million in Measure A grant funds to support parkland acquisition in high-need areas, aiming to create additional green spaces and advance environmental justice and equity.

July 10, 2024 - Los Angeles County Regional Park and Open Space District

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.