United States

Blonde woman looking for rental on Airbnb app on tablet.

How Short-Term Rental Taxes Can Help Cities

If properly regulated and taxed, the STR sector can generate millions in tax revenue.

October 25, 2024 - Route Fifty

Four-story modern apartment complex with white stucco and red brick.

Housing Measures on the Ballot in November

A survey of housing-related measures on state and local ballots this election season.

October 25, 2024 - Multifamily Dive

Yellow and black Metro light rail train pulling up to outdoor platform with Los Angeles skyline in background.

L.A. Transit Surpasses 1M Weekday Riders for First Time Since Pandemic

Rail and bus ridership in the Los Angeles metropolitan area is recovering at a faster rate than the national average.

October 24, 2024 - KNX News

Aerial view of dense neighborhood with beach homes on coast in Wrightsville Beach, North Carolina.

Rising Insurance Rates Squeezing Affordable Housing Developers

Spiking insurance costs in coastal areas prone to climate disasters are making it harder for low-income housing developers to keep building.

October 24, 2024 - WHQR

Bird's eye view of park with green trees, concrete walkways, and benches on lake or riverfront.

Not a Walk in the Park: What It Really Takes to Build Green Spaces

Park creation can take decades of perseverance to overcome financial, regulatory, and social hurdles, but the end result for the local community is more than worth it.

October 23, 2024 - Clement Lau

Nuclear New York

Google Inks Nuclear Power Deal

Tech giants are seeking out renewable energy to fuel power-hungry data centers and AI applications.

October 22, 2024 - ESG Today

Large trees on street in Las Vegas at night.

Urban Trees Have Bigger Impact in Hot, Dry Cities

The cooling effect of robust urban tree canopies is more pronounced in hotter, drier cities like Phoenix and Las Vegas.

October 22, 2024 - U.S. Geological Survey

Silver and blue Amtrak train approaching an oncoming orange freight train at station in Seattle, Washington.

Opinion: Prioritize Amtrak, but Don’t Demonize Freight

A proposed bill would tighten enforcement of a 1973 law that gives passenger trains priority over freight shipments.

October 21, 2024 - Mass Transit

Large metal pipe discharging water or wastewater into creek or body of water with shrubs and field in background.

Supreme Court Could Curb EPA’s Water Quality Regulation Powers

A suit brought by the city of San Francisco argues that the agency’s language around water treatment and discharge is too vague and imposes retroactive penalties.

October 20, 2024 - Roll Call

Young child riding scooter on gravel path in park.

How Local Parks Promote Equitable Outdoor Access

Targeted investments in local parks, improved infrastructure, and enhanced transit connectivity are essential strategies to close the nature gap and ensure equitable outdoor access for underserved communities.

October 20, 2024 - The Wilderness Society

Close-up on passengers holding overhead straps on busy public transit bus.

APTA Report Documents Transit Equity Efforts

Transit agencies around the country are boosting their efforts to serve historically marginalized communities and make transit work better for the households that rely on it the most.

October 18, 2024 - Smart Cities Dive

A sign announces the Kingston, New York Historic District

Kingston Agreed the Rent Was too Damn High — So It Lowered It

Rent stabilization typically limits the amount that rent can go up every year—but a newly appointed rent guidelines board in Kingston, New York took it a step further.

October 18, 2024 - Shelterforce Magazine

Two brown UPS trucks parked at curbside on New York City street.

State of Curbs & Parking Report Reveals Glut of Data

As the uses of curb space become more diverse, city officials are working to understand how to best manage this increasingly important urban amenity.

October 17, 2024 - Populus

People entering modern fare gates in subway station.

Is Cracking Down on Fare Evasion the Answer to Lagging Transit Ridership?

Transit agencies hope to reassure riders concerned about crime by boosting security at transit stations.

October 17, 2024 - My Panhandle

Close-up angled view of colorful wood clapboard small historic homes with chipping paint in New Orleans, Louisiana.

House Poor: Low-Income Homeowners Struggle in the Shadows

While renters and homebuyers’ challenges dominate the headlines, they aren't the only ones wrestling with maintaining decent housing.

October 16, 2024 - Shelterforce Magazine

Two young children crossing street at a crosswalk in front of black car.

US Street Design Manual Inches Toward Safer Roads

The guiding document for U.S. road design is starting to recognize the needs of people walking and biking, but safe streets advocates say more significant changes are needed to reduce the high number of pedestrian deaths and improve connectivity for all road users.

October 16, 2024 - Streetsblog USA

Aerial view of a single-family neighborhood with trees.

Planning Fair: How Fair Housing Intersects with Planning

The successful implementation of fair housing laws requires the active participation of urban planners, land use boards, elected officials, and the wider planning community.

October 15, 2024 - Jenny Raitt

Aerial view of suburban sprawl with large single-family homes near Dallas, Texas.

Zoning for Good

A new book highlights the power of zoning to change communities for the better.

October 15, 2024 - Governing

Flooded Houston street with half-submerged cars during Hurricane Harvey.

Migration to Disaster-Prone Areas Persists

Regions at high risk for flooding, wildfires, and other climate-fueled disasters continue to see rapid population growth.

October 14, 2024 - CBS News

Two older women sitting on green sofa looking at paperwork or bills.

LGBTQ+ Elders Face Compounded Challenges in Accessing Fair and Equitable Housing

Lessons for building affirming, inclusive, and trauma-informed housing developments for older LGBTQ+ adults.

October 14, 2024 - Sydney Kopp-Richardson

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.