United States

ederal Housing Finance Agency seal in downtown with closeup of sign and logo

‘Renters Bill of Rights’ One Step Closer to Reality

The Biden administration could strengthen tenant protections on a national scale by leveraging federally backed mortgages to mandate rent stabilization and bar discrimination in rental housing.

November 22, 2023 - Truthout

Close-up of car speedometer showing 120 mph speed with digitally displayed ' VEHICLE OVERSPEED' warning

How Speed Governors Could Save Lives

Most personal vehicles can travel at speeds of over 100 miles per hour, far above any U.S. speed limit. Why?

November 22, 2023 - Fast Company

White round pillars in empty office building with windows across all walls and white floors and ceiling.

Study: Office Conversions One-Third More Affordable Than New Housing

Where conditions are right for office-to-residential adaptive reuse, projects can be completed faster and at a significantly lower cost than new construction.

November 21, 2023 - Smart Cities Dive

Ground-up view of man using wheelchair waiting to board a light blue bus.

Commentary: Avoiding Ableism in 15-Minute Cities

One author calls on planners to challenge assumptions that exclude people with mobility challenges and other disabilities.

November 21, 2023 - The Conversation

Aerial bird's eye view of unhoused encampment along roadside in Sacramento, California.

Mayors’ Meeting Focuses on Housing Crisis

As the number of unhoused Americans grows, mayors met to learn from each other and assess their needs for federal support.

November 21, 2023 - Governing

Sign showing accessible hiking trail sign with blurred forest in background.

How States Are Improving Accessibility for Parks and Trails

State parks are introducing adaptive mobility devices to help more visitors enjoy natural spaces.

November 21, 2023 - Governing

Chicago Divvy Bikeshare

The Year in Micromobility

The industry is seeing uneven support despite high ridership numbers.

November 21, 2023 - Streetsblog USA

View of rush hour traffic on Brooklyn Bridge at golden hour.

The Promise of Congestion Pricing

New York's long-awaited congestion pricing program could break open the controversial practice in the United States.

November 20, 2023 - Bloomberg CityLab

Silhouette of woman in long coat walking on darkened city street alone at night, passing brightly lit sotrefront.

Designing Safer Cities

For women and other vulnerable groups, navigating the urban space can be fraught with real and perceived dangers.

November 19, 2023 - The Conversation

People enjoying a sunny day on a green lawn with pink lawn chairs and colorful bird mural in background in Boston, Massachusetts.

Why Social Infrastructure Matters

The pandemic highlighted the importance of parks and public spaces for maintaining both the physical and mental health of urban residents.

November 19, 2023 - The Boston Globe

Close-up of FOR RENT sign with white text on bright red background.

Fixing the Housing Voucher Shortage

As low-income families wait years to receive housing assistance vouchers, experts suggest new ways to improve the program and help more eligible households.

November 17, 2023 - Route Fifty

Silver New York City subway train on above ground track with red brick multistory buildings in background.

Federal Loan Programs Offer Billions for TOD

USDOT is encouraging developers to take advantage of loans aimed at supporting the building of multifamily buildings near transit lines.

November 17, 2023 - Business Insider

Group of children running outdoors toward camera.

Designing Cities With Youth in Mind

The car-centric design of many U.S. cities traps young people at home, preventing them from engaging in social activities and urban life.

November 16, 2023 - CNU Public Square

Nuclear power plant with four massive towers emitting white vapor.

Small-Scale Nuclear Power Dealt Major Setback

The company that made history in January when its 'small modular nuclear reactor' became the first in the nation to receive certification from the Nuclear Regulatory Commission has canceled it due to financial reasons.

November 15, 2023 - Canary Media

Close-up of woman waiting on fairly empty subway platform with tracks and opposing platform blurred in the background.

Report: Transit Safety Begins With Better Service

Transit riders want more frequent service, less police.

November 15, 2023 - Streetsblog USA

Close-up from back of woman walking on crosswalk with two small children on either side of her riding bicycles with training wheels.

USDOT Awards New Round of Safe Streets Grants

Over 200 cities and towns will receive $82 million for Complete Streets and other road safety planning and demonstration programs.

November 15, 2023 - Governing

Close-up of old-fashioned trains departure board with yellow text on black background in Boston, Massachusetts train station.

The Bright Future of U.S. Passenger Rail

High-speed rail may still be a distant vision in the United States, but conventional passenger rail is having a resurgence.

November 14, 2023 - Fast Company

View of grocery store aisle.

Rural Areas Experience Higher Food Insecurity

As pandemic-era assistance programs expire, the rate of food insecurity for rural households is rising higher than in their urban counterparts.

November 14, 2023 - The Daily Yonder

Close-up of Help Wanted sign with white text on red background posted inside storefront window.

The Link Between Employment and Housing

For many people experiencing homelessness, the process of finding and keeping a job is fraught with challenges.

November 13, 2023 - Urban Wire

New York City street with painted bike lane and crosswalk flanked by brick buildings.

Report: Narrow Traffic Lanes Improve Safety

Narrowing lanes can improve road safety and reclaim space for other uses.

November 13, 2023 - Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health

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.