The Daily Source of Urban Planning News

Traffic on Interstate 45 with signs leading to Dallas and Galveston.

Texas High-Speed Rail Plan Calls for Eminent Domain

The proposed rail line would link Dallas and Houston via a 90-minute trip.

September 17 - Newsweek

Man and woman watch waterfall in Paley Pocket Park in Manhattan, New York City. Park is filled with white tables and chairs.

Creative Ways to Activate Roofless Buildings and Vacant Lots

Pocket parks aren’t the only way to repurpose underused urban spaces.

September 17 - Strong Towns

Legislative Hall in Dover, Delaware.

New Delaware Laws Address Renewable Energy, EVs, Climate Resilience

Recently enacted legislation promotes offshore wind projects, solar energy, and electric vehicle infrastructure.

September 17 - Delaware News Journal

A Joshua tree forest in the Mojave desert with mountains in background.

New Exhibit Highlights the Urgent Need to Protect Joshua Trees

The Lancaster Museum exhibit “Desert Forest: Life with Joshua Trees” aims to raise awareness of the ecological importance of Joshua trees and the threats they face from climate change in the Mojave Desert.

September 16 - SCV News

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 - The Urbanist


Traffic on a busy city street.

Report: Americans Are Driving More Than Ever

Average vehicle miles driven rose in almost every major metropolitan area between 2019 and 2024.

September 16 - Bloomberg CityLab

Aerial view of Honolulu, Hawaii with oceanfront.

Honolulu Has a New Chief Resilience Officer

Mayor Rick Blangiardi has appointed Ben Sullivan as executive director and chief resilience officer for the Honolulu Office of Climate Change, Sustainability and Resiliency.

September 16 - Spectrum News


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 - National Recreation and Park Association Open Space Blog

City park with paved walkway, green trees, and people sitting on lawn.

New Study Shows How Urban Trees Improve Public Health

Louisville's Green Heart project demonstrates that strategically planting trees in underserved neighborhoods can significantly reduce inflammation levels, highlighting the health benefits of urban greenery through a novel, data-driven approach.

September 16 - Bloomberg

College Students

FEATURE

Urban Planning Is Often Overlooked as a Career — Why Is That?

Research shows that the majority of young people aren't aware of urban planning, let alone of its potential as a career. This article offers three ways colleges and universities with undergraduate degrees and masters programs in urban planning can do to attract children and young people from diverse backgrounds to the profession.

September 16 - Stephen Kofi Diko

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

FEATURE

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 - Anna Zivarts

Close-up on red and white "Office space for lease" sign in window of office building.

Office Vacancies Drag Down Property Taxes

Downtown office buildings around the country are selling for much lower prices than before the pandemic, prompting questions about the future of central business districts.

September 15 - Governing

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 - 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 - 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 - 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 - Fast Company

Woman stands next to a bike with one hand on handlebar holding her mobile phone.

Transit App Adds Safety-First Bike Routes

Users of the mobile travel planning app can now prioritize safe bike infrastructure when trip planning.

September 13 - Streetsblog USA

Bird's eye view of homes in Wichita Falls, Texas on a sunny day.

Texas Needs 300,000 Housing Units to Close Affordability Gap

The state’s comptroller warns that demand will continue to outpace supply without zoning reforms and a reduction in regulatory barriers.

September 13 - KFDX

Talking Heads Little Creatures album cover.

BLOG POST

Great Album Covers with Urban Planning Themes

Album covers that evoke urban themes.

September 13 - 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 - Governing

Post News

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.

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.