United States

Emergency Response

Sirens May Do 'More Harm Than Good,' Research Shows

The ear-piercing sirens used by emergency vehicles are shown to have little impact on patient outcomes while contributing to more dangerous road conditions, experts say.

October 21, 2021 - The New York Times

Detroit

How Legacy Cities Can Leverage Federal Funds for 'Transformative' Projects

Now is the time for cities to make strategic investments to scale up existing revitalization efforts.

October 21, 2021 - The Brookings Institiution

Housing Construction

Opinion: Biden's Housing Plan is 'Both Necessary and Excellent'

The housing programs proposed in the reconciliation bill could help millions of Americans who desperately need housing assistance and begin to mitigate the damage of a stagnant housing supply.

October 20, 2021 - The Week

Germany Capital City

What Housing Organizers in the U.S. Can Learn from Berlin's Re-Socialization Campaign

More than half of Berlin voters approved a non-binding referendum to resocialize a quarter-million apartments. What can housing organizers in the U.S. learn?

October 20, 2021 - Next City

Climate Change

Visualizing the Effects of Sea Level Rise on U.S. Cities

A report from Climate Central calls for urgent action, illustrating the potential devastating impact of even a small rise in global temperature on the coastline of major cities.

October 19, 2021 - Yahoo News

The exterior of the Natural History Museum of Utah.

ASLA 2021 Professional Awards Announced

The ASLA's 2021Professional Awards offer eye candy and design inspiration in equal measure—reflecting a profession continuing to increase its role in advancing social issues in the built and natural environments.

October 18, 2021 - American Society Of Landscape Architects

COVID-19 Pandemic

Boosters Bring Normalcy Back to Tel Aviv

Life in Tel Aviv is bustling again since COVID-19 vaccine boosters became accessible to anyone over 12 years of age. Traffic is now more of a concern than COVID, Mayor Ron Huldai told Bloomberg CityLab during a visit to 'quiet' Manhattan.

October 18, 2021 - Bloomberg CityLab

Hope VI Housing

New Public Housing? HUD Has Found a Way

For decades, the number of public housing units across the U.S. has been shrinking. But within the limits of the law and funding, HUD has figured out a way to get back some of the housing that has been lost.

October 18, 2021 - Shelterforce Magazine

Dry Lake in Arizona

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.

October 18, 2021 - Climate.gov

GIS Mobile App

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.

October 18, 2021 - Planetizen

Single-Family Housing Development

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.

October 17, 2021 - Joint Center for Housing Studies of Harvard University

Bike Commuter

Breaking Down the Federal Bike Commuter Benefit

The flexible credit is meant to support a variety of bike-related expenses, including bike share memberships.

October 15, 2021 - Streetsblog USA

Citibike 00001 jeh

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.

October 15, 2021 - Government Technology

Grocery Store Public Health

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.

October 14, 2021 - Vice News

Rural California Road

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.

October 14, 2021 - Streetsblog USA

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.

October 14, 2021 - Next City

Transit Oriented Development

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.

October 14, 2021 - Pew Trusts

Mexico City, Florida

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.

October 13, 2021 - Grist

Zoning map of Winnipeg, Canada, 1947

Opinion: Outdated Zoning Codes Stifle Growth and Development

Strict separation of uses may be an inefficient way to zone dynamic modern cities.

October 13, 2021 - The Market Urbanism Report

A Black LIves Matter Protest, with a protestor holding up a sign that reads "Open Your Eyes: Systemic Racism Is Real"

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.

October 13, 2021 - Next City

FREE Course: Walkable City 1: Why Walkability?

After describing his path towards focusing on walkability as the essence of good planning, Jeff Speck marches through his five principal reasons for making more walkable places.

Reinventing Malls: Planning Alchemy—Turning Gray Fields Into Gold

The course focuses on the opportunities and imperatives that shape reinvention of mall sites.

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.