Illinois

One side of the image shows a Chicago bus stop without a bench, the second image shows the bus stop with a yellow and blue bench.

Guerilla urbanists are building DIY bus stop benches in Chicago

The new benches are not officially sanctioned or permitted, but the residents who placed them hope they will be the start of a network of DIY benches across the city.

September 16, 2026 - Block Club Chicago

The Lake Shore Drive Bridge with a boat passing under it.

Extreme heat is paralyzing Chicago’s moveable bridges

If moveable bridges are raised during heatwaves, the metal can expand and jam the bridge's mechanisms, preventing it from lowering.

September 7, 2026 - Chicago Sun-Times

A  Chicago 'L' train stands ready at the station as travelers with luggage move about the platform.

Chicago-area transit gains new regional authority

The new leadership will preserve all previous services and bus and train operators.

September 2, 2026 - Smart Cities Dive

Solar panels on a single family house

The newest state on the virtual power plant frontier: Illinois

The state's "Clean and Reliable Grid Affordability Act" is the latest jumpstart for the VPP market, which turn individual homes into green energy producers.

August 24, 2026 - Dan Gearino, Inside Climate News

Trains in a rail yard

Chicago Amtrak funding makes way for new White Sox stadium

The new funding is the first step in Amtrak vacating its 14th Street rail yard, the future development site of a new baseball stadium.

August 18, 2026 - Sox Machine

Close-up on pedestrian button with "LOush button for audible signal" below silhouette of person with cane.

Report: Chicago surpassed its legal mandate for accessible pedestrian signals — but none passed inspections

Gaps in accessibility, placement and functionality highlight the importance of regular inspections and maintenance.

July 30, 2026 - Smart Cities Drive

People sunbathing and hanging out on concrete seawall and sandy beach on Lake Superior in Chicago, Illinois.

Chicago residents love their 'concrete beach'

A concrete seawall is a popular swimming and sunbathing location for locals.

July 21, 2026 - Block Club Chicago

Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson wearing dark suit speaking into a microphone in front of a dark wood wall.

Chicago mayor nominates allies for new regional transit board

The Northern Illinois Transit Authority will take over transit decisions from the existing Regional Transportation Authority.

July 14, 2026 - Hoodline

McCook Reservoir is located between the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal (left) and the Des Plaines River (right).

Chicago's underground flood control system is almost full

The system known as Deep Tunnel has never filled much more than halfway, but the cumulative effect of recent rains is putting suburban communities at risk of flooding.

July 7, 2026 - Chicago Sun-Times

Black car with parking ticket in windshield next to parking pay station on curb in Chicago, Illinois.

Chicago mayor secretly bid over $3B to buy back city's parking meters

Mayor Brandon Johnson revoked an offer to pay more than $800 million above the next-highest bidder to regain control of the city's parking meters.

July 2, 2026 - Block Club Chicago

Worker working on exposed blue water pipe.

Replacing lead pipes in Chicago costs more than 6 times the national average — and authorities can't explain why

Replacing one lead pipe in Chicago costs around $31,000, while the national average cost sits at around $4,700 per line.

July 1, 2026 - Grist

Playground at the Obama Center in Chicago visible behind fence.

Obama Center opens nation's first presidential playground

The 21,000-square-foot play space is the first of its kind to be attached to a presidential library.

June 27, 2026 - Block Club Chicago

Parking garage for Chicago bus terminal.

Chicago approves city buyout of downtown Greyhound station

The city is also budgeting $30 million for repairs to the city's only intercity bus station.

June 18, 2026 - Block Club Chicago

Underground train platform with colorful mosaic wall with people pulling luggage at O'Hare Airport in Chicago, Illinois.

Costumed Chicagoans try to 'Catch That Train' in new viral trend

Residents are donning costumes and running to board CTA trains in a whimsical nod to the age-old problem of missing your train.

June 13, 2026 - Chicago Tribune

Grey tower, part of the obama Presidential Center in Chicago, Illinois.

Short-term rental licenses grew by 46% near Obama Center as affordable homes disappear

The Chicago ward where the Obama library is located is one of the only parts of the city to see an increase in STR licenses.

June 8, 2026 - Chicago Sun-Times

Sheriff's officer walks past tent with American flag draped on front in homeless encampment behind yellow police tape.

Three years after the Grants Pass ruling, cities take divergent approaches to homelessness

Three years after a major Supreme Court case, bills to criminalize homelessness and ban encampments have popped up widely. But here are some places that are fighting back.

June 3, 2026 - Shelterforce Magazine

Man riding in painted bike lane next to child riding bike with smaler child in bike trailer in Chicago, Illinois.

Chicago bike lane projects spark backlash from businesses, gentrification fears

A battle is brewing over Chicago's street space.

June 1, 2026 - Governing

Sign for Northeastern Illinois University at front of campus in Chicago, Illinois.

This university-owned city block in Chicago has languished for over a decade. Neighbors say it's time to let go

The university never built its planned student housing, letting a row of storefronts sit vacant for years.

May 29, 2026 - Block Club Chicago

Dark-colored car parked at curb with white and red parking ticket in passenger side windshield wiper next to parking pay station with green P sign on sidewalk.

Chicago parking meters are for sale once again

Chicago's 75-year lease of its parking meters to an LLC puts revenue decisions in the hands of private investors.

May 21, 2026 - Chicago Tribune

Busy train platform for subterranean Chicago O'Hare airport station.

CTA underestimated Chicago transit ridership by 19 million trips

The agency is moving from using farebox data and manual video reviews to automatic counters that more accurately measure the total number of riders, whether or not they pay full fares.

May 19, 2026 - Streetsblog Chicago

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.

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.