United States

Report: Southwest Drought a 'Preview of Coming Attractions'
A NOAA-led task force warns that the drought facing the western U.S. will continue well into 2022 or later without serious efforts to mitigate human-caused global warming.

Survey: What Mobile Apps Are Most Useful for Planning in 2021?
Planetizen is requesting your input in creating the definitive list of mobile apps for professional, student, academic, or citizen planners—updated for a planning profession forever altered by the Covid-19 pandemic.

Single-Family Zoning Reform Only a Start
Opinion: To undo the consequences (intended or not) of a built environment dominated by single-family zoning, more than just a few three-plexes and accessory dwelling units will be required.

Breaking Down the Federal Bike Commuter Benefit
The flexible credit is meant to support a variety of bike-related expenses, including bike share memberships.

Robust Data and Community Trust Crucial to Achieving Equitable Transit
Experts say a deep understanding of communities and access to rich local data are necessary for improving transit service for all segments of society.

Who Really Needs 15-Minute Grocery Delivery?
New start-ups are promising ultra-fast delivery, but at a high cost to workers, the environment, and the urban fabric.

Report: Rural Communities Urgently Need Safer Transportation
Despite the reputation of rural America as "drive-through country," many residents depend on walking and transit to get around.
Church Vans Tackling Cleveland's Public Transit Problem
If you don't have a car, it's not easy to get from Cleveland's inner city to the good-paying jobs in the suburbs. But a program that puts underused church vans to work as shuttles is making an impact.

Transit Agencies Leasing Real Estate to Raise Revenue
As ridership revenues drop, more agencies are looking to diversify their income sources by leasing agency-owned land to developers.

FEMA Flood Insurance Updates Reflect Actual Risk to Each Home
Changes to how FEMA calculates flood risk will assess risk at a home-by-home level, rather than estimating the same risk to all homes in the same floodplain.

Opinion: Outdated Zoning Codes Stifle Growth and Development
Strict separation of uses may be an inefficient way to zone dynamic modern cities.

Planning Directors Commit to Change on Racial Inequities
Planning directors around the country have acknowledged the historic role of the planning profession in furthering the causes of racial discrimination and have publicly committed to change that history.

The Problem With Housing Choice Vouchers
Even with new funding proposed in the infrastructure package, voucher recipients face severe challenges in finding landlords that will accept them.

Partisan Splits for Transportation Politics
Researchers found that while left-leaning respondents were more likely to favor transportation reform and sustainable modes, conservatives are not as far behind as we think.

The Ethics of Autonomous Car Testing
In the wake of multiple fatal crashes involving Tesla's self-driving mode, ethicists suggest the need for a robust set of regulations governing the testing of AVs before more of them hit the road.

Federal Dollars Could Pave the Way for Greener, More Equitable Infrastructure
Houston's director of Transportation and Drainage Operations wants to see more sustainable development in the city that has historically depended on freeways as its critical infrastructure.

U.S. Rents Spiking As More Renters Enter the Market
All of the nation's largest metro areas are experiencing sharp growth in costs and demand for rental housing, posing even more challenges for low-income renters.

COVID and the Urban-Rural Divide
Researchers at the University of Iowa analyzed COVID-19 death data in rural and metropolitan counties and found that rural Americans have died at twice the rate as those living in more urbanized counties. The health divide will only widen.

Climate Action: As Simple as Riding an E-Bike
A new e-bike credit, if coupled with improved bike safety infrastructure, could encourage many Americans to replace short car trips with e-bike rides, reducing emissions and congestion.

Five Midwest States to Develop EV Charging Network
The governors hope the agreement will create jobs, reduce emissions, and encourage more widespread adoption of electric vehicles in their states.
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