Infrastructure

Texas Bullet Train

Eminent Domain Questions Still Dog Texas Central High Speed Rail Plans

The Texas Attorney General took a break from its crusade against unsubstantiated claims of voter fraud to weigh in on a controversial question of property rights.

December 28, 2021 - Texas Tribune

Fringe Development

O'Toole, Cato Institute Part Ways

Randal O'Toole, who resisted contemporary progressive planning trends by supporting the unfettered expansion of automobile infrastructure and single-family residential development, is no longer employed by the conservative-leaning Cato Institute.

December 27, 2021 - The Antiplanner

Gaslamp Quarter

SANDAG Plan Retreats on Road Usage Charge, Proposes Other New Taxes

In response to conservative opposition to a proposed road user charge, San Diego's regional planning agency is proposing other revenue sources including a tax on ride-hailing and three sales tax increases.

December 27, 2021 - Voice of San Diego

New York Construction

New Interactive Mapping Tool Tracks all of NYC's Infrastructure Projects, Housing Permits, and City Facilities

The New York Department of City Planning has taken its open data practices to a new level with the launch of the Capital Planning Explorer.

December 27, 2021 - New York Department of City Planning

An Amtrak passenger train is shown on a spring day, rolling through a rural area in Missouri.

Amtrak Hits New Top Speeds Between St. Louis and Chicago

A project that won funding from federal stimulus programs during the Obama administration is finally paying off on the Amtrak route between Chicago and St. Louis.

December 24, 2021 - St. Louis Post-Dispatch

Magellanterassen at HafenCity, Hamburg, Germany

Living With Flooding in a German Port Town

A riverside neighborhood in Hamburg embraces flooding as part of its resilience planning, using old techniques to protect modern communities.

December 24, 2021 - Bloomberg CityLab

Solar Installation

California Could Drastically Cut Solar Incentives

Rooftop solar customers in California could face higher costs and reduced incentives if a proposed overhaul of the state's solar program is approved by the Public Utilities Commission.

December 23, 2021 - Los Angeles Times

A diversion canal from the Yazoo River is shown from above. The river's banks are lined with industrial land uses near the city of Vicksburg, Mississippi.

Army Corps Pulls the Plug on $450 Million Mississippi Floodwater Project

A coalition of environmental scored a victory this month, when the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers canceled an expensive, and controversial, flood control project.

December 23, 2021 - Associated Press via KTAR News

Solar and Wind Energy

Outdated Grid Can Stymie Renewables

As more wind and solar plants get built in remote locations, utilities must figure out how to transport and store energy over increasingly vast distances.

December 23, 2021 - Wired

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Pittsburgh Pedestrian Wayfinding Program Set to Launch

Southwestern Pennsylvania Commission awarded $1.4 million to the city of Pittsburgh to launch the Pittsburgh Pedestrian Wayfinding initiative.

December 22, 2021 - Pittsburgh City Paper

Atlanta streetcar

Expansion Planned for Atlanta Streetcar

A proposed expansion of Atlanta's beleaguered downtown streetcar could turn the 'novelty' line into a truly useful transportation option in the car-centric city.

December 22, 2021 - Urbanize Atlanta

Los Angeles Protected Bike Lane

Opinion: Los Angeles Must Prioritize Bikes and Buses

L.A. has a plan for improving mobility. Why are city leaders ignoring it?

December 21, 2021 - Los Angeles Times

Highway Construction

Federal Memo 'Gently' Discourages Highway Construction

The Federal Highway Administration is urging states to prioritize climate-friendly projects and put federal funds toward repairs and active transportation infrastructure.

December 21, 2021 - Wired

D.C. Metro

Study: D.C. Region Must Take Aggressive Steps To Reach Climate Goal

To achieve its stated emissions reduction goal, the Greater Washington area must sharply reduce driving and speed up the adoption of electric vehicles.

December 21, 2021 - Greater Greater Washington

Trump supporting insurrectionists scale the walls of the U.S. Capitol Building on January 6, 2021.

Year in Review: Urban Planning in 2021

Part one of two of Planetizen's review of 2021—re-assessing failed predictions and daylighting the biggest planning stories of the year.

December 20, 2021 - James Brasuell

Downeaster train in Maine

What States Can Learn From the Success of Maine's Downeaster Train

As Amtrak gears up to plan expansion projects supported by new federal funding, states can take some advocacy lessons from Maine's popular Downeaster train.

December 20, 2021 - Governing

 Interstate 710 in East Los Angeles, California.

California Bill Could Ban Freeway Expansions in Underserved Neighborhoods

A proposed bill in the California State Legislature would bar the state from funding road construction in communities at risk for displacement and health impacts.

December 20, 2021 - Los Angeles Times

Downtown Anchorage with the snow covered Chugach Mountains in the background.

Anchorage Mayor Under Fire for Shutting Down Municipal Water System

Anchorage Mayor Dave Bronson took it upon himself to shut down the use of fluoride used in the municipality's water treatment system based on claims that water treatment plant employees had been injured on the job.

December 17, 2021 - Alaska's News Source

A man on a bike prepares to turn off a one way street onto a bike lane in Downtown Boise, Idaho.

Bike Lane Upgrade Planned for Downtown Boise

The Capital City Development Corp. is considering a plan to revamp and extend existing bike infrastructure on 8th Street in Downtown Boise.

December 16, 2021 - Boise Dev

Utah

Utah Debates Solutions to Water Shortage

With a rapidly growing population and strained water supplies, Utah lawmakers and conservation groups debate how to best replenish the state's water sources.

December 16, 2021 - High Country News

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.