United States

Busy subway station with people walking on platform and train stopped.

How Good Transit Benefits Communities Beyond its Users

Robust, efficient transit networks can have an outsized impact on vehicle miles traveled, even by non-transit users.

November 14, 2024 - State Smart Transportation Initiative

Close-up of charging port on yellow electric school bus plugged in at charging station.

Opinion: Supporting Electric School Buses is the Right Thing to Do — and Fiscally Conservative

Why switching school bus fleets to electric vehicles is good for students, the environment, and school districts’ finances.

November 14, 2024 - Governing

Craftsman-style two-story home with detached converted garage apartment accessory dwelling unit.

How Cities Can Support ADU Production

Although state-level laws are making it easier for homeowners to build accessory dwelling units, high impact and development fees remain a major barrier for many prospective ADU builders.

November 14, 2024 - HousingWire

Two-lane rural road with stoplights hanging above roadway and construction visible in distance.

Report: Some Rural States Ahead of More Urbanized Ones in Reducing Transportation Emissions

This is a largely unintended consequence of states with lower populations and resources focusing on repairing existing roads and infrastructure rather than expanding and building new roads.

November 14, 2024 - Bloomberg CityLab

View of traffic on San Diego freeway.

Opinion: Why Linking Driving to GDP Misses the Point

The argument that car-centric development is good because it boosts national GDP ignores the massive costs of driving to everyday Americans.

November 13, 2024 - Streetsblog USA

Construction site and cranes in New York City with Empire State Building visible in background.

What Might Federal Housing Policy Look Like in 2025?

Changes to tax incentives, fair housing laws, and housing assistance programs would quickly start impacting local efforts to stem the housing crisis.

November 13, 2024 - Curbed

Close-up of four Tesla sedans parked and plugged in at charging station.

The Future of Electric Vehicles Under Trump

Will Elon Musk’s influence temper Trump’s anti-EV stance?

November 12, 2024 - Wired

Bears Ears National Monument

Future of Public Lands Looks Litigious Under Trump

Experts say monuments and “unappropriated” federal lands will likely be the target for expanded drilling, mining, and other development under a new Trump administration.

November 11, 2024 - Bloomberg

Overhead view of white Waymo self-driving car in San Francisco, California with shared bikes and scooters visible on adjacent sidewalk.

Robotaxis Wreak Havoc on Urban Transit

In cities across the United States, robotaxis, championed by companies like Waymo and Cruise, are a marvel of modern technology and a flashpoint for debate over their place in urban transit.

November 11, 2024 - Cities of the Future

Playground in courtyard of apartment building.

How Courtyard Apartments Make Cities More Family-Friendly

Apartment buildings with interior courtyards can offer safe, affordable, and functional spaces for urban households with children.

November 10, 2024 - Bloomberg CityLab

Two rusty, abandoned oil pumps in rural Texas.

Addressing Orphan Wells for Environmental Justice

Remediating and repurposing some orphan oil and gas wells into parks can turn environmental hazards into community assets, promoting health, environmental justice, and accessible green space for underserved areas.

November 10, 2024 - Progressive City

Parked cars in floodwater with two-story apartments or homes in background in Florida after hurricane.

Auto Insurance Rates Spike Due to Extreme Weather

Car insurance costs around the country are going up as insurers receive more claims from areas struck by storms and other climate disasters.

November 7, 2024 - Grist

Aerial view of flooded small homes in Florida after hurricane.

Research Shows White Communities Gain Affluence After Climate Disasters

People of color and lower-income residents tend to lose wealth despite the stated goals of federal assistance programs to restore communities impacted by disasters.

November 6, 2024 - Inside Climate News

A view of the mechanics of the engine at the back of a public bus.

APTA Requests CDL Testing Change to Address Bus Operator Shortage

Eighty-four percent of U.S. transit agencies surveyed said CDL complexity was a hiring obstacle, with the “under-the-hood” requirement being the most challenging.

November 6, 2024 - Mass Transit

Bike lane delineated with white paint and orange bollards.

Study: Bike Lanes Improve Road Safety

Bike lanes delineated with bollards or traffic cones are most likely to slow drivers and reduce crashes between cars and bikes.

November 6, 2024 - Next City

Aerial view of traffic in New York City entering Queens Midtown tunnel

Report Highlights Economic Benefits of Reducing Car Dependence

Encouraging Americans to drive less — and supporting cities where it’s possible to do so — could save the country trillions more than just electrifying the transportation sector.

November 5, 2024 - Streetsblog USA

"Vote Here" sandwich board sign with American flag on sidewalk in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

Public, Private Transportation Systems Offer Free Election Day Rides

From transit agencies to ride-hailing, bike share, and car rentals, transportation companies are encouraging people to vote by offering free and discounted rides to polling locations.

November 5, 2024 - TechCrunch

Pedestrians crossing a busy crosswalk on New York City street with tall buildings in background

It’s Now Legal to Jaywalk in New York City

For the first time since 1958, pedestrians in New York City are free to cross the street without adhering to traffic signals or marked crosswalks.

November 4, 2024 - CNN Travel

Trailer Parks

States Move to Protect Mobile Home Park Residents

Making it easier for mobile home park residents to collectively purchase the land they live on can protect their housing affordability for the long term.

November 4, 2024 - Stateline

Woman stands on rock overlooking mountain valley.

How Social Media Is Influencing Our Interactions with Public Lands

Getting the perfect online photo is drawing more people into nature. Land managers are trying to mitigate risks and damage to wild places.

November 4, 2024 - Paige Gross

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.