United States

Halloween a Deadly Reminder of the Failures of U.S. Traffic Safety
When it comes to pedestrian safety, Halloween has never been so frightening.

Study: Poor Air Quality Fuels COVID Transmission
Communities exposed to higher levels of air pollution experience higher rates of infection, particularly in areas with high population density.

Opinion: To Protect Biodiversity, Eliminate All Leaf Blowers
Electric and battery-powered leaf blowers have a reduced impact on pollution and human health, but our lawn care practices continue to harm plant and animal habitats.

Rural Areas Left Behind in Climate Adaptation Plans
While resources pour in for urban climate resilience projects, smaller communities often bear the brunt of extreme weather events.

Affordable Housing: 'In the Direct Path of Climate Change'
Managers of affordable housing at the deadly northern end of Ida's path review what worked, what didn't, and what we might need to abandon altogether.

Report: How The U.S. Could Meet Its 2030 Climate Goals
If policymakers don't take clear, immediate action, emissions reductions will fall short of the 50-52 percent goal set in Paris.

How to Make Universal Vouchers Actually Work
If Congress gave the Housing Choice Voucher program enough money to serve every income-eligible applicant, what other reforms would be needed so every voucher recipient could find a decent home in a suitable area?

Transit Dependence in the U.S. Cuts Across Geographies, Income Classes
Transit-dependent neighborhoods can be found in almost all major U.S. cities, according to a new analysis of Census data.

Coupling Housing and Mobility: A Radical Rethink for Freeways
An ambitious vision for freeways: intersections with dense, tall buildings and rights of way repurposed for high-speed, high-capacity public transit.

Improving Housing Through Trauma-Informed Design
A growing awareness of the link between the built environment and mental health has led some designers to examine the ways we can make housing feel more safe and welcoming for vulnerable populations.

The Central Myths of U.S. Car Culture
Five myths about highways that ensure a culture of car dependence.

Monitoring the Effects of the Pandemic on Metros and Cities
Eugénie Birch discusses cities' and metros' recoveries from the COVID-19 pandemic.

COVID Vaccination Strategy: What the U.K. and U.S. Could Learn from Israel
Cases are surging in the U.K. despite 68% of its population being fully vaccinated. Experts say that U.K. officials should observe how Israel, with 63% of its population fully vaccinated, managed to reduce transmission after a similar surge.

What COVID Taught About Mobility Justice
Transit agencies are waking up to the inequities in transportation systems—highlighted by the realities of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Spiking Rents Putting More People at Risk of Eviction
Housing costs across the country are becoming more and more unaffordable for low- and moderate-income households, a trend that began even before the COVID-19 pandemic.

Signs of Financial Distress Among Office Properties
The foreclosure risk facing a pair of high-profile office buildings highlight the debt difficulties facing the office sector as it deals with the fallout of the pandemic. The trend could be on the verge of picking up steam.

Amazon Shifting From Land Lessee to Land Owner
Amazon has been tending to buy when previously it would have leased, and the trend has massive implications for the industrial real estate market.

Greyhound Sold to the King of European Intercity Bus Operators
With revenue tanking during the pandemic, Greyhound has been sold from one European company to another—the new owner also happens to be the new kid on the Intercity bus block.

How Street Configuration Impacts Equity
With urban pollution and traffic violence disproportionately affecting communities of color, better management of public space and streets could improve equity in cities.

Study: Half as Many Metro Areas Affordable to Low-Income Homebuyers in 2021 as in 2020
Over 13 million potential first-time homebuyers were priced out this year, putting homeownership out of reach for low-income households in most of the largest U.S. cities.
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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.
Gallatin County Department of Planning & Community Development
Heyer Gruel & Associates PA
JM Goldson LLC
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
Transportation Research & Education Center (TREC) at Portland State University
Jefferson Parish Government
Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Claremont