Government / Politics

The Option of Sensing the City

In his second Huffington Post article on "place-decoding," Chuck Wolfe argues for considered attention to enhancing people's abilities to discern the city around them.

September 13, 2014 - The Huffington Post

Report Illuminates Weak Efforts to Reduce Carbon Intensity

According to the most recent PricewaterhouseCoopers "Low Carbon Economy Index," the planet's current carbon intensity will see a 7.2 degree Fahrenheit increase by 2050.

September 12, 2014 - Grist

Philadelphia City Council Adopts Data-Driven Framework for Planning Decisions

Ashley Hahn reports on Philadelphia's "Community Sustainability Initiative," a data-driven process for evaluating public investments. Questions remain about how the new decision making framework will change planning operations in the city.

September 12, 2014 - PlanPhilly

Largest TIFIA Loan to P3 Goes to Florida's 'I-4 Ultimate' Project

Transportation Secretary Foxx announced the largest TIFIA loan to be awarded to a public-private partnership will be used to widen 21 miles of Interstate 4 in Florida known as "I-4 Ultimate" by adding four express or toll lanes in the Orlando area.

September 12, 2014 - Transport Topics

nyc. subway.

Shouldn't Transit Managers Actually Ride Transit?

Eric Jaffe lays out the case for why individuals in charge of transit systems should ride transit, and what problems stem from them not doing so right now.

September 11, 2014 - CityLab

You’ve Got Lemons: What Now?

A timeless marker of community has emerged as a source of conflict: the lemonade stand is being called an "illegal business." Scott Doyon discusses how getting to know — and support! — your neighbor can be an issue of survival.

September 8, 2014 - PlaceShakers

Keystone XL Update: Nebraska Supreme Court Case Begins

The Nebraska Supreme Court began hearing the case that will be considered before the Obama Administration will decide whether or not to authorize the controversial pipeline.

September 8, 2014 - NPR

Vancouver Skyline

Are We Approaching Peak Land Use Control?

With an increasing reliance on development regulations and requirements on land owners to satisfy policy goals, are we approaching an unsustainable point in land use controls?

September 8, 2014 - Reuben Duarte

Nevada's $1.2 Billion Investment in Tesla Predicted to Have $100 Billion Impact

The generous incentives granted the electric car company for securing the $5 billion factory will yield disproportionate economic benefits, according to Gov. Brian Sandoval, for a state suffering high unemployment and a lack of economic diversity.

September 7, 2014 - The Wall Street Journal

Prioritizing Resilience: Fraught with Challenges, But Worthwhile

In the face of climate change, making cities "resilient" before crises strike has become a pressing concern.

September 7, 2014 - The Planning Report

Learning to 'Place-Decode' the Elements of Urbanism

Chuck Wolfe champions the role of France's attachment to place as a laboratory for decoding the essential elements of urbanism.

September 5, 2014 - The Huffington Post

Breaking News: $5 Billion Tesla Battery 'Gigafactory' Headed to Nevada

With competition from California, Arizona, New Mexico, and Texas, Elon Musk, the CEO of Bay Area-based Tesla Motors, chose the Silver State to build his much sought after $5 billion battery "giga factory."

September 4, 2014 - Wall Street Journal

How to Make the Sharing Economy Work for Governments

Gabe Klein discusses some of the merits and challenges of forging private-public partnerships between disruptive companies and government entities.

September 4, 2014 - Urban Land Magazine

California High Speed Rail Construction and Litigation Update

Notwithstanding a favorable court ruling freeing state bond funds, construction is delayed on the 800-mile project, reports Ralph Vartabedian of the LA Times. Jessica Calefati of the Mercury News writes on opponents' appeal to the state Supreme Court

September 4, 2014 - Governing

$102 Million Brings Chicago-St. Louis High Speed Rail a Step Closer

A $102 million investment by Illinois along with federal funds from the Recovery Act will pay for double-tracking and a new rail bridge to enable 109 mph service on a key section of Amtrak's Chicago to St. Louis high speed rail corridor.

September 3, 2014 - Chicago Sun-Times

Local Climate Change Response Prevailing Over Federal Action

With national action tackling climate change remaining weak, regional and local municipalities are taking substantive actions to address the oncoming severe affects of climate change.

September 3, 2014 - Brookings Institution

Euro-Envy Reconsidered: Talkin' Time, Distance, and Change

Most North American urbanists turn to Europe for inspiration and direction. Some of that brilliance, Ben Brown reminds us, is due to time and distance.

September 3, 2014 - PlaceShakers

Report: Fracking Doesn't Pose Danger to California Groundwater

The Bureau of Land Management will resume oil and gas leasing in California after a report by a scientific research organization established by the state legislature showed no correlation between fracking and groundwater pollution.

September 3, 2014 - Los Angeles Times

Fifty Years of the Wilderness Act

Fifty years ago, Lyndon B. Johnson signed into law The Wilderness Act, at the time protecting more than nine million acres of wild lands throughout the nation.

September 2, 2014 - Los Angeles Times

Rainbow Crosswalk

The Future of the Gayborhood

With the advancement of LGBT rights and equality, the traditionally LGBT neighborhood is changing to reflect the tastes and preferences of the new LGBT community within.

September 2, 2014 - Reuben Duarte

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.