Infrastructure

Flooding

Flood Victims Call for Insurance Overhaul, More Federal Protections

A coalition of residents from flood-prone areas is urging the federal government to improve FEMA's beleaguered flood insurance program and do more to prevent construction on floodplains.

January 16, 2022 - Grist

Irrigiation Channel

Arizona Governor Pledges $1 Billion to Water Infrastructure

The billion-dollar investment in the state's water supplies sounds good on paper, but lawmakers must also distribute funding effectively to mitigate the state's urgent water shortage.

January 14, 2022 - azcentral

Indianapolis Bus Rapid Transit

State Bill Could Kill Indy BRT Line

A law proposed in the Indiana state legislature would ban dedicated bus lanes and force IndyGo to cancel a planned bus rapid transit line to the city's airport.

January 14, 2022 - Indianapolis Star

Beautiful Pink Flowers along the East River at Hunters Point South Park during Spring in Long Island City Queens

The Built Environment in 2022: Challenges and Opportunities

As climate change, the pandemic, and a historic housing crisis continue to impact the nation, experts weigh in on the issues that could shape the future of the built environment in 2022.

January 13, 2022 - Brookings

Stormwater Infrastructure

Small Communities Could Lose Out on Infrastructure Funding

Awarding federal funding via competitive grants could block grant opportunities for communities that need them the most.

January 13, 2022 - Governing

SR-99 on-ramp in Seattle

Seattle's Vision Zero Program Emphasizes Safe Systems Over Enforcement

Looking for traffic safety improvements while responding to 2020's Black Lives Matter protests, Seattle has spent much of the past two years implementing a Safe System approach to move closer to its Vision Zero goal to eliminate traffic fatalities.

January 12, 2022 - The Urbanist

Rendering of proposed 'diverter' at 34th Avenue

More Evidence That Open Streets Improve Safety

An analysis of New York's 34th Avenue shows substantial reductions in crashes and injuries, strengthening the body of evidence supporting car-free streets.

January 12, 2022 - Streetsblog New York City

Washington DC Metro

What Transit Systems Can Learn From D.C. Metro

The nation's second-largest transit system—and one of its newest—persists in the face of a host of challenges exacerbated by the pandemic.

January 12, 2022 - Governing

New "Point to Point" speed cameras on the Hume Highway, Victoria, Australia. Point to Point records your average speed over a set distance.

Study: Speed Cameras Save Lives

Data from Chicago reaffirms the efficacy of speed cameras at reducing traffic fatalities and serious injuries.

January 12, 2022 - Streetsblog Chicago

Offshore wind turbines at Barrow Offshore Wind off Walney Island in the Irish Sea

Northern California Port Seeks Offshore Wind Lease

The Port of Humboldt has proposed a plan to modernize its facilities to accommodate offshore wind energy production, hoping to stimulate the local economy and create sustainable jobs.

January 11, 2022 - Inside Climate News

Rendering of the proposed Farm Hub at The Great Park, Ontario

Massive New Park Coming to the Inland Empire

A 3.5-mile long greenway will bring trails, recreational facilities, and open space to Ontario, in San Bernardino County, California.

January 11, 2022 - Inland Valley Daily Bulletin

A group of cyclists rides on a green painted bike line on the Embarcadero in Sa Francisco.

Caltrans Issues New Complete Streets Policy

A policy released by the California Department of Transportation in December will require Complete Streets elements in all state road projects.

January 11, 2022 - Streetsblog California

Electric Scooter Share

E-Scooter Helmet Laws Could Harm Ridership

Transportation experts warn that mandatory helmet laws for shared e-scooters could cripple the nascent industry and discourage casual rides.

January 11, 2022 - Smart Cities Dive

 The remains of a mobile home park in Sylmar, California. 480 of the park's 600 mobile homes were burned in the Sayre Fire in November 2008.

U.S. Communities Increasingly at Risk of Extreme Weather Events

As development pushes into more wildfire-prone areas and climate change makes extreme weather conditions more common, more Americans are experiencing the destructive impacts of climate disasters.

January 9, 2022 - The Washington Post

Washington, D.C. Bus Lane

D.C. Bus Priority Plan To Expand Bus Lanes and Improve Service

A new plan from DDOT describes 51 bus priority projects aimed at improving service and making transit accessible to more D.C. commuters and residents.

January 7, 2022 - Greater Greater Washington

Cars in the snow

Snowstorm That Stranded Thousands Prompts Questions About Auto-Centric Development

After thousands of motorists spent over a day on a snowbound Virginia highway, experts are warning that auto-centric sprawl will worsen the impacts of extreme weather events.

January 6, 2022 - Streetsblog USA

Solar Power

Delaware County Pauses Solar Applications In Response to Local Opposition

Large-scale solar developments face rising hostility from neighboring property owners who cite concerns about environmental degradation, reduced property values, and loss of farmland.

January 6, 2022 - WFYI

A map of the proposed Triboro Line, which would connect Brooklyn to Queens and the Bronx in New York City.

The Triboro Line Has New Life as the 'Interborough Express'

A proposed transit line that would connect three New York City boroughs not named Manhattan has new, powerful political support.

January 6, 2022 - AMNY

Internet Cables

Broadband as Critical Transportation Infrastructure

The future of mobility depends on having a comprehensive, nationwide broadband network capable of supporting new transportation technologies and regulatory needs.

January 5, 2022 - Forbes

Delmar Loop

The Uncertain Future of the St. Louis Loop Trolley

St. Louis faces losing federal funds if the Loop Trolley remains defunct. But is the 2.2-mile line worth it?

January 5, 2022 - nextSTL

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.