Public Health

Yellow Drive Safely on desert road

Beyond PSAs: Making Traffic Safety Outreach More Effective

Streetsblog surveyed readers about how road safety education can be made better.

June 20, 2023 - Streetsblog USA

'Caution Extreme Heat Danger' sign in Death Valley, California with desert mountains in background

How Extreme Heat Drives Inter-Agency Collaboration

City officials tasked with addressing the impacts of extreme heat highlight the importance of aligning the efforts of multiple city departments.

June 18, 2023 - Smart Cities Dive

Dallas Freeways

How Car-Oriented Infrastructure Harms Public Health

A new documentary shows the ways that infrastructure designed for cars and not people is making us ill.

June 14, 2023 - Streetsblog USA

Marcellus shale gas-drilling site with tall white tower against green hills along PA Route 87, Lycoming County, Pennsylvania

The Effort to Plug Pennsylvania’s Abandoned Oil Wells

Hundreds of thousands of defunct oil wells litter the state, leaking dangerous substances and often hidden under parking lots, buildings, or covered over by vegetation.

June 14, 2023 - Inside Climate News

Close-up of hand holding up decibel meter with blurred highway with traffic in background

The Case Against Noise Pollution

A detailed description of how noise impacts health and wellbeing.

June 12, 2023 - The New York Times

Close-up of lead water pipe with mineral crusts

An Equity Approach to Lead Pipe Replacement

A former Chicago health commissioner calls on governments to prioritize the most marginalized and historically disinvested communities when distributing funding to replace lead pipes, which have taken the highest toll on the health of disadvantaged c

May 31, 2023 - Governing

Nighttime view of U.S. Capitol and blurred traffic on Pennsylvania Avenue

D.C. Residents Fight Light Pollution

New LED lighting has raised concerns about the health and environmental impacts of excessive or harsh lighting.

May 30, 2023 - Route Fifty

Road sign with EXTREME HEAT ALERT surrounded by orange traffic cones

How Hot is Too Hot?

While they may not sound extreme, temperatures over 90 degrees can easily pose fatal risks and could have long-term impacts on public health.

May 23, 2023 - High Country News

Monotone photo of man waiting on subway platform with blurry train passing by and other passengers walking by

How Can Urban Planning Address the ‘Loneliness Epidemic’?

The U.S. Surgeon General is sounding the alarm about the health effects of isolation. Planners have a role to play in rebuilding our “social infrastructure.”

May 14, 2023 - Angie Schmitt

Close-up of pedestrian crossing button at a crosswalk in Los Angeles

Report: Racial Gap in Traffic Deaths Persists

Communities of color have significantly higher rates of traffic fatalities, according to federal research.

May 9, 2023 - Smart Cities Dive

View from back of young man sitting on concrete bench overlooking blurred city at sunrise or sunset

New Report on Loneliness and Isolation

A new advisory from the Surgeon General declares that there is an epidemic of loneliness in the United States and that lacking connection can increase the risk for premature death to levels comparable to smoking 15 cigarettes a day.

May 8, 2023 - National Public Radio

Blur image of patients in a hospital waiting area.

Report: Poor Access to Transportation Linked to Missed Healthcare

One in five Americans with limited access to transit and no vehicle have to forego medical appointments.

May 1, 2023 - Smart Cities Dive

Playground with yellow shade sails and blue equipment in Los Angeles, California

Community Building Through Park Activation

Los Angeles County's popular and award-winning Parks After Dark program returns for the spring, providing opportunities for residents to come together in safe and welcoming spaces where they can access quality programming and a variety of services.

April 4, 2023 - KTLA5

Aerial view of green trees over residential neighborhood with Austin, Texas skyline in the background

Street Trees as Climate Resilience

An Austin-based urban designer explains how protecting and encouraging the planting of street trees will make the city more resilient to increasingly common extreme heat events, among many other benefits.

April 3, 2023 - Diana Ionescu

Aerial view of traffic on road and buildings in the Bronx, New York City

MTA Proposes Pollution Mitigation Spending for the Bronx

Acknowledging the impact the city’s proposed congestion pricing program could have on underserved neighborhoods, the agency plans to spend over $130 million in revenue from the program on air filtration, trees, and other pollution reduction measures.

March 30, 2023 - The New York Times

People walking on the Camino de Santiago trail in Spain

The Joy of Walking

An essay meditating on the simple pleasures of a good walk.

March 28, 2023 - The New York Times

Aerial view of small town of Beacon, New York in the Hudson Valley

Hudson Valley City Bans Fossil Fuels in New Construction

Beacon will require all-electric appliances in new buildings starting next year.

March 23, 2023 - Food & Water Watch

Pedestrian stoplight with green 'walk' silhouette lit up and blurry city buildings in background

Historically Redlined Neighborhoods Have Higher Rates of Pedestrian Deaths, Study Says

The consequences of historic redlining continue to have consequences in the present day United States. Add another example to the list.

March 22, 2023 - Streetsblog USA

A homeless encampment is set up outside a transit station, next to bike share stations and a ticket dispenser.

The Deepening Transit Crisis: L.A. Times Reports Drug Use on Transit

An article by the L.A. Times earlier this week has raised the temperature of the debate about drug users and crime on rail transit. Concerns about public safety on transit are a common symptom of post-pandemic transit around the country.

March 17, 2023 - Los Angeles Times

Dirt walking trail with blue ocean on one side and green hillside on the other in Rancho Palos Verdes, California

Los Angeles County Parks Department Releases Five-Year Strategic Plan

The L.A. County Department of Parks and Recreation recently completed a strategic plan which details goals, strategies, and actions that reflect the agency's commitment to advancing equity.

March 16, 2023 - Los Angeles County Department of Parks and Recreation

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.