United States

Joe Biden exits a limousine, surrounded by security and staffers, on the way to the Marine One helicopter on a pad near the water in New York City.

Biden's New Tailpipe Emissions Rule Resets to Obama Administration Standards

The Biden administration finalized greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions standards for passenger cars and light trucks that almost fully erased changes by the Trump administration that, in turn, erased a rule finalized by the Obama administration.

December 21, 2021 - The Washington Post

Trump supporting insurrectionists scale the walls of the U.S. Capitol Building on January 6, 2021.

Year in Review: Urban Planning in 2021

Part one of two of Planetizen's review of 2021—re-assessing failed predictions and daylighting the biggest planning stories of the year.

December 20, 2021 - James Brasuell

Downeaster train in Maine

What States Can Learn From the Success of Maine's Downeaster Train

As Amtrak gears up to plan expansion projects supported by new federal funding, states can take some advocacy lessons from Maine's popular Downeaster train.

December 20, 2021 - Governing

Supreme Court Statue

U.S. Supreme Court Upholds New York State Vaccine Mandate

Health care workers in New York will be required to be vaccinated against COVID-19 after the Supreme Court voted 6-3 to reject hearing an appeal brought by workers who had sought a religious exemption. Also, an update on the federal vaccine mandate.

December 20, 2021 - The New York Times

New York City Subway

How Rail Transit Ridership Changed During the Pandemic

Almost all heavy rail transit stations lost riders in 2020, but some stations lost far fewer riders than others. The data reveals lessons for transit planning beyond the end of the pandemic (whenever that happens).

December 20, 2021 - Urban Institute

Green Healthy Community

Place-Based Initiatives Would Win Big With Build Back Better Act

The Build Back Better legislation could bring much-needed support to place-based economic development programs.

December 19, 2021 - The Brookings Institution

Foreclosure Sign

The Pandemic Housing Market Is Not Like the Great Recession’s

The pandemic housing market may be a different beast from the recession market, but the outcomes could be eerily similar.

December 19, 2021 - Shelterforce Magazine

Residential Neighborhood

Fact Sheet: What Is a Housing Unit? What Are Group Quarters?

Most people live in housing units. But what counts as a housing unit? This article clarifies the basic concepts and provides examples using the Census Bureau’s guidelines. A clear definition is prerequisite for understanding an area's housing stock.

December 19, 2021 - PlanIt - Metropolitan Council

Large pickup trucks are parked in neat rows extending into the fuzzy background of the image.

Friday Funny? Cartoon Lampoons the Growing Size of Trucks and SUVs

The Nib takes on the latest trend in car culture: massive vehicles.

December 17, 2021 - The Nib

Amazon Warehouse

The Impact of Amazon Warehouses on Communities

Often located in low-income communities of color, Amazon's warehouses contribute to public health impacts like poor air quality, noise pollution, and traffic congestion.

December 16, 2021 - Consumer Reports

A vial of blood marked "Omicron" sits on top of paperwork indicating relevance to Covid-19.

'A Tidal Wave of Omicron Coming'

U.K. Prime Minister Boris Johnson sounded an alarm on the public health threat posed by the Omicron variant. On Monday, he announced that a British resident had become the first person in the world whose death is tied to the new variant.

December 16, 2021 - Daily Mail

New Orleans Freeway

How Federal Funds Can Benefit Freeway Removal Projects

The recently passed infrastructure bill dedicates $1 billion to freeway removal and capping, but the sum is only a 'first step' toward redressing the injustices perpetuated by urban highway projects.

December 16, 2021 - Streetsblog USA

Community Transit buses at the University of Washington, Seattle.

How Inadequate Transit Harms College Students

A lack of access to affordable and reliable transit is being cited as a major reason why many college students don't finish school.

December 15, 2021 - The Washington Post

Air Pollution

New Research on the Disparate Impacts of Air Pollution in the U.S.

Researchers at the University of Washington published a new study of the disparate impacts of air pollution in the United States

December 15, 2021 - The Washington Post

Washington State Electric Car Infrastructure

Biden Administration Plans for 500,000 Electric Vehicle Charging Stations

The Biden administration this week took ambitious steps toward a new era of automobile transportation in the United States.

December 15, 2021 - E&E News

Pedestrians

Bipartisan Infrastructure Bill Will Finally Make Carmakers Consider Pedestrian Safety

Pedestrian safety ratings for cars, drunk driving detection tech, and better headlights—these are just a handful of the automobile safety improvements that will benefit pedestrians as a result of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act.

December 15, 2021 - Angie Schmitt

Orenco Station

Opinion: Upzoning Isn't Just for Major Streets

The practice of limiting high-density development to busy arterial streets puts renters and low-income households at higher risk for the effects of air and noise pollution created on major roads.

December 15, 2021 - Slate

Parking

Repurposing Car Parking Can Improve Commerce

In spite of concerns from business owners about losing parking, research shows that retail benefits from better bike and pedestrian infrastructure.

December 14, 2021 - Bloomberg CityLab

Suburban House

Single-Family and Build-to-Rent Homes Growing in Size

As people perform more daily functions at home, homeowners and renters are seeking larger footprints to accommodate a broader range of uses.

December 14, 2021 - GlobeSt.com

Sunstar electric bikes displayed during the japanese festival in Geneva on the 7th october 2012

Why Are U.S. Policymakers Ignoring Electric Bikes?

The singular focus on EVs is making U.S. cities miss out on the opportunity to promote e-bikes as a more efficient and sustainable transportation mode.

December 14, 2021 - Treehugger

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.