Infrastructure

Bird's eye view of roundabout with two lanes and four branches.

How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Roundabout

What drives the U.S. backlash to roundabouts — objectively safer and more efficient than stop-and-go intersections?

January 8, 2025 - Bloomberg CityLab

PEople on bikes, pedestrians, and a bike share station under Pont Neuf in Paris, France.

Cycling Doubles in Paris After Infrastructure Improvements

The city’s efforts to improve its bike infrastructure are paying off in spades.

January 7, 2025 - Momentum Magazine

Close-up of yellow pedestrian crossing signal button with text "Push button for accessible signal" and diagram of person holding cane, indicating blindness.

Accessibility and Car-Free Zones

Some critics of car-free zones call them exclusionary to people with disabilities, but other experts argue that, when properly planned, pedestrian enhancements improve safety and accessibility for everyone.

January 6, 2025 - Mother Jones

Accessibility and Car-Free Zones

Some critics of car-free zones call them exclusionary to people with disabilities, but other experts argue that, when properly planned, pedestrian enhancements improve safety and accessibility for everyone.

January 6, 2025 - Mother Jones

Sillhouette of cyclist riding on path among trees with downtown Cleveland, Ohio skyline visible across water in background.

Cleveland To Build First Protected Downtown Bike Lane

The city is taking steps to build out a more comprehensive bike lane network to connect downtown destinations.

January 6, 2025 - Cleveland Scene

Sprawl

Research: Sprawl Linked to Poverty

Low-income families living in high-sprawl neighborhoods are limited in their access to education, jobs, and other amenities, often trapping them in a cycle of poverty.

January 6, 2025 - Science Blog

Elevated viaduct in Seattle, Washington being demolished.

Highway Removal Slowed by Outdated Policy, Lack of Committed Funding

Resistance from state transportation departments and precarious funding sources mean highway removal projects are few and far between, despite their benefits.

January 6, 2025 - Next City

Red, white, and blue sandbags stacked along bridge railing and building doors and windows.

How US Communities Are Building Resilience Against Flooding

Flooding causes over $400 billion in damage in the United States every year.

January 5, 2025 - Governing

Boston Red Line train with skyline in background.

Boston Rail Network Sees Significant Increases in Speed After Eliminating ‘Slow Zones’

A year-long project that upgraded rail infrastructure and equipment has resulted in faster trips on all rail lines.

January 5, 2025 - Mass Transit

Aerial view of busy NYC crosswalk with pedestrians and blurred traffic.

NYC Pedestrian Deaths Rose in 2024

The city’s Vision Zero efforts seem to have stalled.

January 5, 2025 - The New York Times

Graphic illustrating street with various lanes designed in Streetmix.

Reimagining Your Street

How to use free online tools to redesign your local streetscape.

January 3, 2025 - Urbanism Speakeasy via Substack

Keeper of the Plains Sculpture/Bridge over Arkansas River, Wichita Kansas.

Wichita 2024 Bike Plan Calls for 80 Miles of New Bike Lanes

The city’s draft bike plan aims to connect more of its existing bike lanes, which often end abruptly.

January 2, 2025 - The Wichita Eagle

Oil well in Bakersfield, California.

Certified Carbon Credits for Orphan Well Remediation

The Well Done Foundation has launched 778,000 certified carbon credits to fund the plugging of orphaned oil and gas wells, reducing methane emissions while offering businesses and individuals a way to offset their carbon footprints.

January 2, 2025 - PR Newswire

Woman walking two small children across crosswalk.

How Urban Design Can Benefit Parents and Kids

Designing thoughtful, child-friendly public spaces can ease the burdens of modern parenting and offer safe spaces for children to learn self-reliance and resilience.

January 2, 2025 - Bloomberg CityLab

Pedestrians in a busy city intersection with a cirty bus passing behind them.

Save Lives on Our Roads Using the Safe System Approach

Prioritizing safety and committing to the SSA framework can make a big impact in the effort to reduce traffic fatalities.

January 1, 2025 - Beth Wemple

Oil well pumpjack sillhouetted against a bright pink sunset sky.

Upcoming Conference Spotlights California's Orphan Wells

The 2025 Orphan & Idle Wells California Conference will address the environmental, economic, and public health challenges of abandoned oil and gas wells, focusing on remediation strategies, regulatory frameworks, and community-centered solutions.

December 31, 2024 - Energy Conference Network

Aerial view of wildfire damage in Lahaina, Maui.

$2.1 Billion Secured for Maui Wildfire Recovery and Resilience

Congress has approved federal funding to support Maui’s wildfire recovery, including housing, economic development, and infrastructure improvements while fostering long-term community resilience and preparedness.

December 31, 2024 - Hawaii Public Radio

Spikes on building designed to prevent people from sitting.

One Year Into Brazil’s ‘Hostile Architecture’ Ban

A recent law prohibits ‘defensive’ architecture designed to keep people away from buildings or public spaces.

December 31, 2024 - Next City

Oil well in prairie landscape.

Reclaiming Oil Wells for Renewable Energy in Rural Colorado

A company is seeking to repurpose abandoned oil wells in Pierce, Colorado, to create a cost-effective geothermal energy system that could heat and cool local buildings, reduce emissions, and serve as a model for sustainable energy nationwide.

December 31, 2024 - Fast Company

Aerial view of construction site with yellow dump truck and heavy machinery.

National Brownfields Training Conference: Driving Sustainable Redevelopment

The conference will bring together diverse stakeholders to share knowledge, strategies, and resources for the remediation and sustainable redevelopment of contaminated properties, fostering economic growth and environmental restoration.

December 31, 2024 - Brownfields 2025 Conference

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.