Build Back Better

U.S. Capital

Infrastructure Financing Advances in House as $3.5 Billion Spending Package Takes Shape

A whole bunch of money is on the table in Congress.

September 16, 2021 - The Hill

Washington D.C. - The White House

White House Announces Plans for 100,000 Affordable Homes

The Biden administration has proposed a suite of policy and funding programs designed to create and protect 100,000 affordable housing units. If successful, the program will still fall well short of the need.

September 1, 2021 - James Brasuell

Capitol Hill

Bipartisan 'Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act' Passes the Senate

A final vote of 69-30, with 19 Republicans joining their Democratic colleagues in the Senate, will send the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act to the House.

August 10, 2021 - James Brasuell

Crude Oil Train

The World's Economic Bailout Came With Huge Environmental Costs

The world collectively spent on $17 trillion economic stimulus during the pandemic. The vast majority of that spending will make climate change and other environmental pollution much worse.

July 19, 2021 - The Guardian

Detroit, Michigan

Detroit as a Model for 'Building Back Better'

Cities have more experience, and examples, than they might realize when it comes to reinventing systems of investment and governance to recover from the economic ravages of the COVID-19 pandemic.

May 11, 2021 - Bloomberg CityLab

Lower Manhattan

Pre-Existing Conditions

Vital urbanism and a prescription for the post-pandemic city.

April 21, 2021 - Dan Kaplan

Amtrak Connects US

Infrastructure and its Discontents

The significance of the Biden administration's expansive view of infrastructure is reflected in the flood of commentary published in the week since the public's first look at the American Jobs Plan.

April 8, 2021 - James Brasuell

New York City

'American Jobs Plan': Potential Sea Change for Federal Infrastructure Spending

After a week of speculation and rumor, the Biden administration today revealed its promised infrastructure plan.

March 31, 2021 - James Brasuell

Washington, D.C.

Anticipation, Costs Rise as Details of Biden's Infrastructure Plan Emerge

The Biden administration's highly anticipated infrastructure spending plan is expected to go public this week. After weeks of speculation about the size and focus of the plan, recent reports reveal a growing package and new revenue streams.

March 30, 2021 - James Brasuell

Mass Shooting Protest

'Never Let a Good Crisis Go to Waste' and Planning in the Pandemic

The latest in a series of compendia collecting news and commentary focusing on the complexities of the COVID-19 pandemic's effect on communities.

March 23, 2021 - James Brasuell

Coronavirus

Focusing Housing Policy on Outcomes to Ensure Economic Recovery

Housing policy can ensure a sustainable economic recovery by focusing on five outcomes.

January 20, 2021 - Urban Institute

Biden administration

What to Expect When You're Expecting the Biden Administration

Commemorate Inauguration Day by digging deep into the promises and potential of the Biden Administration.

January 20, 2021 - James Brasuell

East Nashville

What Biden's First 100 Days Will Look Like for Transportation

The new administration's policies are likely to promote clean energy and equity goals and focus resources on maintenance of existing infrastructure.

January 5, 2021 - FreightWaves

Coronavirus and Transportation

L.A. Metro Plans for an Equitable Recovery

The pandemic has forced difficult confrontations with inequities that existed long before the novel coronavirus. L.A. Metro planners are responding by charting a path toward a transportation system that reverses and improves those previous realities.

December 16, 2020 - James Brasuell

Washington, D.C.

I Have Spent My Career Advocating for Fair Housing. It's Good to See Obama's Rule Go.

The Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing rule, as adopted by the Obama administration and scrapped by the Trump administration, didn't include the policy tools necessary to achieve fair housing in the United States, according to this opinion piece.

August 12, 2020 - Jonathan Zasloff

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.