Planning

On Foot: Planners Complete Street Safety Inventory One Step at a Time
Before drafting a new Pedestrian Master Plan for Montgomery County, planners are creating a detailed inventory of street conditions by walking every single one fo the county's roads and streets.

Opinion: Houston Should Vote Yes for MetroNext to Build Transit and Clean the Air
The executive director of Environment Texas makes the case for public transit as a key tool in improving air pollution in and around Houston. Houston voters will vote on the MetroNext bond referendum today.

What Is Transit Oriented Development?
Transportation and land use are deeply connected, but decades of planning and development policy ignored the consequences of only paying attention to one side of the equation. Transit oriented development takes a more holistic approach.

DTLA 2040 Ready for Public Scrutiny in Los Angeles
Two community plan updates, to the Central City and the Central City North community plans, comprise the DTLA 2040 plan. DTLA 2040 is also the first showcase for the city's new zoning code system.

Wildfires and Public Health
California is being forced to reckon with numerous negative public health outcomes caused by wildfires.

Which Urban Planning Academics Use Twitter and How
About 1/3 of planning faculty members use Twitter in a professional capacity. Semantic and network analysis of their Twitter use is helpful for reading the pulse of the field.

After Compromise, 'Streets Master Plan' Headed for Approval in New York City
The New York City Council is expected to pass a "Streets Master Plan" this week that City Council Speaker Corey Johnson describes as designed to "break the car culture."

Are Urban Planning Jobs Safe From Automation?
A dive into the concepts and methodologies producing current academic research into the effect of automation of jobs in the urban planning field.

Bus Rapid Transit Chosen for Big Mayo Clinic-Adjacent Economic Development Program
Rochester, the third-most-populous city in Minnesota and birthplace of the Mayo Clinic, has approved a plan to build bus rapid transit.

Opinion: End the City Council Land Use Veto
"Member deference" is what they call it New York, but many local elected officials in the United States have veto power over land use and development plans.

The Benefits of Gaming to Planning Education
"Popular games that invite players to take on the role of developer or city planner are a familiar part of the cultural landscape," according to this article.

Seattle Suburbs Prepare for Light Rail With Zoning for Transit-Oriented Development
Mountlake Terrace is the latest Seattle suburb to make substantial space for new development in anticipation of a forthcoming Link light rail line extending north of Seattle.

Single-Family Zoning on the Cutting Block in Bloomington, Indiana
Move over Minneapolis. An Indiana college town joins the avant-garde of planning innovation by nearing the finish line with a new Unified Development Ordinance that would allow duplexes, triplexes, and fourplexes in single-family neighborhoods.

High-Speed Rail Connecting Atlanta to Charlotte Studied
The Georgia Department of Transportation and the Federal Railroad Administration recently released a draft study of a plan to link Atlanta and Charlotte via high-speed rail.

Engaging, Then Planning, for Equity
The interdisciplinary work of the Kounkuey Design Initiative, led by executive director Chelina Odbert, and deeply committed to the homegrown potential of neighborhoods and communities.

A Radically Different Planning Process in Brownsville
In a year-long program that included bike rides, serenades, and Dragtivist performances, an art collective guided Brownsville, Texas residents in reimagining how they could influence equity and justice in their city.

Equity Planning for the 21st Century
The 20th century roots of equity planning, born in Cleveland, are evolving to meet the challenges of the 21st century. Portland provides a case study of that evolution.

Covington's New Neighborhood Development Code Wants to Ease Development, Protect Charm
Covington, Kentucky is seeking feedback from the public on a new zoning code after 18 months of work.

Robert Moses Inspires 'Motherless Brooklyn'
A new movie starring Edward Norton, based on the novel of the same name by Lionel Essrog, gives a central role to a Robert Moses doppelgänger, as portrayed by Alec Baldwin.

2020 Conferences in Planning and Design
An annual sampling of some of the best professional development conferences in the coming year for planning and design professions, by L.A. County Planner Clement Lau.
Pagination
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.
Clanton & Associates, Inc.
Jessamine County Fiscal Court
Institute for Housing and Urban Development Studies (IHS)
City of Grandview
Harvard GSD Executive Education
Toledo-Lucas County Plan Commissions
Salt Lake City
NYU Wagner Graduate School of Public Service