United States

Sign above entrance of United States Department of Transportation.

USDOT Issues $1B in Road Safety Grants

The funding is aimed at helping cities plan and implement safety improvement projects to reduce road deaths and major crashes.

September 10, 2024 - Route Fifty

Close-up on protester holding Affordable Housing Now sign.

Federal Policies for Creating Permanent Affordable Housing

An Urban Institute analysis outlines three ways federal lawmakers can support housing programs that provide permanent affordable housing for the households that need it most.

September 10, 2024 - Urban Institute

Close-up of yellow and black 'Pedestrians Ahead' sign with blurred farmhouse and road in background.

Traffic Deaths Dip for Ninth Straight Quarter

Traffic deaths around the country are showing a slow but steady decline, but fatalities remain above pre-pandemic levels.

September 9, 2024 - Land Line

COTA Bus

Columbus, Ohio's High-Frequency Transit Future Up for Vote in November

Despite being the nation’s 14th largest city, Columbus, Ohio has no high-capacity transit. That could change this November as city officials put a levy before voters that would provide $6.2 billion by 2050 to fund an ambitious bus rapid transit system.

September 9, 2024 - Columbus Dispatch

Elon Musk appears on stage in front of a backdrop of information about the Boring Company.

Tesla’s Self-Driving Still Not Working in Las Vegas Tunnels

The Boring Company had previously said it was working with Tesla to use its self-driving system in its tunnels below Las Vegas to save costs on drivers, but two years later, there is no clear timeline for “full autonomy.”

September 9, 2024 - Electrek

Aerial view of wide multilane road intersection.

Stroads, High Poverty Are Commonalities Between US Counties with High Pedestrian Death Rates

Three-fourths of counties with the highest pedestrian death rates also had persistently high poverty rates, according to a Stateline article.

September 9, 2024 - Stateline

Close-up on green painted curb with '30 min max' in white.

How Cities Use Tech for Curb Management

Curb monitoring technology is helping cities build a growing understanding of the shifting demand for this valuable urban space.

September 8, 2024 - GovTech

Aerial view of road construction with yellow heavy equipment parked next to two-lane asphalt road against green forest and blue sky

Study: Cost of Expanding Roads Outweighs Benefits

New research shows that the economic benefits of roadbuilding projects don’t come close to exceeding most projects’ costs.

September 8, 2024 - Bloomberg CityLab

Stormwater

Study: Outdated Stormwater Infrastructure Exacerbates Flooding

Infrastructure built to mitigate flooding a century ago no longer serves current needs.

September 6, 2024 - Tech Xplore

Maroon Bells sign for wilderness portal and white river national forest in Aspen, Colorado rocky mountain covered in snow after winter frozen in autumn 2019.

Future Uncertain for Housing Program Tied to Farm Bill

A provision that allows the federal government to lease some of its lands for affordable housing development could lapse if Congress fails to renew the Farm Bill.

September 5, 2024 - The Aspen Times

Aerial view of Trinity United Church aerial view at 103 Lafayette Road at Main Street in Seabrook historic town center, New Hampshire NH, USA.

Small Towns Lead in Parking Reform

Small towns and communities around the country are eliminating parking requirements at a faster rate than big cities.

September 5, 2024 - Sightline

Solar panels, wind turbines, and power line tower against sunset sky.

Renewable Energy Under Pressure: Lessons on Grid Resilience in Extreme Weather From Texas and California

How preparation and modern infrastructure can prevent power failures in an era of climate change.

September 4, 2024 - Yale Climate Connections

Texas Central

Texas High-Speed Rail Awarded $63.9M Federal Grant

In August, Amtrak received a $63.9 million grant from the FRA to continue its work to identify a high-speed rail corridor between Dallas and Houston.

September 3, 2024 - Texas Rail Advocates

Sunset or sunrise view of coastal wetlands in Louisiana

FEMA Flood Mitigation Assistance Grant to Fund Marsh Restoration

The grant to fund a marsh restoration project in coastal Louisiana is the first of its kind under FEMA’s Flood Mitigation Assistance program, which is typically used to elevate, acquire, or relocate homes or floodproof businesses.

September 3, 2024 - Insurance Newsnet

Aerial view of an eight-lane highway tunnel with the harbor in the background.

Army Corps Recommends $77M Floodwall to Protect Baltimore Tunnels

In the face of growing flooding risk and increased traffic following the Francis Scott Key Bridge collapse, federal and state officials say protecting two of Baltimore's major transportation corridors from flooding is vital.

September 3, 2024 - The Baltimore Banner

Sound Transit train

Sound Transit’s $3 Billion Lynnwood Link Extension Opens

After five years, Sound Transit’s light rail connection linking south Snohomish County to downtown Seattle and Sea-Tac Airport is now open.

September 2, 2024 - Seattle Times

Midwest Flooding

FEMA Extends Deadline for Hazard Mitigation Grant Applications

Tight applications prevented many communities struck by disasters from applying for FEMA resilience grants, so the agency issued a new rule that extended the application window.

September 2, 2024 - Smart Cities Dive

A factory smoke stack billows out black smoke into a blue sky.

‘Ground-Breaking’ Settlement Reached in Detroit Environmental Justice Case

Civil rights activists celebrate a legal settlement that will require the state of Michigan to prevent hazardous waste and other industrial facilities from disproportionately polluting lower income and predominantly Black and brown communities.

September 2, 2024 - Detroit Metro Times

Open Space

BLM Proposes Opening 31 Million Acres of Public Lands to Solar Development

The Biden administration has released a proposal that would open tens of millions of acres in 11 Western states to solar development, a move that has clean energy advocates celebrating and environmental groups concerned.

September 2, 2024 - The Daily Caller

View of cars in traffic jam from behind

Transportation Rx: Treating Traffic Glut Like Doctors Treat Sinus Congestion

To cure chronic traffic congestion, U.S. cities should consider a prescribed treatment approach, using technology and road pricing strategies to target the root cause instead of just managing the symptoms.

September 1, 2024 - Timothy Menard

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.