United States

Elk stands looking over its shoulder in a meadow with snow-capped mountains in background in Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado.

Poll Shows Residents of Western States Prefer Conservation Over Oil and Gas

The majority of the poll’s respondents identified as politically conservative or independent, with 40 percent supporting MAGA platform.

March 3, 2025 - High Country News

Blurred black and white image of bicycle laying down in road with orange traffic cone in foreground.

Trump Administration Takes Aim at Transportation Research

Researchers warn of a “chilling environment” as studies examining road safety and other topics are killed off and layoffs hit federal agencies.

March 2, 2025 - Bloomberg News

A cowboy rests his hand on a green gate on a sunny day in Colorado. The United States flag is behind him and he is wearing a straw cowboy hat and glasses. A dirt road is next to him.

Poll Shows Residents of Western States Prefer Conservation Over Oil and Gas

The majority of the poll’s respondents identified as politically conservative or independent, with 40 percent supporting the MAGA platform.

February 28, 2025 - High Country News

Two white Waymo robotaxis parked on street in San Francisco, California.

How Autonomous Cars Can Induce Sprawl and Sabotage Climate Goals

Robotaxis can lead to longer, more frequent trips and are projected to increase VMT by as much as 83 percent.

February 28, 2025 - Smart Cities Dive

Aerial view of Broadway Street of Philipsburg, Montana, Philipsburg is a town in and the county seat of Granite County, Montana, United States.

Study: Urban US Residents Have Higher Life Expectancy Than Rural Americans

A combination of economic and social factors leads to higher rates of disease and reduced access to healthcare for many rural residents.

February 27, 2025 - The Conversation

Complete Street

‘Complete Streets’ Webpage Deleted in Federal Purge

Basic resources and information on building bike lanes and sidewalks, formerly housed on the government’s Complete Streets website, are now gone.

February 27, 2025 - Streetsblog USA

Collage of 5 GIS maps from the ESRI American Community Survey (ACS) Atlas Collection.

Explore US Demographics With the New ACS Atlas Collection

Esri's new ACS Atlas Collection offers interactive applications that visualize the latest U.S. demographic and socio-economic data, enabling users to explore over 175 curated web maps across various thematic areas.

February 27, 2025 - ArcGIS Blog

White bike sharrow symbol painted on road next to green grass.

Sharrows Are Ineffective, Potentially Counterproductive

Research shows there’s no substitute for protected bike lanes, and sharrows may make roads more dangerous for cyclists.

February 26, 2025 - Momentum Magazine

Bureau of Land Management West Desert District & Salt Lake Field Office in Salt Lake City, Utah.

Public Lands Can Help Us Tackle the Housing Crisis in the West

The U.S. owns more than 650 million acres of public lands, and it has the power to sell or lease limited parcels for affordable housing. But mass disposal of public lands, as some legislators have proposed, is not the answer.

February 25, 2025 - Shelterforce

Three speed cameras aimed down at a busy freeway with blurred traffic at twilight.

States Have Mixed Feelings on Speed Cameras

While some states and cities are embracing automated traffic enforcement as a tool for improving road safety, others are banning the technology over concerns that the programs are designed for profit rather than public benefit.

February 25, 2025 - Route Fifty

Close-up on mortgage application terms and house-shaped gold keychain with gold key on it.

HUD Cuts Could Derail Mortgage Underwriting Agency

Staffing cuts at the Federal Housing Administration could imperil affordable housing projects and mortgage programs for new homeowners.

February 25, 2025 - Bloomberg CityLab

White Waymo self-driving taxi on street in downtown San Francisco, California with glass high-rise in background.

NHTSA Cuts Could Make Roads More Dangerous

The agency is losing almost half of the team that oversees autonomous vehicle safety, among dozens of other key personnel.

February 24, 2025 - The Washington Post

Multistory apartment building under construction.

Permanent Supportive Housing Providers Face Steep Insurance Hikes

High insurance costs are calling some organizations’ future into question as supportive housing providers struggle to meet their expenses.

February 23, 2025 - Next City

Close-up of car dashboard with speedometer at 35 on roadway at night.

Has Progress on Travel Safety Run Off the Road?

Changing technology and rebuilding infrastructure to improve road safety are long-term strategies. How can enforcement and interventions that influence driver behavior make a difference in reducing traffic deaths sooner?

February 21, 2025 - Steven Polzin

Orange and black "Road Closed" and "High Water" signs blocking a flooded roadway in Florida after a hurricane.

FEMA Suspends Flood Rebuilding Standard

The rule was designed to prevent the rebuilding of government-funded projects in areas prone to repeated floods.

February 20, 2025 - Smart Cities Dive

Firefighter in yellow uniform stands in grassy field monitoring wildfire in the Everglades, Florida.

Federal Funding Cuts Spark Concern Among Wildland Firefighters

Federal firefighting forces, already underresourced, are being slashed even as wildfires become a year-round problem.

February 19, 2025 - Pro Publica

Geometric glass Seattle Public Library building.

Public Libraries May Be More Relevant Than Ever

Libraries around the country are expanding their services in an effort to become ‘third spaces’ for the community.

February 19, 2025 - Governing

Aerial view of suburban mixed-use development outside Austin, Texas with lake in foreground and complex of apartment buildings.

Rents Rose Between December and January

After dropping to a three-year low, U.S. rent costs grew in many major cities.

February 19, 2025 - Smart Cities Dive

Close-up of park ranger in green jacket and khaki hat looking out at Bryce Canyon National Park red rock formations.

National Parks Layoffs Will Cause Communities to Lose Billions

Thousands of essential park workers were laid off this week, just before the busy spring break season.

February 18, 2025 - National Parks Traveler

People sitting at outdoor tables with green umbrellas in Union Square, San Francisco.

Traditional Retail is Hanging by a Thread. What Now for Cities?

After Kaid Benfield paints a rather grim retail outlook — where even retail bastions like San Diego are going dark — he suggests a series of actions for city leaders and planners.

February 17, 2025 - * A Placemaking Journal

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.