Environment

Flying Cars

A Transit Consultant's Take on Flying Cars

A journalist asked, so Jarrett Walker answered.

October 19, 2019 - Human Transit

Canadian Election

More Than One North American Political Campaign Ignoring Housing and Transit

When it comes to ignoring matters of housing affordability and public transit during an election cycle of great significance, the United States is not the exception. Candidates in Canada's 2019 Federal Election have mastered the same trick.

October 19, 2019 - The Star

Squirrel

The Central Park Squirrel Census

Some people ask why anyone would want to do a census of all the squirrels in Central Park. Others ask why not?

October 18, 2019 - CityLab

Shasta Lake

The Interior Secretary's Past Lobbying Work Scrutinized

A project to raise the height of the Shasta Dam, dead in the water before the Trump administration, is moving forward now that a former lobbyist for the project is the secretary of the U.S. Department of the Interior.

October 18, 2019 - The New York Times

Ca73

Governor's Transportation and Climate Actions Stir Controversy in California

California Governor Gavin Newsom issued an executive order last month directing state agencies to consider climate goals in their spending and operations. Two weeks later, three highway widening projects were deleted, and locals are crying foul.

October 18, 2019 - Streetsblog California

Florida Climate Change

A Climate Change 'Paradigm Shift' in Florida

Even Republicans are talking about climate change in Florida since former Governor Rick Scott left office.

October 18, 2019 - Miami Herald

Crude Oil Train

The Constitutional Clause Being Used to Threaten Climate Change Policies

An interstate commerce clause is being used to challenge climate change measures and regulations.

October 17, 2019 - Sightline Institute

Dealer

Reports of the Automobile's Demise Have Been Greatly Exaggerated

Clearly, the American love affair with the automobile is far from over, despite lessons from the recession, dire environmental warnings, plummeting traffic safety, or the wishful thinking of tech companies.

October 17, 2019 - Wired

Parks and Open Space

Cleveland Launches Tree Replenishment Program

The city of Cleveland will hope to reap environmental and economic rewards by spending $1 million a year to regrow its tree canopy.

October 16, 2019 - Cleveland.com

San Diego Beach Housing

Coastal City Rejects 'Managed Retreat' Strategy

Del Mar, in Southern California, says it does not want to adopt the approach as part of its sea-level rise adaptation plan.

October 13, 2019 - Los Angeles Times

Washington D.C. Row Houses

Controversial Decision Limits Solar Panels on Historic Homes in D.C.

"I realize that we are in crisis politically as well as sustainably. But…"

October 13, 2019 - Greater Greater Washington

Electric Bus

Lessons in Electric Bus Deployment From 6 U.S. Regions

U.S. cities and regions are both showing how electric buses can be done and taking too long to do it. A new report focuses on success stories.

October 13, 2019 - Smart Cities Dive

National Park Campgrounds

Department of Interior Could Allow Private Companies to Run National Park Campgrounds

The Trump administration is exploring ways to outsource operations at national parks to private businesses. Lobbyists for private businesses welcome the invitation.

October 12, 2019 - Yahoo News

Boston, Massachusetts

Massachusetts Converts HOV Lane to General Purpose Lane

Road planners looking to increase capacity without adding lanes are focusing on managing existing lanes more effectively. Massachusetts has gone the opposite direction. The Conservation Law Foundation plans to hold them accountable.

October 12, 2019 - Boston.com

Oil Pump in Los Angeles

Trump Administration Reopens California Public Lands to Oil and Gas Drilling

A decision by the Bureau of Land Management on Oct. 3 may reverse the outcome of a 2013 lawsuit against the Obama administration by two environmental groups that effectively halted drilling in Fresno, Monterey and San Benito counties.

October 11, 2019 - The Hill

Los Angeles Traffic - The Newhall Pass

A Detailed Map of the Nation's Auto Emissions

The New York Times illustrates the scope and scale of the great project still facing the United States: to decrease greenhouse gas emissions from the transportation sector of its economy.

October 11, 2019 - The New York Times

Pacific Ocean

A C40-Ready Framework for Local Climate Action in Santa Monica

Santa Monica City Manager Rick Cole outlines the city's actions and policies to realize its ambitious C40 goals.

October 10, 2019 - The Planning Report

Downtown Seattle

Monorail Joins the Seattle Transit Network

The city's monorail has operated separately from other systems in the region, but now riders can pay fares using the ORCA cards that work for other transit systems in the region.

October 10, 2019 - The Urbanist

California from Space

Massive Power Outages in Northern California as PG&E Avoids Wildfire Risk

Planetizen has collected local and national news on a massive, ongoing environmental and infrastructure story in Northern California. There are maps to keep track of the scope of planned power outages.

October 9, 2019 - The San Francisco Chronicle

Governors Island

A 'Climate Change Laboratory' on Governors Island

New York City is seeking proposals for transforming Governors Island into a "living laboratory" for climate change resilience.

October 9, 2019 - The New York Times

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.