Exclusives

A orange-and-blue tent set up next to a tree in a paved courtyard and a cardboard box of posessions next to the tent entrance.

FEATURE

U.S. Supreme Court Upholds Camping Bans, but Challenges of Addressing Homelessness Remain

In Grants Pass v. Johnson, the Supreme Court upheld an Oregon city’s ban on camping in public places, paving the way for similar bans in cities across the country but doing nothing to solve the cause of homelessness.

July 8 - Brian J. Connolly

Text reading June's Must Reads: Our Top 10 Articles from Last Month with a satelite image of a green lake in the background.

BLOG POST

June’s Must-Reads: Top 10 Articles From Last Month

As summer heats up, catch up on last month’s most compelling stories.

July 5 - Mary Hammon

Traffic light with blurred cars and streetcar in background.

BLOG POST

Applying the New Traffic Safety Paradigm

The new traffic safety paradigm recognizes exposure — total vehicle travel — as a risk factor, and therefore the additional casualties caused by planning decisions that induce more driving, and the safety benefits of VMT reductions.

July 5 - Todd Litman

View of city skyline in red smog indicating extreme heat.

BLOG POST

The Heat Is On: Rising Temperatures Strain Urban Infrastructure

This summer is predicted to be one of the hottest on record, and heat waves will likely put physical and social infrastructure to the test.

June 28 - Diana Ionescu

Close-up of U.S. Supreme Court building with "Equial Justice Under the Law" carving across top.

BLOG POST

SCOTUS Watch: Power of Federal Agencies Likely to be Restricted

A 1984 landmark Supreme Court ruling empowering federal agencies to interpret statutes when there is uncertainty is being challenged. The outcome will impact federal regulatory authority throughout government, particularly environmental protection.

June 28 - Irvin Dawid


Aerial view of San Jose, California with mountains in background.

BLOG POST

Managing Unsheltered Homelessness in San Jose

As California and other Western states await a SCOTUS ruling that will greatly affect how cities deal with tent encampments, a new stakeholder is causing big changes in how Northern California's largest city deals with its unsheltered population.

June 26 - Irvin Dawid

View of traffic on bridge going into Manhattan, New York City at night.

BLOG POST

Congestion Pricing Compromise?

A CBS News New York report suggests that Gov. Kathy Hochul is considering lifting her ‘indefinite pause’ on the Manhattan congestion pricing project if the $15 toll was lowered. Litigation threatened by the NYC comptroller may be a factor.

June 26 - Irvin Dawid


Aerial view of downtown Detroit, Michigan at twilight.

BLOG POST

Detroit and Michigan on the Upswing

It's been 66 years since the Motor City last grew its population. Census data released last month revealed an increase of nearly 2,000 people last year, nearly half the state's population growth.

June 23 - Irvin Dawid

View of traffic on George Washington Bridge between New Jersey and New York City.

BLOG POST

Environmentalists Urge Hochul to Rethink Congestion Pricing

Evergreen Action, the Sierra Club, Earthjustice, Environmental Defense Fund, and the League of Conservation Voters have joined the movement to urge NY Gov. Kathy Hochul to reverse her decision to terminate the New York congestion pricing project.

June 21 - Irvin Dawid

Two planters block cars from going onto a low-traffic street.

FEATURE

Low-Traffic Neighborhoods Are Reclaiming London’s Streets From Cars

A controversial but effective policy is keeping residential streets quiet, getting more people walking and reducing pollution.

June 20 - Peter Yeung

Close-up of power lines with urban night scene blurred in background.

BLOG POST

Using Machine Learning to Optimize Utility Management

Discover how machine learning optimizes city utility management for enhanced efficiency and reduced operational costs.

June 18 - Devin Partida

Aerial view of intersection in New York City with yellow cabs and zebra crosswalks.

BLOG POST

Planners’ Complicity in Excessive Traffic Deaths

Professor Wes Marshall’s provocatively-titled new book, "Killed by a Traffic Engineer," has stimulated fierce debates. Are his criticisms justified? Let’s examine the degree that traffic engineers contribute to avoidable traffic deaths.

June 13 - Todd Litman

View of Louisiana state capitol building and downton Baton Rouge, LA

BLOG POST

May’s Must-Reads: Top 10 Articles From Last Month

The month of May featured a lot of stories on local and state bans, as well as a controversial move to split Baton Rouge in two.

June 7 - Mary Hammon

Cars on a New York City street

BLOG POST

New York's Green Amendment and Congestion Pricing

New York's constitution guarantees New Yorkers the right to clean air and a healthy environment. Can this provision be used to fight the state's attempt to stop congestion pricing at the last minute?

June 7 - Michael Lewyn

Close-up of colorful zoning map of unidentified city.

FEATURE

How Zoning Affects Greenhouse Gas Emissions

As the urgency of the climate crisis increases, a paper in the Notre Dame Law Review argues that increased density is not a universally effective strategy to reduce emissions and that different strategies are needed for low-carbon places versus high-carbon ones.

June 6 - Nate Luce

Bird's eye view of park with green trees, concrete walkways, and benches on lake or riverfront.

BLOG POST

Celebrating World Environment Day

Commemorate the 51st World Environment Day with this curated list of Planetizen articles highlighting research and projects that promote a healthier, more sustainable world.

June 5 - Mary Hammon

Coal mining equipment and vehicles at coal mining site in Wyoming.

BLOG POST

A Win for ‘Keep it in the Ground’

Coal mining in Wyoming will take a major hit as a result of a U.S. Department of Interior plan to cease future leasing of coal mines in the nation's most productive coal mining basin. The decision casts a spotlight on the presidential election.

June 4 - Irvin Dawid

Moving truck with open back door with furniture and a blue suitcase visible inside.

BLOG POST

The 15 Fastest-Growing Cities in the US

The U.S. Census Bureau released new 2023 population estimates on May 16 showing a slew of data for cities of all sizes and regions. Do you know the population change last year for the 15 largest cities in your state?

June 3 - Irvin Dawid

Aerial view of cars evacuating flooded residential neighborhood in Florida.

FEATURE

Combating Climate Gentrification in Vulnerable Communities

As extreme weather forces more Americans to relocate to safer areas, this climate-driven displacement impacts not just those who flee high-risk areas, but also the communities they can displace from their new homes.

June 2 - Lindsay Brugger

Line of colorful historic buildings on one side of a square jammed packed with people.

BLOG POST

Too Much of a Good Thing? 5 Flavors of Overtourism

Popular travel destinations across the world are facing a huge challenge as international tourism surpasses pre-pandemic levels: too many visitors. But what’s driving this troublesome trend?

May 30 - Mary Hammon

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.

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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