Infrastructure

Sharrow bike markings on black asphalt two-lane road with snowy trees

Early Sharrow Booster: ‘I Was Wrong’

The lane marking was meant to raise awareness and instill shared respect among drivers and cyclists. But their inefficiency has led supporters to denounce sharrows, pushing instead for more robust bike infrastructure that truly protects riders.

January 26, 2023 - Streetsblog USA

Blue portable oxygen medical device with attached clear mask

How Emergency Planning Fails People With Disabilities

In California and elsewhere, power outages can threaten the lives of people dependent on medical devices, while evacuation plans often don’t account for the needs of disabled people.

January 25, 2023 - High Country News

An aerial view of a typical suburban neighborhood in Texas.

Houston Considering a ‘Sidewalk-In-Lieu-Fee’ for Residential Projects

Developers and homeowners might be able to opt-out of the Houston’s sidewalk ordinance under legislation under consideration by the Houston City Council this week.

January 25, 2023 - Houston Chronicle

25mph speed limit sign with "Your Speed Limit" digital sign under it

Oklahoma City Updates, Expands Neighborhood Traffic Calming Program

The city announced a new cost-sharing plan and an expanded set of speed reduction devices available to neighborhoods wanting to improve traffic safety.

January 25, 2023 - Oklahoma City Sentinel

Crosswalk in Chicago with newly installed yellow delineators and speed bumps

Chicago Left Turn Traffic Calming Reduces Crashes

The city installed reflective posts and speed bumps at dangerous intersections to induce drivers to take left turns more slowly and carefully.

January 24, 2023 - Axios

An image taken from the point of view of a driver on a mostly empty freeway, with large overpasses overhead.

Induced Demand Be Damned: Missouri Governor Proposes I-70 Expansion

Highway widenings still attract support from both sides of the political aisle, despite the inadequacies of the approach in solving the problems it intends to solve.

January 23, 2023 - The Kansas City Star

Blurred view from ground level of yellow center lines on asphalt street

How Design Guidelines Can Reduce Road Safety

Signs and markings designed for traffic control can make conditions less safe for pedestrians and other road users.

January 20, 2023 - Streetsblog USA

View of Los Angeles River at Glendale Narrows segment with tree and overpass

Downpours Yield 33 Billion Gallons of Captured Stormwater in L.A. County

County officials hope reclamation efforts will help the region reduce its dependence on imported water supplies.

January 19, 2023 - ABC7

Rendering of Midtown Connector freeway cap park in Atlanta, Georgia

Atlanta Receives $3.2 Million for Freeway Cap Plan

The federal funding will help move forward planning for an ambitious proposal to cap a downtown Atlanta freeway with a 25-acre park.

January 19, 2023 - Urbanize Atlanta

Serial view of elevated freeway interchanges with downtown Houston in background

Details for Houston Interstate Project Remain Hazy

With the project still under federal investigation, local and state agencies say they are moving forward with the development of design details for the contentious freeway redesign.

January 19, 2023 - Houston Chronicle

A conceptual rendering of a revamped train station in a historic corner of Salt Lake City.

A Citizen-Led Plan Would Revamp Salt Lake’s Transit and Freeway Mix

The Rio Grande Plan would restore rail service to the Rio Grande Depot and reconnect a community divided by a freeway in Salt Lake City.

January 18, 2023 - Salt Lake City Weekly

Sunset view over canal and downtown Scottsdale, Arizona

Scottsdale Cuts Water Supply to Nearby Suburb

The city claims it has no responsibility to provide water to the unincorporated Maricopa County community.

January 18, 2023 - The Washington Post

Downtown Oklahoma City

Oklahoma Turnpike Expansion Project Challenged by Lawsuits

A recent court ruling could turn the tide against a roadway expansion plan that threatens to displace homes and businesses and that locals say was pushed through with little transparency or community input.

January 18, 2023 - Strong Towns

Close-up of two people pointing at a printed city map with pencils with a laptop in the background

Cities Need Data to Secure and Maximize Federal Funding

To secure and maintain federal funding for projects and programs, local governments need data to identify priorities, support grant applications, and monitor and track progress.

January 17, 2023 - Cities Today

A California Gull walks along the shore, searching for food while surrounded by a swarm of bugs.

L.A.’s Water Diversions Threaten Critical Habitat Far to the North

Water levels at Mono Lake, nestled in a stunningly beautiful location on the eastern slope of the Sierra Nevadas that provides the eastern gateway to Yosemite, have fallen to a critical level of a local population of nesting gulls.

January 16, 2023 - Los Angeles Times

Flooded park in Pakley, California during late 2022 atmospheric river storm

California’s Reservoirs are Filling Up, but For How Long?

Recent storms are bringing plenty of water to parched parts of California, but scientists warn the relief won’t be a long-term solution to longer, drier periods.

January 15, 2023 - The New York Times

Streets and buildings in historic Oxford, England.

What Draws Conspiracy Theorists to Traffic Calming Plans?

Proposals for road diets, ‘15-minute cities,’ and other traffic reduction programs often meet with unfounded conspiracy theories claiming that the plans are nothing short of steps to world domination.

January 15, 2023 - The Guardian

Multimodal Improvements Coming to Houston

The city is continuing its investment in safety and accessibility improvements for transit riders, pedestrians, and cyclists.

January 15, 2023 - Houston Public Media

Indianapolis Street

Indianapolis Launches Fatal Crash Review Commission

The group is tasked with making a deeper assessment of the underlying infrastructural causes of fatal crashes and recommending improvements.

January 13, 2023 - Bloomberg CityLab

A long rail bridge, rusted and old, crosses a long stretch of water with hills and clouds on the other side.

Meta’s Plans to Revive an Old Rail Bridge Halted During the Pandemic

The company formerly known as Facebook’s once planned to revive the Dumbarton Rail Bridge across the San Francisco Bay. Those plans are as derelict as the bridge.

January 12, 2023 - 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.