Infrastructure

Houston City Park

How Houston Is Growing its Bike Infrastructure

The famously car-centric city is investing more than ever in bike infrastructure, with ambitious plans to build 1,800 miles of protected bike lanes and trails.

May 3, 2022 - The Houston Chronicle

Los Angeles Traffic - The Newhall Pass

Report: United States Could Cut Transport Emissions by 34 Percent by 2030

The U.S. transportation sector is on track to reduce emissions by 19 percent by the end of the decade, but a new report indicates the public and private sectors could implement policies that would cut emissions by as much as 34 percent.

May 3, 2022 - Smart Cities Dive

Gazprom building in St. Petersburg, Russia

Energy War Comes to the European Union

When President Putin ordered Gazprom to turn off the valve on pipelines carrying Russian gas to Poland and Bulgaria, he effectively expanded the Russia-Ukraine war to the European Union, threatening their economic well-being and way of life.

May 3, 2022 - The New York Times

A map of the North Hollywood-Pasadena Bus Rapid Transit Line.

Controversial North Hollywood-Pasadena Bus Rapid Transit Line Approved

A controversial project to connect the San Fernando and San Gabriel valleys by bus rapid transit has final approval. Los Angeles, Glendale, Burbank, and Pasadena will have a new connecting transit line as soon as 2024.

May 2, 2022 - LAist

I-45 and I-69

A Freeway Rebellion Rises in the Unlikeliest of States: Texas

“There’s no train, there’s no bus, there’s no anything that supports mass transportation. It doesn’t exist.” -Houston resident Fabian Ramirez.

May 2, 2022 - The Guardian

View of Wrigleyville neighborhood before a Chicago Cubs game

Chicago Plans ‘Better Streets for Buses’

The city of Chicago is taking first steps toward a commitment to better bus service in the design and configuration of the city's streets.

May 2, 2022 - Streetsblog Chicago

The San Diego Convention Center is illuminated at night with the backdrop of public transit lines and high-rise buildings.

Day One of the National Planning Conference—Reunions, Pandemic Planning, Equity, and VMT

The American Planning Association gathers for its first in-person National Planning Conference since 2019. Planetizen is in attendance, and here is some of what we saw on the first day of the conference.

May 1, 2022 - James Brasuell

Madison Bike

Wisconsin Republicans Block Congestion, Pollution Funds From Bike and Ped Projects

It was always a risk that states would use funding from the federal Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act to double down on the transportation systems that create congestion and air pollution.

May 1, 2022 - Wisconsin Examiner

View of neighborhood with oil wells between houses

Federal Funding Boosts California Effort To Seal Abandoned Oil Wells

The state’s oil-producing regions are dotted with oil wells that contribute to water and air pollution and threaten public health.

April 29, 2022 - Los Angeles Daily News

View of Capitol building on Pennsylvania Avenue

Three Concepts for a Pennsylvania Avenue Makeover

The Pennsylvania Avenue Initiative seeks to redesign the capital’s most famous thoroughfare to include more park space and pedestrian amenities.

April 29, 2022 - WTOP

Pedestrians

Leading Pedestrian Intervals an Effective, Low-Cost, Pedestrian Safety Solution

Bellevue, Washington is acting on the data and giving pedestrians head starts at busy intersections around in the city’s downtown.

April 28, 2022 - The Urbanist

Chicago Transit Authority Green Line Train at 35th-Bronzeville-IIT

Chicago Updating its Climate Action Plan for 2022

Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot on Earth Day announced the forthcoming release of a new plan to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and prepare communities for the effects of climate change.

April 28, 2022 - Streetsblog Chicago

Congestion

What Is LOS?

Level of Service (LOS) defines how well vehicle traffic flows along a street or road. LOS is one of the most influential metrics in planning, with critical relevance for both land use and transportation planning.

April 27, 2022 - James Brasuell

Natural Gas

Withholding Energy as a Weapon

As Russia intensifies its offensive in Ukraine, energy security has become a matter of urgency for Poland and Bulgaria after Russia announced they will suspend the flow of natural gas through its pipelines to these two NATO and EU members.

April 27, 2022 - The New York Times

Thermometer infront of blurred image of street during heat wave

Extreme Heat as a Public Health Crisis

Cities can take action to improve conditions during extreme heat events and prevent heat-related deaths, many of which occur in low-income communities.

April 27, 2022 - Wired

Google Maps street view of Diamond Street

Local Opposition Threatens San Diego’s Last ‘Slow Street’

Residents in Pacific Beach want the city to revise its design of the Diamond Street ‘slow street,’ the last remaining segment of pandemic-era pedestrian-oriented road in the city.

April 26, 2022 - San Diego Union-Tribune

New York Public Library

How Urban Design Can Promote Social Equity

More inclusive urban design can help more people access social services and public amenities.

April 26, 2022 - The Architect's Newspaper

A person on a bike waits at an intersection by leaning against the curb.

Bicycle Friendly States: Massachusetts Tops the List

For the first time since the League of American Bicyclists started ranking states for bicycle friendly practices and policies in 2008, Washington State does not appear at the top of the list.

April 26, 2022 - League of American Bicyclists

An energy production facility rises above a wetlands along the Pacific Ocean.

Controversy Follows California's Massive Desalination Plant Proposal

Poseidon Water, a massive desalination project proposed for the Pacific coast in Huntington Beach, has been in the works for more than two decades. A critical vote is expected for the project next month.

April 25, 2022 - Los Angeles Times

Aerial view of Ivanpah Solar Electric Generating System

How Renewable Projects Are Threatening a Crucial Carbon Sink

The sprawling Mojave Desert plays a key role in carbon sequestration, storing around 10 percent of California’s carbon. But the fragile ecosystem is threatened by large-scale renewable energy projects.

April 25, 2022 - Mojave Desert Land Trust

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.