Arizona

Clear-Sky Flood

Welcome to a Changed Climate: It Even Floods When it's Sunny

A new report by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration documents the increasing frequency of nuisance floods and "clear-sky flooding."

June 11, 2016 - USA Today

Environmental Protection Agency Under Fire From All Sides

Expect EPA to be radically downsized and stripped of much of its authority should a Republican become the next president. Democrats haven't stepped up to their defense as one might expect after the mishandling of the Flint water crisis.

March 21, 2016 - The New York Times

Big Transit Happenings Expected for the Sun Belt in 2016

A streak of landmark years for public transit in Sun Belt cities from the West Coast to the Florida Panhandle will continue in 2016.

December 27, 2015 - The Urban Edge

Lake Powell

Op-Ed: Lake Powell No Longer Needed

Eric Balken makes the case that Lake Powell, anchored in place by the Glen Canyon Dam, is too inefficient a reservoir during times of water scarcity. Lake Mead, he says, is more than up to the task.

December 11, 2015 - High Country News

Where Climate Change Means Diminished Snowpacks, Water Supplies

A new study by researchers at Columbia University estimates how predicted changes in the levels and locations of snowfall will affect water supplies.

November 29, 2015 - The New York Times

Waze Index Ranks Driver Satisfaction

One of the world's most popular navigation apps, Waze, has aggregated the data generated by 50 million users to develop a "Driver's Satisfaction Index." Perhaps surprisingly, auto-oriented Phoenix, Arizona leads all cities on the index.

October 14, 2015 - Waze

Audit: Arizona DOT Facing $62.7 Billion Budget Shortfall through 2035

Something needs to change if Arizona is going to be able to pay the bills for maintaining and building new roads, according to the findings of an audit by the state.

October 3, 2015 - Phoenix Business Journal

Suburban Dead End

Poverty Less Rural Than 50 Years Ago

It used to be that the nation's rural areas suffered from the highest poverty rates. Today, nearly half of the American poor live in mid-sized counties.

September 21, 2015 - Pew Research Center

Phoenix Light Rail

Light Rail Leading the Way in the Sun Belt

Cities traditionally thought of as car-centric are putting ambitious light rail plans at the center of ambitious plans for transit.

September 16, 2015 - Houston Chronicle

Texas Outdoors

With Texas Sprawl: Fewer Places to Roam

An outdoors enthusiast laments the explosive sprawl that is quickly sucking up places to hunt and fish in the state of Texas.

September 7, 2015 - The Dallas Morning News

Phoenix Transportation Sales Tax Measure Wins On Tuesday's Ballot

Phoenix voters, by 55 percent according to preliminary results, chose to increase their sales tax from .4 to .7 percent on Tuesday, continuing until 2051 to pay for $17 billion in transportation improvements.

August 27, 2015 - AZ Central

Open 7 Months Ahead of Schedule: Mesa, Arizona's Light Rail Extension

The Valley Metro Rail system launched a new light rail extension over the weekend that connects the city of Mesa into Phoenix, Tempe and to the Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport.

August 24, 2015 - East Valley Tribune

Agritpopia

Building a Better Suburb

Suburbs are changing. Instead of "green lawns, sprawling backyards, and lots of parking for cars," now there are "agri-hoods."

August 24, 2015 - Huffington Post Canada

Downtown Phoenix Skyline

Support for Rail Heats Up in Phoenix

A seven-year-old light rail line has beaten ridership projections and transformed neighborhoods in Phoenix. Now, one of the nation's most sprawling cities considers where to expand the system—and how to pay for it.

August 17, 2015 - Governing Magazine

Desert Road

Restoring the First Cross Country Interstate in the Southern States*

Partly absorbed by 1-10 and party given over the ravages of time—the Old Spanish Trail was the first to highway to connect the East Coast to the West Coast through the southern states.

August 9, 2015 - Atlas Obscura

Swords Into Ploughshares: Guns Transformed Into Rebar for Bridges and Freeways

Guns taken off the streets by California police agencies have become a new source of materials for steel reinforcement on bridges and freeways around the Southwest.

August 4, 2015 - Global Construction Review

Phoenix Sales Tax Measure Key to County's Transit Future

On August 25, voters in Phoenix and Maricopa County will determine the outcome of Proposition 104, a transportation sales tax measure that would raise $17 billion for a wide variety of transportation improvements, including extended light rail.

July 29, 2015 - ABC 15 (Phoenix)

Tribal Community Sues Over Phoenix-Area Freeway Plans

The 'South Mountain Freeway' would build a 22-mile freeway extension between Laveen and Chandler. The route's proximity to sacred tribal land has prompted a lawsuit, even after years of planning.

July 4, 2015 - The Arizona Republic

Looking for Successful Places in Metropolitan Phoenix

The Phoenix region, as a relatively young metropolitan area, has sprawled as it's grown and for much of its expansion has overlooked placemaking considerations. A recent feature in The Arizona Republic highlights the places that standout.

July 2, 2015 - The Arizona Republic

Phoenix Mayor Advocates Self-Reliance Due to Federal Gridlock

Frustrated with Congress' inability to fund a six-year transportation bill, Mayor Greg Stanton is backing an August sales tax measure to expand light rail. Stanton also discusses climate change and water rights in the article and accompanying videos

June 29, 2015 - The Washington Post

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.