United States

White modular home being built on dirt mound

An Argument for Uniform Pre-Fab Construction Standards

Industry leaders say a national set of standards for off-site construction of modular housing would boost the affordable housing stock and make construction faster.

August 17, 2023 - Governing

Aerial view of downtown Atlanta, Georgia

Quantifying the Losses Caused by New Freeways

Data shows cities lose millions in potential property taxes when highways displace homes and businesses.

August 17, 2023 - Bloomberg CityLab

Worker in yellow safety suit holding up orange SLOW sign on road

Reforms Are Coming to American Road Design

The federal manual governing road design is getting an update. Will it encourage real progress toward road safety?

August 16, 2023 - National Association of City Transportation Officials (NACTO)

Satellite map of Lake Tahoe area indicating upcoming bikeway projects

The ‘Great Bike Infrastructure Project’

A new mapping project envisions a coordinated national push for bikeways.

August 16, 2023 - Streetsblog USA

Worker wearing orange hard hat and vest over light blue long-sleeved shirt and jeans inspects rooftop solar panel

Report: Cities’ Climate Plans Fail to Include Workforce Development

While a few cities have detailed goals and investment strategies for building their green workforce, most U.S. cities fail to address the need for the training and education of a new generation of workers.

August 15, 2023 - Route Fifty

Blue and beige secure bike lockers in underground passageway etched with bicycle logo

Opinion: Secure Bike Parking Benefits Cities

The conversation around bike infrastructure isn’t complete without addressing one major issue: where can we park?

August 15, 2023 - Momentum Magazine

Indian Trail, North Carolina

The Social and Economic Impacts of Exclusionary Zoning

A new book further reveals the inequities perpetuated by restrictive zoning policies.

August 14, 2023 - Smart Cities Dive

A tiny home in a residential neighborhood.

What Happened to the Tiny Homes Revolution?

Tiny homes were one of the hot button topics of the previous decade. In 2023? Not so much.

August 14, 2023 - Grist

Nighttime view of fire truck and police cars with flashing lights on parked in a wet street

Dashcam Footage Shows Tesla Colliding With First Responder

The car failed to recognize the stopped emergency vehicle until just two seconds before the crash.

August 10, 2023 - The Wall Street Journal

Men and women having a business meeting around a conference table in a glass-walled office building

Note to Companies: Hire Urban Planners

An argument for the value of including planners in industries far beyond city planning.

August 10, 2023 - The Handbuilt City

Cincinnati and Covington

A Roundtable Discussion on the Future of Cities

Since the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic, there has been shortage of opinions on the coming evolution of cities. It’s time to check in with the debate.

August 10, 2023 - Vox

Rear view of man riding electric bike wearing business suit with large leather messenger bag slung across his back

Taking on the Bad E-Bike Takes

How to spot a bad-faith e-bike story.

August 10, 2023 - Streetsblog USA

Close-up of Caltrans logo on white passenger train

The ‘Three Pillars’ of Carbon Reduction, According to Caltrans

The California Department of Transportation released its draft carbon reduction strategy last month to apply for Carbon Reduction Program funds included in the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. Road pricing plays a prominent role.

August 9, 2023 - CalTrans

Installation of external wall thermal insulation with rock wool on Passive House residential building.

‘Passive House’ Standard Gaining Ground in Multifamily Housing

Developers in Chicago and around the country are taking notice of a design standard that encourages energy efficiency and sustainable materials.

August 9, 2023 - Chicago Tribune

View of top of high-rise apartment building under construction with red and white cranes

The Relationship Between Rents and Housing Supply

Despite a strong belief in market forces in many other aspects of the economy, many Americans don’t see a correlation between housing supply and housing costs.

August 9, 2023 - New York Magazine

Close-up of woman holding up smartphone up to contactless public transit payment kiosk

The Benefits of Contactless Transit Payments

New tech can streamline boarding and make fare capping easier, but can risk creating new challenges for low-income riders.

August 8, 2023 - American Banker

View of wide green lawn in front of red brick four-story buildings on Harvard University campus

The Housing Crisis on U.S. College Campuses

Top universities are turning away thousands of eligible applicants, in part due to NIMBY resistance to building new student housing.

August 8, 2023 - Governing

Wood-frame two-story rowhouses under construction.

The State of the U.S. Housing Market

The housing supply is starting to more closely match demand.

August 7, 2023 - The Washington Post

Interior of Walmart store with "Low Price $6.98" sign in foreground

The Walkable Urbanism of Big Box Stores

For residents of many U.S. small towns and exurbs, the local Walmart offers a surprising benefit missing elsewhere in their communities: walkability.

August 6, 2023 - Discourse Magazine

The Las Vegas Strip, pictured at night with lights and illuminated and Las Vegas Boulevard congested with cars.

Infrastructure Bill’s Emission Reductions Allotments Fund Highway Projects Instead

The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act of 2021 promised to achieve major progress on emissions reductions and climate resilience. A total of 38 states used the bill to fund emissions- and pollution-producing car-centric infrastructure instead.

August 6, 2023 - The Washington Post

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.