United States

Washington, D.C.

Federal Shutdown Threatens Rental Assistance Program

The ongoing shutdown of the federal government could begin to have terrible consequences for some of the nation's most vulnerable populations.

January 13, 2019 - NBC

Tolls, Not Gas and Sales Taxes, Will Fund I-81 Improvements in Virginia

Democratic Gov. Ralph Northam announced he is backing Republican legislation to toll all lanes of Interstate 81 to fund $2.2 billion in improvements along the 325-mile corridor, heavily used by trucks, from West Virginia to Tennessee.

January 13, 2019 - The Washington Post

On Demand Shuttle Operator to Cease Operations in Nine Cities

San Francisco-based shuttle operator Chariot, acquired by Ford Motor Company in 2016, will end its operations by March in the San Francisco Bay Area, Los Angeles, Seattle, Austin, New York, Columbus, Detroit, Denver, and London.

January 12, 2019 - San Francisco Examiner

Rail Trail rendering

Wanted: A More Proactive Approach to Stormwater Investment

As hurricane seasons get more destructive, a less reactionary approach to stormwater infrastructure investment may be needed.

January 12, 2019 - Brookings

Electric Car

Mileage Fee or Annual Fee for Electric Vehicles?

What's the best way to ensure that electric vehicle drivers pay to maintain the roads they drive on, considering they don't pay fuel taxes? A new report from the UC Davis Institute of Transportation Studies was sent to the California legislature.

January 11, 2019 - UC Davis Institute of Transportation Studies

Biking

Bike Commuting Down: American Community Survey Data

Bike commuters are increasing in some cities, but overall, fewer Americans are biking to work.

January 11, 2019 - USA Today

Robot car

Watch a Self-Driving Car Take Out an Autonomous Robot

Is this the future we've been waiting for?

January 11, 2019 - Daily Mail

Jiujiang power plant

U.S. Carbon Emissions Increased Last Year After a Three-Year Decline

The sobering news comes from the Rhodium Group, a research firm that tracks CO2 emissions. The preliminary estimate is the third in two months to show an increase in 2018, attributing it to an improved economy and Trump's regulation rollbacks.

January 10, 2019 - The Washington Post

Kid on Bus

Frequent Rider Miles for Buses

In Minneapolis and San Francisco, public transit agencies are considering loyalty programs to boost ridership.

January 9, 2019 - Forbes

San Francisco Tunnel Boring Machine

What to Expect From Transit Construction in 2019

Mixed results and high costs are to be expected among the 89 public transit construction projects underway in 2019.

January 9, 2019 - the transport politic

Pike & Rose Bethesda Maryland

Experiences Designed Into Suburban Developments

Live music, skating rinks, and artificial beaches are now part of developments that want to go beyond just simple shopping and dining.

January 9, 2019 - The Washington Post

Car Graveyard

More 'Car-Rich' Households Mean More Car Ownership

More people are buying cars, even while more people are choosing to go without cars.

January 9, 2019 - CityLab

Campaign Rally

Sources: Trump Administration Considering an Attack on Disparate Impact

The Supreme Court upheld the disparate impact doctrine at the heart of fair housing rules, along with many other anti-discrimination policies, in 2015. Still, the Trump administration is looking for ways to undermine disparate impact.

January 9, 2019 - The Washington Post

U.S. Census Bureau

Census Bureau Finally Has a New Director

The U.S. Census Bureau had been without an approved director since May 2017. The Senate unanimously approved Steven Dillingham to the position with about a year to spare before the 2020 Census begins.

January 8, 2019 - NPR

National Parks

Opinion: Close National Parks During the Shutdown

The consequences of allowing the public free access to national parks without any supervision or maintenance operations are to great a risk, according to a former director of the National Park Service.

January 7, 2019 - The Guardian

Tax

Fighting Climate Change With an Income Tax

There's been a lot of talk about the Green New Deal, but not that much is known about it. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.), who is promoting it, explained the program on 60 Minutes on January 6.

January 7, 2019 - Politico

Manhattan, New York City, New York

Birds of Passage: Quantifying Jacobs's Gloom

While the debate continues unabated on the influence of the physical and land use characteristics of a city on crime, a critical aspect is left out: resident transience. Jacobs took notice and feared its negative influence. Was she right?

January 7, 2019 - Fanis Grammenos

Multi-Modal Commute

D.C. Metro Allows Bikes At All Hours

The agency hopes that allowing more bikes on trains will boost ridership for both.

January 7, 2019 - Streetsblog USA

U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren (D - Massachusetts)

Democratic Presidential Contenders May Elevate Housing Policy

Housing measures fared well in the 2018 election, and it's likely that Democratic contenders for the presidency in 2020 have taken notice and will boost those issues in their campaigns.

January 6, 2019 - Curbed

Modern Apartment Building

Assessing Feasibility Studies for Inclusionary Zoning

Cities use the studies to inform decisions about inclusionary housing programs. But a closer look shows that there is great variation in the methods and metrics, with no one correct approach for every situation.

January 6, 2019 - Terner Center for Housing Innovation

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.