United States

View of green carrot field against backdrop of arid Southwest mountains

Southwest Coming to Grips With Water Crisis

Will banning lawns and limiting water use be enough as new communities continue to sprout up across the drying west?

June 20, 2023 - Circle of Blue

View from inside large wastewater pipe laid ina trench looking out at construction site

‘Moonshot’ Infrastructure Program Aims to Fund Transformative Ideas

A new federal program hopes to replicate the success of DARPA by developing ambitious infrastructure projects with government funding.

June 20, 2023 - The Verge

Yellow Drive Safely on desert road

Beyond PSAs: Making Traffic Safety Outreach More Effective

Streetsblog surveyed readers about how road safety education can be made better.

June 20, 2023 - Streetsblog USA

'Caution Extreme Heat Danger' sign in Death Valley, California with desert mountains in background

How Extreme Heat Drives Inter-Agency Collaboration

City officials tasked with addressing the impacts of extreme heat highlight the importance of aligning the efforts of multiple city departments.

June 18, 2023 - Smart Cities Dive

'No turn on red' sign attached to an overhead traffic light

Right on Red: A Deadly Policy

Created in the 1970s to help boost gas mileage (with little proof that it had the desired effect), turning right on red creates dangerous situations for pedestrians and cyclists.

June 15, 2023 - Fast Company

Close-up of two passengers in business clothes sitting face to face on speeding train

Forget the Bean Bag Chair: Workers Just Want Short Commutes

The office amenities of yore are out. Quick, painless commutes are in.

June 15, 2023 - Curbed

Dallas Freeways

How Car-Oriented Infrastructure Harms Public Health

A new documentary shows the ways that infrastructure designed for cars and not people is making us ill.

June 14, 2023 - Streetsblog USA

CLose-up of pedestrian call button on pole at intersection

Experts: Vision Zero Requires Far-Reaching Investment, Culture Shift

Road safety advocates say the 2021 infrastructure bill doesn’t fully commit to its stated goals to help cities eliminate pedestrian and cyclist deaths.

June 14, 2023 - Smart Cities Dive

Wireless Internet

Federal Bill Would Preempt Local Authority on Telecommunications Siting

A congressional committee advanced a bill recently that would streamline telecommunications infrastructure investments by preempting local control of siting decisions.

June 12, 2023 - National League Of Cities

Eviction notice on white paper taped to grey door

Analysis: Pandemic Housing Relief Prevented Millions of Evictions

Federal data reveals that millions of Americans could have faced eviction without emergency housing aid distributed during the pandemic.

June 11, 2023 - Bloomberg Politics

Dallas Freeways

Federal Infrastructure Dollars Funding Road Expansions

Far from kickstarting a transformative change in transportation policy, the 2021 bipartisan infrastructure law continues to fund traditional road-building projects.

June 9, 2023 - Climatewire

A red sun appears on the horizon, as obscured by haze from wildfire smoke.

Planning for Proximity, for the Climate’s Sake

A new global platform will help the world identify and encourage opportunities for more proximity in the built environment—development patterns that can help reduce sources of greenhouse gas emissions and other forms of pollution if built well.

June 9, 2023 - C40 Cities

Graphic of Maggi Adamek superimposed over green field and image of hands holding tabletfor The Planning Commission Podcast

Do You Want Fries With That? Exploring the Intricacies of Food Systems Planning

Food systems expert Maggi Adamek talks with The Planning Commission Podcast about the complexities of food policy, from local zoning ordinances to international trade agreements.

June 9, 2023 - The Planning Commission Podcast

Amtrak train with large curved windows passing through scenic Rocky Mountain red rock canyon

Amtrak Calls for Expansion, Citing Close to 100 Requests for New Lines

The agency told a House committee it has received more than 90 applications for new intercity rail lines from cities around the country.

June 8, 2023 - Smart Cities Dive

Statue in Franklin Square Park in Washington, D.C. with dry fall tree in background

Top American Cities for Parks

The Trust for Public Land (TPL) recently released its annual report which ranks park systems in the 100 most populous U.S. cities.

June 8, 2023 - The Trust for Public Land

Two young boys wearing bike helmets looking right before crossing the street on their bicycles

‘Kidical Mass:’ The Bike Bus Movement Comes to America

Parents and students around the country are organizing into ‘bike buses’ to keep children safe while biking to and from school.

June 8, 2023 - The New York Times

Wildfire threatening hillside homes in Yucaipa, California

Home Insurers Are Fleeing California

Homeowners in the state are finding it increasingly difficult to secure insurance policies thanks to the growing risks of wildfire, drought, and other climate threats.

June 7, 2023 - Curbed

Aerial view of pickleball court with players illuminated for nighttime play

Addressing the Noise Impacts of Pickleball

Pickleball may be America's fastest growing sport, but it is not universally loved because of the noise it causes. Learn one expert's ideas for mitigating the noise impacts.

June 7, 2023 - The Hustle

View of New York City alleyway with outdoor restaurant seating and people walking between brick apartment buildings with fire escapes

As Business Districts Continue to Falter, Mixed-Use Neighborhoods Flourish

While office vacancies remain high and foot traffic sparse in many U.S. downtowns, areas with housing and businesses are more vibrant and desirable than ever.

June 6, 2023 - The Wall Street Journal

View from lakeside with green grass and pink blooming flowers

Who Benefits Most from Land Conservation Efforts?

A new study estimates that recent land conservation generated $9.8 billion in wealth nationally through the housing market and that wealthier and White households benefited disproportionately.

June 6, 2023 - PNAS

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.