Public Health
More Bad News for Coal: U.S. Supreme Court Won't Block Mercury Emissions Rule
For a second time, the U.S. Supreme Court chose not to hear from 20 states that sought to block implementation of a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency rule on mercury and air toxins that largely affects coal-fired power plants and public health.
Lessons from the Paleolithic Era for Contemporary Urbanites
Gustav Milne makes a simple argument via The Guardian: urbanization "is bad for us."
Why the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Doesn't Use 'Accidents'
Call them crashes, collisions, even incidents, just don't call them 'accidents,' emphatically states Mark R. Rosekind, Ph.D., Administrator for the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the nation's premier traffic safety agency.
The Greening of Large Trucks Begins at California's Ports
A Planetizen blog post by Casey Brazeal asks, "When will the trucking industry electrify?" Three truck manufacturers and electric truck builder BYD Motors are now in competition thanks to a $23.6 million state grant to the South Coast Air District.
Mayoral Survey Reveals Deep Anxiety Over Infrastructure
The headline from Politico's recent survey of mayors says it all: mayors fear that there will be more public health disasters like Flint to come if the nation doesn't coordinate to prioritize infrastructure.
More Evidence That Living Near Highways Is Bad for Your Health
The findings of a new study based in Boston offer evidence of negative health outcomes connected to the collision of residential land use and transportation infrastructure.
Study: Geography Matters for Life Expectancy of Low Income Residents
A new study, released this week, reveals the connections between geography and life expectancy.
Four Land Use Features for Better Health
The latest from a growing body of research on the connections between land use and public health identifies four characteristics of land use that produce beneficial public health outcomes.
Study: Location Matters for Farmers' Markets
Research conducted in Flint, Michigan, found that changing the location of the local farmers' market had a dramatic effect in how residents shopped.
National Safety Council Reports Huge Jump in 2015 Traffic Fatalities
According to preliminary estimates from the National Safety Council, 38,300 people were killed on U.S. roads in 2015, an 8 percent jump from 2014. In fact, the annual increase is the most in half a century. Note that the figure differs from NHTSA's.
Federal Report Finds Increasing Numbers of Traffic Deaths
With more driving comes a lot more deaths on the nation's roads. The question is why traffic deaths increase at a greater rate than vehicle miles traveled.
America's Coast-to-Coast Toxic Crisis
Flint, Michigan is not an anomaly.
New Study Reveals Causes of Lower American Life Expectancy
A study published February 9 in the Journal of the American Medical Association points to three reasons for the life expectancy being lower for Americans than in other developed nations. Care to guess what they are?
Lead Poisoning in Children Common in Other Parts of the U.S.
The case of the lead contaminated waters in Flint, Michigan has renewed a national discussion of lead poisoning in children across the United States.
Planning History: The Roman Empire and Public Health
Although the cities of the Roman Empire are typically regarded for their focus on health and hygiene, they may have struggled to manage many poor sanitation parasites.
How the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Failed the People of Flint
While blame squarely lays with Michigan state officials, agencies, and possibly Gov. Rick Snyder himself, the EPA also played a role by both detecting the cause of the problem but not acting on the reports of improper treatment of river water.
First Step to Restoring Drinking Water for Flint—Coat the Existing Pipes
Gov. Rick Snyder (R-Mich.) announced on Wednesday that the state is working to ensuring safe tap water for Flint residents. While there is no schedule to replace the corroded lead pipes, they are being treated to prevent further lead leaching.
How Neighborhood Trees Improve Public Health
New research reveals more of the details of how trees provide therapeutic effects for humans.
Excessive Lead in Drinking Water Spread to Ohio
Learning from the mishaps shown by state regulatory agencies in Michigan, the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency wasted no time in beginning a criminal investigation resulting from reports of concentrations of high lead levels in some Ohio homes.
The Erosion of Public Trust
The damage caused by Michigan environmental agencies charged with protecting public health extend far beyond Flint. Residents suffering health effects from a huge natural gas leak in Southern California see parallels with the lead poisoning crisis.
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.
Smith Gee Studio
City of Charlotte
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
Transportation Research & Education Center (TREC) at Portland State University
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
Municipality of Princeton (NJ)
