Infrastructure

Bus Lane New York City

New York DOT To Fail Bus Lane Goals

The department expects to miss its bus lane construction target for at least 2022 and 2023, blaming staff and budget shortages for the shortfall.

December 15, 2022 - StreetsBlog NYC

A map showing the extent of the San Fernando Valley Groundwater Basin in the northern reach of the city fo Los Angeles, along with a few other, smaller, adjacent groundwater basins.

Superfund Project to Deliver Massive Water Supply Boon to Los Angeles

The semi-arid region of Los Angeles is often mistaken for a desert, but the local water supply is also constrained by the environmental sins of the 20th century. The water supply equation of Los Angeles will soon change, however.

December 14, 2022 - Los Angeles Times

CTA Red Line

Update: Chicago Red Line Extension TIF Approved

The long-anticipated project that will bring the Chicago Transit Authority rail system into transit deserts on the Southside of Chicago is making substantial progress.

December 14, 2022 - WBEZ

Kansas City Bus

Free Transit, But at What Cost?

Opinion: The movement toward fare-free transit might have more to do with optics and politics than planning.

December 14, 2022 - James Brasuell

Bus bench with "armrests" to prevent lying down

What Is Defensive Urbanism?

If you’ve ever noticed a public bench split in half by a metal bar, or a series of seemingly ornamental boulders blocking the sidewalk under a high-rise overhang, you’ve seen what is often described as defensive urbanism or ‘hostile architecture.’

December 12, 2022 - Diana Ionescu

Detroit, Michigan

Placemaking Redefined by a New Era of Federal Investment

Six tips for ensuring that new placed-based funding programs, such as the Build Back Better Regional Challenge, achieve the full potential of a new era of place-based federal investment.

December 12, 2022 - Brookings

Volunteers wearing masks moving pallets of water bottles during February 2021 storm in Austin, Texas

How Mutual Aid Increases Community Resiliency

Recent devastating weather events highlight the importance of community connection in keeping people safe when infrastructure fails.

December 12, 2022 - Next City

Baltimore Rail

Baltimore’s Red Line Rail Project Back on the Table Thanks to New Governor

One of the most infamously anti-transit decisions of the past decade—Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan’s decision to cancel the Baltimore Red Line system expansion—could be reversed by the incoming governor.

December 12, 2022 - Bloomberg CityLab

A computer generated graphic of a man loading 2022, approaching 2023.

Planetizen's Top Posts of 2022

The most popular articles on Planetizen in 2022.

December 12, 2022 - James Brasuell

View of snowy Union Station building in Cincinnati, Ohio

Ohio Debates Expanded Rail Service

The state has the chance to apply for a piece of $2.3 billion in federal funding to improve and expand Amtrak service.

December 11, 2022 - Governing

Oakland fire truck

Bike Lanes Pitted Against Fire Safety in Oakland

The city’s fire department is pushing back on proposed bike lanes and narrower streets, citing concerns about emergency access.

December 9, 2022 - Oaklandside

Close-up of "Bike Lane Closed" sign

A Simple Fix for Blocked Bike Lanes

A bike lane detour in Seattle illustrates a cheap and easy way to safely direct bike traffic around obstructions such as utility work.

December 9, 2022 - Seattle Bike Blog

Aerial view of San Gabriel River where it meets the ocean in Long Beach, California

L.A. County Calls for Flood Control Improvements

Recently revealed estimates put far more people in the region at risk for catastrophic flooding than previously thought.

December 8, 2022 - Los Angeles Times

A man operates a yellow roller to smooth out fresh pavement on a road.

Construction Set to Begin on $1.6 Billion Highway Widening in Texas

Construction is expected to begin on the Southeast Connector highway widening project near Fort Worth in the spring and wrap up in 2027.

December 8, 2022 - The Dallas Morning News

Biketown

Roadways for People: The Necessity of Collaboration

Breaking down planning silos to ensure transportation options in a car-oriented world.

December 8, 2022 - Lynn Peterson and Elizabeth Doerr

View from back of two elderly people sitting on park bench

How Neighborhoods Impact Older Adults’ Resiliency to Climate Change

New research seeks to learn how homes, neighborhoods, and communities affect how older residents are affected by climate change.

December 7, 2022 - Joint Center for Housing Studies of Harvard University

Old church and modern glass building in downtown Boston, Massachusetts

How One Massachusetts Governor Rejected Car-Oriented Development

Fifty years ago, Governor Francis W. Sargent nixed a proposed expressway and set in motion a transportation future for Boston that would be remarkably different from many other U.S. cities.

December 7, 2022 - The Boston Globe

Man walking away past glass elevator in brightly lit New York City subway station corridor

New York MTA Releases Plan for Improved Accessibility

The MTA announced plans for new or improved elevators at almost two dozen stations as part of its pledge to make more of its stations fully accessible.

December 7, 2022 - The Architect's Newspaper

View of black oil wells behind chain link fence with barbed wire top

Los Angeles To Phase Out Oil Drilling

The city has banned new wells and will end all extraction within two decades.

December 6, 2022 - Los Angeles Times

Downtown Cincinnati

Cincinnati Approves Complete Streets Policy

The city will now require its department of transportation to consider bike and pedestrian facilities when planning new projects or improvements.

December 6, 2022 - The Business Journals

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.