Infrastructure

A map of the under-construction Tren Maya that passes through several locations on Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula.

Watch: Mexico’s $10 Billion Rail Line Through the Jungle

YouTube channel B1M takes a trip to the Yucatan Peninsula to examine the risks and the opportunities of Tren Maya—a $10 billion railway under construction to connect the south and southeast corners of the country to tourist destinations.

July 11, 2022 - B1M

Diablo Canyon nuclear plant

Funding Allocated to Extend Life of Diablo Canyon Nuclear Power Plant

In order to to ensure that the lights stay on, the California legislature approved allocating up to $75 million to extend the life of the state's sole remaining nuclear plant and four natural gas powered plants, to the chagrin of environmentalists.

July 11, 2022 - CALmatters

Bike lane in Chicago, shown on May 29, 2016.

Chicago Ordinance Would Require Complete Streets Upgrades

A proposed ordinance would require the city to upgrade pedestrian, bike, and transit infrastructure whenever a road is repaved.

July 10, 2022 - Streetsblog Chicago

Freeway Interchange Construction

Biden Administration Proposes New Rule to Track Emission Reductions by State DOTs

Some skepticism is warranted about the potential impact of a proposed federal rule for states and regional planning agencies to track greenhouse gas reductions from transportation investment.

July 10, 2022 - Federal Highway Administration

Jersey City, NJ - November 13, 2016: Train passing through the Exchange Place PATH station located at Exchange Place in Jersey City, New Jersey, adjacent to the Hudson River at Paulus Hook.

New York and New Jersey Agree To Fund Gateway Hudson Tunnel

The two governors signed an agreement to fund the construction of two new rail tunnels to improve service between the two states.

July 10, 2022 - CBS New York

Worker packs boxes in an Amazon warehouse

State Reports Seeks To Guide Warehouse Development in New Jersey

With demand for sprawling e-commerce warehouses growing, New Jersey’s State Planning Commission has released a series of documents outlining best practices for cities examining warehouse proposals.

July 7, 2022 - CentralJersey.com

Woman with bicycle on train platform

The Business Case for Multimodal Transportation Planning

Travel demands are changing and so should planning. There are good reasons for communities to spend less on automobile facilities and more on walking, bicycling, and public transit. Let’s examine why.

July 6, 2022 - Todd Litman

25mph speed limit sign with blurred street with car and palm trees in background

Why Not Hold Traffic Safety to the Same Standards as Transit?

Many transportation modes, such as trains and airplanes, have robust, system-wide response mechanisms to investigate safety concerns when incidents occur. Why is traffic safety still seen largely as an individual responsibility?

July 6, 2022 - Greater Greater Washington

Bakersfield and Fresno Sign

California Budget Includes $4.2 Billion for High-Speed Rail

The recently approved state budget directs $4.2 billion in bond funding to the Bakersfield-to-Merced leg of California’s long-awaited high-speed rail project.

July 5, 2022 - Sfist

Colorado Homes

Something Old, Something New: Biden’s Housing Plan

President Biden’s Housing Supply Action Plan is a catchall of existing proposals, tiny tweaks, and things Congress would have to fund—plus a few genuinely interesting administrative moves. Here’s the rundown.

July 5, 2022 - Shelterforce Magazine

Chicago Transit Authority

Did Chicago’s Speed Cameras Improve Safety? [UPDATED]

Advocates of automated enforcement argue it saves lives, but despite a dramatic rise in speeding tickets, pedestrian fatalities grew in 2021.

July 5, 2022 - WBEZ

110-10 Interchange

California Senate Committee Kills Freeway Expansion Bill

The proposed legislation would have prohibited new construction in historically underserved areas that often bear the burnt of the negative impacts of freeways.

July 4, 2022 - Streetsblog California

Person standing under sign that says "Moab Made" in downtown Moab, Utah.

Initiative Brings Capacity Building to Booming Rural Towns

A research and capacity building initiative based at Utah State University seeks to help fast-growing tourist meccas in the West plan for smart growth.

July 4, 2022 - High Country News

The Interstate 10 freeway cuts through residential neighborhoods in the city of Alhambra. Downtown Los Angeles is visible in the background,

$1 Billion ‘Reconnecting Communities’ Program Accepting Applications to Repair Damage of Racist Transportation Planning

The Biden administration has talked about the need to repair the damages of a racist history of transportation planning in the United States. The time has finally come to put their money where their mouth is.

July 4, 2022 - U.S. Department Of Transportation

Chicago Bike Lane

Chicago Bike Lanes To Get Concrete Curbs

The city plans to upgrade its entire protected bike lane network with concrete barriers by the end of 2023.

June 30, 2022 - ABC 7 Chicago

Bus Lane

The Benefits of Bright Red Bus-Only Lanes, Explained

Richmond, Virginia is adding red paint to 2.5 miles of bus-only lanes. An article in the local newspaper explains why the change is more than an aesthetic consideration.

June 30, 2022 - Richmond Times-Dispatch

Nighttime view of empty gas station

Biden Proposes Gas Tax Holiday to Reduce Gas Prices

President Biden asked Congress on June 22 to suspend federal fuel taxes, unchanged since 1993, for three months to provide motorists 'relief' at the pump. Additionally, he asked states to follow suit and for oil companies to increase refining.

June 30, 2022 - Smart Cities Dive

Black and white photo of crosswalk

Report: Dallas Needs $54 Million in Sidewalk Ramps and Crosswalk Repairs

The city, which recently adopted a Vision Zero action plan, has one of the nation’s highest pedestrian fatality rates.

June 29, 2022 - FOX 4 News

Kansas City

Kansas City Pedestrian Deaths Surpassing Last Year’s Rates

The city has taken some steps to address gaps in pedestrian infrastructure, but fatalities are growing as the most disadvantaged communities continue to lack safe walking conditions.

June 28, 2022 - KCUR

Back view of delivery scooter on roadway

How Micromobility Can Improve Last-Mile Delivery

Facilitating the use of micromobility devices for the last mile of urban deliveries can reduce congestion, lower emissions, and take bigger vehicles off small neighborhood roads.

June 28, 2022 - Smart Cities Dive

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.