Pennsylvania

Philadelphia Skyline

A Coming of Age Story for Philadelphia's Revitalized Center City

A housing report by analyzing Philadelphia's Center City enunciates an obstacle facing many cities in the throes of downtown revitalization: What happens when Millennials don't come home to roost?

February 20, 2015 - Philadelphia

Planning Case Study: the Philadelphia2035 River Wards District Plan

Philadelphia planners are halfway through the Philadelphia2035 River Wards District Plan, which will help guide development and investment for a broad swath of troubled neighborhoods proximate to the Delaware River.

February 18, 2015 - PlanPhilly

Pittsburgh Approves with Development Plans for 28-Acre Civic Area Site

A large mixed-use development plan for Pittsburgh's former Civic Area site now has full approval from the city.

February 13, 2015 - Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Philadelphia Announces 'Indego' Bikeshare System—Opening this Spring

Indego will officially launch this spring with over 60 stations and 600 bikes. The city is already making plans to expand the system after its initial launch.

February 11, 2015 - Philadelphia Inquirer

Proposal would Lower New York's Gas Prices by Cutting the Gas Tax

Call it $2 gas price envy. Though New York gas prices have dropped $1.20 from a year ago, they are also 25-cents above the national average. State Sen. Jim Seward hopes to spark a statewide movement to reduce prices by reducing state gas taxes.

February 9, 2015 - All Otsego.com

New Research Maps Transit Poverty

New research provides sorely needed tools for illustrating the neighborhoods that suffer a lack of transportation options to access jobs and opportunity.

February 7, 2015 - Next City

Philadelphia Skyline

Pennsylvania Comes 'Round To Roundabouts

When two roads meet in William Penn's Forest, what do you do? New plans from the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation say, increasingly, you build a roundabout. No fewer than forty are on the drawing board throughout the state.

February 5, 2015 - Philadelphia Magazine

Parks—or Playgrounds for Billionaires?

New York may be the most famous example of the parks becoming the most conspicuous signifiers of neighborhoods for the haves, versus the have-nots, but Inga Saffron hopes that cities everywhere can find ways to even the playing fields.

February 4, 2015 - The New Republic

SEPTA Tops for Women Transit Riders

An informal survey of transit ridership data reveals that Philadelphia's SEPTA has the highest percentage of women riders. But what does that data say about SEPTA and transit in general?

January 27, 2015 - PlanPhilly

Proposed Planning and Development Reorganization Stalls in Philadelphia

A drastic overhaul of the planning and development processes in Philadelphia is, at least for now, on hold so stakeholders can have more time to analyze the proposal.

January 23, 2015 - philly.com

Snowplow

Pittsburgh Launches GPS-Enabled Snow Plow Tracker

Pittsburgh has a new web-based portal for residents to track snow removal operations as they happen. It's the latest example of a city allowing public access to the details of city operations during snowstorms.

January 22, 2015 - CityLab

Strategic Plan for Philadelphia Land Bank Gains Approval

By all accounts, the Philadelphia Land Bank has completed a high quality strategic plan to guide its actions over the coming years.

January 22, 2015 - PlanPhilly

Judge Clears Way for Redevelopment of Pittsburgh's Former Civic Arena Site

The proposed redevelopment of the 28-acre site—former home of the Civic Arena—would produce a corporate headquarters and a mix of uses and housing.

January 20, 2015 - Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

An 'Energy Hub' Boomtown—In Philadelphia?

The Marcellus Shale boom has inspired some in Philadelphia to imagine their city as the "next Houston"—if it can attract the businesses and infrastructure to bring oil and gas in for the benefit of a homegrown manufacturing economy.

January 19, 2015 - Philadelphia

Critic: Development Proposal to Close for Comfort to Philadelphia's Rodin Museum

Architecture Critic Inga Saffron decries the development proposal making progress through the approval process in Philadelphia—a large, glassy residential building that would encroach on the tiny serenity of the Rodin Museum.

January 16, 2015 - Philadelphia Inquirer

Philadelphia Italian market

Three Cities Where New Immigrants Revitalized Main Street

Fusion lists three cities as examples of new immigrants becoming the face of community businesses in neighborhoods needing a boost.

January 14, 2015 - Fusion

Low Gas Prices

Three States Hope to Take Advantage of Low Gas Prices to Boost Gas Taxes

A movement at the state and federal levels would take advantage of low oil prices to boost gas taxes to pay for infrastructure. Michigan, Iowa, and Utah proposals, and a change to the federal Corker-Murphy plan, are described below.

January 12, 2015 - The Wall Street Journal

Clearing Up Myths on the Federal Gas Tax

In this Washington Post opinion, Paul Bledsoe, former staff member of the Senate Finance Committee, clears up five common misunderstandings about the federal gas tax to inform discussions on America's infrastructure funding crisis

January 4, 2015 - The Washington Post

Philadelphia Replacing 7 Bridges Above Vine Street Expressway

"A five-year, $82 million project to replace seven bridges over the Vine Street Expressway will also remodel the cultural spine of the city," reports Paul Nussbaum.

December 24, 2014 - The Philadelphia Inquirer

Philadelphia Waterfront Revitalization follows the Schuylkill Banks Boardwalk

It might lack the High Line's design ambition, but the Schuylkill Banks Boardwalk will fill an appreciated role in the network of trails along the Philadelphia waterfront.

December 19, 2014 - The Architect's Newspaper

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.