The Daily Source of Urban Planning News

Solar panels, wind turbines, and power line tower against sunset sky.

Renewable Energy Under Pressure: Lessons on Grid Resilience in Extreme Weather From Texas and California

How preparation and modern infrastructure can prevent power failures in an era of climate change.

September 4 - Yale Climate Connections

Cheical plant with shite steam coming out of metal towers on riverbank in Louisiana.

Court Bars EPA Probes in Louisiana’s ‘Cancer Alley’

A federal court ruling effectively prevents the Environmental Protection Agency from pursuing civil rights claims in one of the nation’s most polluted regions.

September 4 - Inside Climate News

Black e-bikes sitting on a sidewalk outdoors.

Denver E-Bike Rebates: Gone in 60 Seconds

The popularity of e-bike rebate vouchers continues unabated in Denver.

September 4 - Denverite

Austin Pedestrians

Austin Completes First Round of Vision Zero Projects

Small, localized interventions such as changes to signal timing and crosswalk improvements are saving lives and improving traffic safety.

September 4 - KXAN

Wide shot of group of people with bikes standing in plaza near U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C.

Biking Outpaces Transit Use in DC

D.C. residents and visitors take as many as 30 million trips on bikes or shared mobility, yet bike lanes cover just one quarter of one percent of the District’s streets.

September 4 - Greater Greater Washington


Close-up of white traffic enforcement camera mounted on concrete pole against blue sky.

Philly Speed Camera Program Cuts Fatalities in Half

Excessive speeding along dangerous segments of Roosevelt Boulevard dropped by 90 percent after the city installed automated enforcement cameras.

September 4 - Smart Cities Dive

August's Must-Reads laid over a close-up image of a radlining map.

BLOG POST

August’s Must-Reads: Top 10 Articles from Last Month

Redlining maps, ADU legislation, Project 2025, and more — catch up on Planetizen’s most popular headlines from August.

September 3 - Mary Hammon


Close-up of engraved stone Seattle City Hall sign in front of wide steps leading to modern glass building.

Seattle Could End Restrictions on Co-Living

Current regulations prohibit ‘congregate housing’ in many parts of the city.

September 3 - Capitol Hill Seattle Blog

Aerial view of Rancho Palos Verdes coastal community with large homes on coastal bluffs on Pacific Ocean.

Southern California Utilities Cut Power, Gas to Hundreds of Households on Shifting Coastal Land

Slow but significant land movement is damaging infrastructure, prompting power shutoffs and calls for evacuation in Rancho Palos Verdes.

September 3 - Daily Breeze

Native demonstrators hold a red banner reading "Bring the salmon home - Remove the Klamath Dams."

Last Dam in Klamath River Removal Project Comes Down

Salmon can now move freely along the river and its tributaries for the first time in over a century.

September 3 - CNN

25mph speed limit sign with blurred street with car and palm trees in background

California Bill Requiring Speeding Warnings Heads to Governor’s Desk

The law would require all vehicle models 2030 and later to include technology that warns drivers when they exceed the speed limit.

September 3 - CBS News

Texas Central

Texas High-Speed Rail Awarded $63.9M Federal Grant

In August, Amtrak received a $63.9 million grant from the FRA to continue its work to identify a high-speed rail corridor between Dallas and Houston.

September 3 - Texas Rail Advocates

Sunset or sunrise view of coastal wetlands in Louisiana

FEMA Flood Mitigation Assistance Grant to Fund Marsh Restoration

The grant to fund a marsh restoration project in coastal Louisiana is the first of its kind under FEMA’s Flood Mitigation Assistance program, which is typically used to elevate, acquire, or relocate homes or floodproof businesses.

September 3 - Insurance Newsnet

Aerial view of an eight-lane highway tunnel with the harbor in the background.

Army Corps Recommends $77M Floodwall to Protect Baltimore Tunnels

In the face of growing flooding risk and increased traffic following the Francis Scott Key Bridge collapse, federal and state officials say protecting two of Baltimore's major transportation corridors from flooding is vital.

September 3 - The Baltimore Banner

Sound Transit train

Sound Transit’s $3 Billion Lynnwood Link Extension Opens

After five years, Sound Transit’s light rail connection linking south Snohomish County to downtown Seattle and Sea-Tac Airport is now open.

September 2 - Seattle Times

Midwest Flooding

FEMA Extends Deadline for Hazard Mitigation Grant Applications

Tight applications prevented many communities struck by disasters from applying for FEMA resilience grants, so the agency issued a new rule that extended the application window.

September 2 - Smart Cities Dive

A factory smoke stack billows out black smoke into a blue sky.

‘Ground-Breaking’ Settlement Reached in Detroit Environmental Justice Case

Civil rights activists celebrate a legal settlement that will require the state of Michigan to prevent hazardous waste and other industrial facilities from disproportionately polluting lower income and predominantly Black and brown communities.

September 2 - Detroit Metro Times

Open Space

BLM Proposes Opening 31 Million Acres of Public Lands to Solar Development

The Biden administration has released a proposal that would open tens of millions of acres in 11 Western states to solar development, a move that has clean energy advocates celebrating and environmental groups concerned.

September 2 - The Daily Caller

View of cars in traffic jam from behind

FEATURE

Transportation Rx: Treating Traffic Glut Like Doctors Treat Sinus Congestion

To cure chronic traffic congestion, U.S. cities should consider a prescribed treatment approach, using technology and road pricing strategies to target the root cause instead of just managing the symptoms.

September 1 - Timothy Menard

View of a phone with a chatbot interface asking user how it can help them.

BLOG POST

Leveraging AI Chatbots to Enhance Citizen Engagement in City Services

Discover how AI chatbots can transform citizen engagement in city services, offering 24/7 interaction capabilities, streamlining service requests, and gathering valuable feedback to improve urban management.

September 1 - Devin Partida

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Top Books

An annual review of books related to planning.

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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.