United States

Maumee River

Great Lakes To Receive $1 Billion from Infrastructure Bill For Restoration

An additional $1 billion in federal funding will bolster current efforts to clean polluted water sources and restore ecosystems in the Great Lakes region.

February 24, 2022 - Wyoming News Now

COVID-19 and Public Health

Let the Endemic Planning Begin

The first state in the nation to issue a stay-at-home order to slow the spread of a novel coronavirus that humans had no immunity from became the first to release an actual endemic plan, complete with a fancy acronym, SMARTER.

February 23, 2022 - The Washington Post

Klyde Warren Park

Dallas Drafts Infrastructure Wish List

The city hopes to qualify for as much as $3 billion in federal infrastructure funding.

February 23, 2022 - Advocate Oak Cliff

Large numbers of young people, some wearing and masks and others note, walk around an outdoor shopping mall in Southern California.

Despite Covid, Planners Expect Return to 'Old Normal,' Survey Says

Although the survey collects data from a small sample, it looks like North American planners don't expect the pandemic to change much about the way cities are planned.

February 22, 2022 - Planning Practice and Research

Oil

Democrats Balk at Gov. Newsom's Gas Tax Holiday

Saving motorists 3 cents a gallon may be a slam dunk for Republican leaders in the California legislature who opposed hiking the gas tax in the first place, but Democratic leaders are reluctant to tamper with a hard-fought legislative and ballot win.

February 22, 2022 - The Associated Press

Electric Car Charging Stencil

'Charging as a Service' Could Accelerate Decarbonization

The proliferation of private EV charging services, coupled with federal investment in charging stations, has the potential to reduce 'charging anxiety' and encourage a faster switch to electric vehicles.

February 22, 2022 - Forbes

Public Health

The Pandemic Is Not Ending—But Restrictions Are

The science hasn't changed but the politics have, and policymakers are responding appropriately. Transmission of the coronavirus during the Omicron wave remains at an all-time high, although infections are decreasing globally.

February 20, 2022 - Bloomberg Prognosis

Florida Main Street

AARP Releases DIY Walk Audit

An updated 'walk audit toolkit' lets you assess pedestrian safety in your neighborhood and advocate for improvements.

February 17, 2022 - Streetsblog California

Mail delivery trucks in the parking lot at the United States Postal Service (USPS) main post office and distribution facility at 715 NW Hoyt Street in Portland, Oregon.

USPS Says It Needs More Money To Electrify Fleet

The agency claims the federal government isn't providing enough funding to switch more of its delivery trucks to electric vehicles.

February 17, 2022 - Gizmodo

Celebration Florida

Disney Plans New Residential Developments

Despite the less-than-magical results of its experiment in Celebration, Florida, Disney has announced plans to build a chain of master-planned communities around the country.

February 17, 2022 - The Verge

Earthquake damage

Protecting Affordable Housing After Natural Disasters

Research shows that low-income communities suffer most and take the longest to recover from disasters, which can often wipe out affordable housing stock and displace vulnerable households.

February 16, 2022 - The Conversation

West 72nd Street

Study: Speed Camera Citations Correlate to Safe Infrastructure

New research suggests that fewer speeding tickets are issued in neighborhoods where the city has invested in traffic calming and pedestrian safety improvements.

February 16, 2022 - Streetsblog New York City

Construction Worker

Why 'Accidents' Are Not Inevitable

A new book argues that accidental deaths, from car crashes to industrial accidents, are a result of a 'rapacious' capitalist system that prioritizes profits over people.

February 16, 2022 - Streetsblog New York City

Pumping Gas

Time for a Federal Gas Tax Holiday?

Senate Democrats introduced legislation to lower gas prices by suspending the federal gas tax through the end of the year. General funds would be directed to the Highway Trust Fund to replace gas tax revenue.

February 15, 2022 - Fox Business

Singapore

Does Rental Assistance Demonstration Privatize Public Housing?

How exactly does RAD work and why is there a raging debate over whether it’s putting tenants’ rights and housing affordability in peril?

February 15, 2022 - Shelterforce

Baltimore Bikeshare

Uber and Lyft: A Tale of Two Companies

After years of resisting efforts by cities to regulate their business and constant—but unprofitable—growth, Uber and Lyft are homing in on their unique strengths.

February 15, 2022 - The Verge

A statue of the Little Mermaid, overlooking the waterfront of Copenhagen, Denmark, is adorned with a mask during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Danish Paradox: High COVID Transmission Leads to Endemicity

The nation with the world's highest COVID infections per capita was the first in Europe to end almost all coronavirus restrictions. The decision comes with the declaration that as of Feb. 1, COVID is no longer a "socially critical disease" in Denmark

February 14, 2022 - The Atlantic

Freeway Interchange Construction

Infrastructure Funding Could Lead to Higher Carbon Emissions

Billions in federal infrastructure funding slated to go to states with few strings attached could fund roadway construction and widening projects that will raise greenhouse gas emissions and worsen climate change.

February 13, 2022 - The New York Times

Masks for Public Health

CDC Not Yet On Board with Ending Masking Requirements

Blue states have joined red ones in ending masking orders as COVID cases plummet, but the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is sticking to its guidance: where transmission is 'high' or 'substantial,' universal indoor masking is recommended.

February 13, 2022 - Reuters

Electric Vehicle Charging

Federal Government Pledges $5 Billion for Electric Car Charging

A $5 billion federal investment will contribute to state efforts to install electric vehicle charging stations along interstate highways and major corridors.

February 11, 2022 - The Washington Post

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.