Technology

Entrance to Bayfair Center mall in San Leandro, California.

Mall Redevelopment in Silicon Valley

Dead malls across the Bay Area are being transformed into R&D centers, housing, and transportation hubs.

September 11, 2024 - SiliconValley.com

Elon Musk appears on stage in front of a backdrop of information about the Boring Company.

Tesla’s Self-Driving Still Not Working in Las Vegas Tunnels

The Boring Company had previously said it was working with Tesla to use its self-driving system in its tunnels below Las Vegas to save costs on drivers, but two years later, there is no clear timeline for “full autonomy.”

September 9, 2024 - Electrek

Close-up on green painted curb with '30 min max' in white.

How Cities Use Tech for Curb Management

Curb monitoring technology is helping cities build a growing understanding of the shifting demand for this valuable urban space.

September 8, 2024 - GovTech

Blue and white Zero-Emission Multiple Unit (ZEMU) hydrogen-powered train in San Bernardino, California.

Hydrogen-Powered Train to Launch in Southern California

The 9-mile rail line could be a welcome breath of fresh air for one of the region’s most polluted communities.

September 5, 2024 - The Guardian

Yellow electric school bus with preteen students exiting.

Oakland Electric School Buses Can Return Power to Grid

The district’s fully electric fleet features vehicle-to-grid technology that lets buses act as batteries when not in use.

September 4, 2024 - Grist

Close-up of white traffic enforcement camera mounted on concrete pole against blue sky.

Philly Speed Camera Program Cuts Fatalities in Half

Excessive speeding along dangerous segments of Roosevelt Boulevard dropped by 90 percent after the city installed automated enforcement cameras.

September 4, 2024 - Smart Cities Dive

25mph speed limit sign with blurred street with car and palm trees in background

California Bill Requiring Speeding Warnings Heads to Governor’s Desk

The law would require all vehicle models 2030 and later to include technology that warns drivers when they exceed the speed limit.

September 3, 2024 - CBS News

View of cars in traffic jam from behind

Transportation Rx: Treating Traffic Glut Like Doctors Treat Sinus Congestion

To cure chronic traffic congestion, U.S. cities should consider a prescribed treatment approach, using technology and road pricing strategies to target the root cause instead of just managing the symptoms.

September 1, 2024 - Timothy Menard

View of a phone with a chatbot interface asking user how it can help them.

Leveraging AI Chatbots to Enhance Citizen Engagement in City Services

Discover how AI chatbots can transform citizen engagement in city services, offering 24/7 interaction capabilities, streamlining service requests, and gathering valuable feedback to improve urban management.

September 1, 2024 - Devin Partida

Row of white electric vehicle chargers in an outdoor parking lot.

California Secures $150 Million for Expanding Electric Vehicle Charging Infrastructure

The Golden State has received almost $150 million from the U.S. Department of Transportation to build over 9,200 EV charging ports, bolstering the state’s efforts to expand zero-emission vehicle infrastructure and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

August 30, 2024 - Los Angeles Times

Image of cars driving on multi-lane road with graphics indicating the vehicles are communicating with each other.

Federal Plan Outlines Deployment of ‘Vehicle-to-Everything’ Tech

The technology known as V2X could prevent crashes and save lives by allowing vehicles to communicate with each other and road infrastructure.

August 22, 2024 - NPR

Group of children looking down at map.

Building Healthier Communities: The Role of GIS in Park Planning

Integrating Geographic Information Systems (GIS) into park planning enhances community health by promoting physical activity, supporting mental well-being, fostering social connectedness, and addressing public health crises and climate change.

August 19, 2024 - Esri Blog

Close-up on red traffic light with blurred street in background.

Boston AI Pilot Optimizes Traffic Light Timing

The program has led to reductions in stop-and-go traffic of as much as 50 percent.

August 16, 2024 - Cities Today

Overhead view of houses being 3d printed in concrete from the ground up.

3D-Printed Community in Texas Nearly Complete

Upon completion, the 100-home Wolf Ranch Community north of Austin will be the largest 3D printed neighborhood in the world.

August 12, 2024 - Parametric Architecture

Los Angeles transit bus passing in front of LAPD headquarters in downtown Los Angeles.

LA to Launch Bus Lane Enforcement Cameras

Bus-mounted cameras will identify vehicles that block designated bus lanes to help prevent delays and maintain reliable transit operations.

August 7, 2024 - KTLA

View of San Francisco from top of hill with Victorian houses in foreground.

San Francisco Bans Rent Fixing Software

The Board of Supervisors unanimously supported a bill that bars landlords from using software that critics say facilitates collusion between landlords.

August 2, 2024 - San Francisco Examiner

Traffic on a highway in Dallas, Texas.

Traffic Tech is Helping Texas Curb Road Deaths

The state is deploying AI-assisted technology to identify dangerous road segments and improve signal timing.

August 1, 2024 - Route Fifty

Text that reads July's Must Reads: Planetizen's Top 10 Articles from Last Month with a photo of an Amtrak train traveling through the Utah desert.

July’s Must Reads: Top 10 Articles from Last Month

In case you missed them, here were the biggest urban planning news items, features, and blogs from last month, including 15 new Amtrak routes, Florida’s EV law, California’s rail update, fare-free buses in Tucson, and more.

August 1, 2024 - Mary Hammon

Servers in a data center.

Data Centers Gaining Ground in Central Ohio

Massive data centers are gobbling up energy resources and tax breaks while creating few jobs in the region.

August 1, 2024 - Governing

Aerial view of hydrogen storage hub in green field.

First Federal Funding for Hydrogen Hubs Awarded to California and Pacific Northwest

The U.S. Department of Energy announced on July 17 that the first grant to build the nation's seven proposed 'hydrogen hubs' would go to California. The ultimate goal is to decarbonize transportation fuels used in port operations.

July 31, 2024 - Irvin Dawid

FREE Course: Walkable City 1: Why Walkability?

After describing his path towards focusing on walkability as the essence of good planning, Jeff Speck marches through his five principal reasons for making more walkable places.

Reinventing Malls: Planning Alchemy—Turning Gray Fields Into Gold

The course focuses on the opportunities and imperatives that shape reinvention of mall sites.

Top Books

An annual review of books related to planning.

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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.