North America

Bighorn Sheep

The 'Wide-Ranging Ecological Downside' of Road Salt

A study from the USGS using five decades of data shows salinity and alkalinity are up in waterways across the United States.

January 17, 2018 - Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Manhattan

How an Urban Grid Becomes a Maze

Many rational, open grids can seem like a labyrinth to users. The labyrinth has emerged as an unplanned consequence of the evolution of cities, but solutions like GPS navigation and autonomous vehicles could mean relief.

January 10, 2018 - Fanis Grammenos

'Twas the Night Before Christmas and Here's a Reminder About the Meaning of Environmentalism

San Gabriel Valley Tribune reporter Steve Scauzillo turns the words of the poem "A Visit from St. Nicholas," by Clement Clarke Moore into an environmental message.

December 24, 2017 - San Gabriel Valley Tribune

Mobility

Explained: Mobility as a Service

Mobility as a Service, or MaaS for short, is a buzzword you've probably seen a lot of in recent months.

December 6, 2017 - Eno Center for Transportation

California

A Proposal to Plan Regionally in the Silicon Valley

Could development fights in the home of the biggest tech companies be avoided if cities just talked to each other?

November 30, 2017 - The Mercury News

Toronto

In Praise of Toronto's Least Ambitious Transit Project

After decades of big, expensive plans, diverting cars from a busy streetcar route will make a bigger difference to commuters for far less money.

November 29, 2017 - The Globe and Mail

Cross-Laminated Timber

Timber Industry 'Bracing' for Soaring Demand

Building with wood is back in fashion, but lumber producers have to reckon with thorny politics and new timber-based materials that have yet to be truly defined.

November 28, 2017 - The Architect's Newspaper

Dakota Access Pipeline

Nebraska Commission Authorizes Keystone XL Pipeline, But With a Major Twist

TransCanada got its second wish. Last March, President Trump reversed President Obama's rejection of the 1,136-mile pipeline to carry Alberta oil sands crude. On Monday, the Nebraska Public Service Commission OK'd a route, but not the one it wanted.

November 21, 2017 - The Washington Post

Goods Movement

Tesla's 'Badass' Electric Semi Beats Diesel and Rail, Says Elon Musk

Tesla introduces a high-performance, totally electric, semi-autonomous truck that that can haul 80,000 of freight for 500 miles without recharging.

November 20, 2017 - Vox

Dakota Access Pipeline

Keystone Pipeline Leaks Oil in Advance of Crucial Decision on Sister Pipeline

Thursday's massive oil spill in South Dakota is not a good omen for TransCanada for a favorable decision on Monday on an application before the Nebraska Public Service Commission on the routing of the controversial Keystone XL pipeline.

November 18, 2017 - The Washington Post - Energy and Environment

Top Planning Websites

Top Planning Websites - 2017

The annual list of best websites by and for planners (and anyone else interested in planning).

November 6, 2017 - James Brasuell

Second Avenue Subway

Ranking the Sustainability of Transportation Systems in North American Cities

Out of 23 cities, New York City came in first, Indianapolis came in 23rd.

November 1, 2017 - Smart Cities Dive

Suburban Density Retrofit, Vancouver-Style

Vancouver shows how to retrofit suburban sprawl with transit and density at a recent Lambda Alpha International event, attended and recounted by development consultant Jim Chappell.

October 30, 2017 - UrbDeZine

Public Transportation Provides a Vital Mobility Link in Rural and Small Towns

A new report describes the important roles that public transit plays in rural communities and small towns, current demographic and economic trends that are increasing these demands, and examples of successful rural transit development programs.

October 25, 2017 - Public Transportation’s Impact on Rural and Small Towns: A Vital Mobility Link [pdf]

Tokyo Blur

Ranking the Safest Cities in the World—Tokyo Leads the List

The Economist's Intelligence Unit has released its 2017 Safe Cities Index.

October 13, 2017 - Quartz

Toronto Skyline B&W

The Real Estate Bubble Grows North of the Border

A new report rates the real estate bubble risk of the world's economic powerhouses.

September 30, 2017 - UBS

High Speed Rail Transforming California's Housing, TOD Conversation

The California Legislature took steps to address the state's housing crisis this year, but housing activists might look to the Governor's High Speed Rail project to provide a link to affordable housing in the Central Valley.

September 29, 2017 - The Planning Report

Seattle Sailboats

Could Seattle Be the U.S. Vancouver?

Seattle appears to be following the Vancouver, B.C. model by increasing population and residential density while investing in transit. If it works, traffic congestion will not deteriorate, and vehicle trips should drop.

September 29, 2017 - Governing

Caribbean Hurricane Season

Puerto Rico Braces for Direct Hit from Hurricane Maria on Wednesday

A second catastrophic hurricane is on track to devastate much of the Caribbean, barely two weeks after category five Hurricane Irma departed. In addition to Maria, a much weaker Hurricane Jose will affect the Mid-Atlantic and New England.

September 19, 2017 - CNN

Carribean

Florida Prepares for Irma: Building Codes, Cranes, Evacuation, Storm Surge

As Irma leaves the Caribbean and heads for Florida, with landfall expected this weekend, there is a lot to worry about: New building codes will be put to test, fuel to evacuate is in short supply, and cranes have not been dismantled.

September 8, 2017 - The New York Times

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.

Senior Manager Operations, Urban Planning

New York City School Construction Authority

Building Inspector

Village of Glen Ellyn

Manager of Model Development

Central Transportation Planning Staff/Boston Region MPO

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.