United States

Row of vehicles parked and plugged in at EV charging station.

Federal EV Charging Program Suspended

The National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure program planned to fund the construction of hundreds of EV charging stations across the country.

February 9, 2025 - Wired

Red Chevrolet truck parked on street in front of two small sedans in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Heavier Vehicles Don’t Keep Passengers Safer

A new study shows that modern safety features are more important than size and weight once vehicles weigh over 4,000 pounds.

February 7, 2025 - Streetsblog USA

Couple watches as two movers loan furniture into back of box truck.

Study: Married People Struggle Least With Housing Costs

Both people who live alone and unmarried partners who live together spend more on housing than married couples.

February 7, 2025 - Redfin

Large bridge under construction.

From Grants to Growth: The Critical Role of Funding in Urban Transportation Projects

How cities are taking innovative approaches and adopting technology to develop sustainable, long-term funding sources for transportation infrastructure.

February 7, 2025 - Timothy Menard

Asphalt road heading toward Bears Ears National Monument in Utah in winter.

National Monuments Under Threat From Mining Under New Executive Order

An executive order from the Department of the Interior could gut protections for public lands established under the Antiquities Act.

February 6, 2025 - Bloomberg Law

Two bicycles in apartment building stairwell landing with white painted brick walls.

Single-Stair Reform Gains Strength

The movement to legalize single-stair multi-story buildings is gathering momentum, with the typology offering a more efficient, flexible, and healthy way to build housing.

February 6, 2025 - Greater Greater Washington

Downtown Providence, Rhode Island.

From Plan to Place: Providence’s Downtown Renaissance

Providence’s downtown is transforming from plan to place. Decades of strategic planning, zoning reforms, & investment are paying off, creating a more vibrant, walkable urban core. Here’s how thoughtful policy and design are shaping the city’s future.

February 5, 2025 - * A Placemaking Journal

Close-up of smartphone with USDOT website pulled up and screen with USDOT logo in background.

DOT Memo Directs Transportation Funding to Communities With Higher Marriage and Birth Rates, Compliance with Immigration Officials and No Mask Mandates

The memo ties immigration enforcement to federal funding and prohibits mask or vaccine mandates.

February 5, 2025 - Huffpost

rural town main street.

The Importance of Rural Transit

On Transit Equity Day, reminding policymakers that rural communities need access to transit too.

February 4, 2025 - Transportation for America

Sign for Needles, California installed on wooden wagon with residential neighborhood visible in background.

Commentary: Why We Need a Federal Definition of ‘Rural’

A patchwork of definitions of rural versus urban areas has real consequences for communities seeking federal funding.

February 4, 2025 - The Daily Yonder

Mobile homes destroyed by Hurricane Ian in Fort Myers, Florida.

How to Make Manufactured Housing More Resilient

Manufactured housing builders must balance affordability with the need to protect housing against extreme weather events.

February 4, 2025 - Urban Institute

Multifamily wood-frame buildings under construction in Fork, Utah with sunset sky and mountains in background.

As Housing Crisis Continues, Cities Take New Approaches

How U.S. cities are seeking to diversify their funding sources for housing assistance programs and eliminate barriers to housing construction.

February 4, 2025 - Smart Cities Dive

Tall mature green trees lining a concrete walkway next to a street with multistory apartment buildings on other side and sun filtering through the leaves.

New Interactive Tool Helps Cities Assess and Strengthen Urban Tree Canopies

A new national tree canopy assessment tool, available at TreesAtWork.org, provides high-resolution data to help cities track tree cover changes, prioritize planting efforts, and enhance urban resilience.

February 3, 2025 - Arbor Day Foundation

Solar and Wind Energy

Equity in Energy: Protecting Livelihoods and Restoring Communities

The transition from fossil fuels to renewable energy must be equitable, ensuring that workers receive support, communities are revitalized, and degraded lands are restored to create a more sustainable and inclusive future.

February 3, 2025 - PRB+ Magazine

Row of four public restrooms outdoors with snowy mountain in background.

Opinion: Public Restrooms Shouldn’t Be Starbucks’ Problem

The outrage over the chain’s decision to limit the use of its bathrooms should prompt more questions about why the U.S. lacks public restrooms.

January 31, 2025 - Streetsblog USA

Multifamily housing under construction.

How Might Tariffs and Deportations Affect Affordable Housing Development?

Many affordable housing developers worry Trump’s proposed taxes on imports and crackdown on immigration will be detrimental to the industry. Others hope deregulation reduces development costs enough to offset those effects. What’s the most likely outcome?

January 30, 2025 - Shelterforce Magazine

Row of multicolored three-story apartment buildings.

What Is ‘Affordable Housing’?

For such a commonly used term, “affordable housing” means a lot of different things to different people and in different contexts.For such a commonly used term, “affordable housing” means a lot of different things to different people and in different contexts.

January 30, 2025 - Shelterforce Magazine

Close-up of front of blue locomotive with Amtrak logo.

What the US Intercity Rail System Could Look Like

An FRA study shows how new Amtrak lines could connect tens of millions more Americans to rail travel.

January 30, 2025 - Fast Company

"No turn on red" sign on signpost with pedestrian stoplight.

Why Right Turns on Red Are Bad for Traffic Safety

The practice creates dangerous conditions for pedestrians, cyclists, and anyone crossing in front of turning vehicles.

January 29, 2025 - Smart Cities Dive

Ornate Victorian San Francisco houses with modern high-rises in background.

Commentary: A New ‘Grand Bargain’ for American Housing

For decades, many U,S, neighborhoods successfully resisted change at the expense of a few neighborhoods sacrificed to mass development. Is there a better way?

January 29, 2025 - Strong Towns

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.