Exclusives

Aerial view of downtown Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania with dense, low-rise housing in foreground.

BLOG POST

A Better Understanding of Smart Growth Benefits

Smart Growth creates compact, multimodal communities where residents consume less land, drive less, and rely more on non-auto modes. Planners have important stories to tell about the benefits of Smart Growth.

March 14 - Todd Litman

View down California Street in San Francisco, California with Chinatown pagoda buildings and golden hour sky in background.

BLOG POST

Is Inequality Destroying American Cities?

A recent video claimed that high income inequality is the “Thing That Will Destroy Our Cities.” Is this true?

March 13 - Michael Lewyn

Pink light art installation above public plaza in Singapore by Janet Echelman.

BLOG POST

Celebrating Women Urbanists

This International Women’s Month, we look back on our list of Most Influential Urbanists to highlight the contributions of women in urban planning and urban design.

March 12 - Planetizen

Close-up of front side of blue and white bus with accessibility sticker and people wearing backpacks waiting outside of bus.

BLOG POST

Responding to Public Transit Criticism

Public transit plays a unique and important role in an efficient and equitable transportation system. Planners must communicate the benefits that public transit provides and respond to ill-informed critics.

March 5 - Todd Litman

View of large glass building with glass doors and "To Trains" sign.

BLOG POST

Transit Coordination Leads to Better Transit and More Riders

Regional transit coordination provides the best transit experience in an urban area. It enables better, more affordable transit which in turn improves ridership. After 50 years of experience in Europe, the U.S. should finally embrace the concept.

March 4 - World Transport Policy and Practice

Curbside packed with park cars and cyclist riding on the sidewalk.

FEATURE

Rethinking the Notion of Parking as a Public Good

Parking shapes every element of the urban environment, often to the detriment of a place. Why do we subsidize public parking as a public good, and how can we move forward?

March 4 - David Mepham


Pedestrian street with colorful patio umbrellas and tall palm trees in Miami, Florida.

BLOG POST

Learning From Miami

Miami is denser than most American cities, but is more car-dependent than some less compact cities. Why?

March 1 - Michael Lewyn

Graphic of person's hands with 2024 in middle against backdrop of city skyline and golden hour sky with rays coming through.

FEATURE

Planning Trends to Watch in 2024

Post-pandemic clarity — and sheer necessity — may be bringing some of the most urgent issues of recent years to a head.

February 28 - Diana Ionescu


View from inside York House adaptive reuse building in London.

FEATURE

Adaptive Reuse: The Missing Piece to the Housing Puzzle?

Millions of square feet sit vacant while millions of Americans struggle to find affordable housing. Can reimagining our empty skyscrapers be the key to unlocking both solutions?

February 26 - Ricardo Brites

Looking up at a modern glass skyscraper with green tree next to it.

FEATURE

The Benefits of Trees

In addition to all the economically valuable services they provide, trees are beautiful as pure aesthetic objects and a welcome presence in any landscape.

February 19 - Corey Squire

Blurred image of pedestrians on busy street with 'smart city' network rendering superimposed.

BLOG POST

Securing Smart Cities: Financial Cybersecurity in an Urban Age

Explore financial cybersecurity in smart cities, addressing urban vulnerabilities and strategies for protection.

February 15 - Devin Partida

Freeway toll booth with "Stop" and "Pay Toll" signs

BLOG POST

Clearer Thinking About Transportation Pricing

It’s time to reform transportation pricing to reduce traffic congestion, crashes, and pollution, and improve non-auto travel options. Raise my prices, please!

February 13 - Todd Litman

Barren rocky landscape against teal sky.

FEATURE

5 Urban Planning Ideas for How to Settle Mars

Colonization of the Red Planet is a hot topic of late. If someone were to try to take it from fantasy to reality, Earth's urban planners have a few tips that could help set future Martian cities up for success.

February 12 - Justin B. Hollander

Green u-shaped school building with slanted roof and courtyard in the middle

FEATURE

Vernacular Architecture in the Era of Climate Change

We no longer have time for design that ignores the climate crisis. Building and community design must respond to this new context to successfully meet people’s needs.

February 5 - Corey Squire

Yellow taxis and white cars in traffic on New York City street.

BLOG POST

Congestion Pricing: New York City’s Next Hero

Big problems need big solutions.

January 24 - Marcelo Remond

White and blue police SUV pulling over small white sedan in front of 45 mph speed limit sign.

BLOG POST

Busting a Common Myth About Speeding

Drivers sometimes defend speeding by arguing that it is safe as long as other drivers are also speeding. This argument only makes sense in the context of a limited-access highway.

January 23 - Michael Lewyn

Roundabout with landscaping in middle in residential street.

BLOG POST

The Future of Federal Funding for Green City Initiatives

Explore the trajectory of federal investment in green city projects, focusing on sustainable infrastructure, renewable energy, and eco-friendly policies.

January 11 - Devin Partida

Streetscape in old neighborhood of Brussels, Belgium with bikes parked in bulb-out.

FEATURE

Paris Is Great, But Here's Where the Green Mobility Revolution Is Happening

A movement toward sustainable mobility is taking place across Europe, not just in the City of Lights.

January 10 - Scott Shepard

Green painted bike lane in New York City protected by concrete planters with Citi Bike station visible in background on sidewalk.

FEATURE

Leading Micromobility Trends for 2024: From Urban Streets to Regional Implementation

The proliferation of micromobility as a viable transportation mode offers the opportunity for cities to reimagine how they allocate public space.

January 9 - Jim MacRae

Low shot of pedestrians and a bike crossing a striped crosswalk.

BLOG POST

Applying a Sustainable Transportation Hierarchy

To be equitable and efficient, transportation planning must apply a sustainable transportation hierarchy that prioritizes affordable, healthy, and resource-efficient mobility options.

January 8 - Todd Litman

Amtrak train passing over bridge on Alviso Marsh near San Jose, California.

FEATURE

Planning Year in Review 2023: Zoning Reform, a Rail Revolution, and Climate Realities

Last year’s most talked-about planning issues and news.

January 8 - Diana Ionescu

News from HUD User

HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research

Call for Speakers

Mpact Transit + Community

New Updates on PD&R Edge

HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research

Top Books

An annual review of books related to planning.

Top Websites

The best of the Internet—since 2002.

Top Apps

Planning apps for a brave new world.

Top Schools

The definitive ranking of graduate planning programs.

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.

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