United States

Internet Cables

The Urban-Rural Internet Divide

Access to high-speed Internet makes a huge difference in day-to-day life. The digital divide between urban and rural communities means some rural communities could be left behind.

June 19, 2017 - The Wall Street Journal via MSN Money

No Dumping

NACTO Releases New 'Urban Stormwater Guide'

The National Association of City Transportation Officials (NACTO) adds a logical supplement to their library of street design guides: a guide to stormwater infrastructure that is often built alongside or as part of road infrastructure.

June 19, 2017 - Next City

Plains Fire

Climate Change Redefining Wildfires on the Great Plains

Wildfires, exacerbated by climate change, are ravaging the Great Plains with new intensity, according to a new study.

June 18, 2017 - The Washington Post

New York Apartments

The Affordable Rental Housing Crisis Is Only Getting Worse

The headline from the latest report from the Joint Center for Housing Studies on the state of the nation's housing market focuses on a shrinking, broken rental market.

June 18, 2017 - Affordable Housing Finance

Tiny House Prefab

Throwing Some Cold Water on the 'Tiny Homes' Movement

Small square-footages might be in vogue, but would the occupants of tiny homes really pass up American-Dream spaciousness, given the chance?

June 17, 2017 - The New York Times

Walmart

Walmart Takes On Amazon By Testing Out Grocery Pickup Store Concept

The nation's largest brick and mortar retailer gearing up to fight rival Amazon's brick and mortar grocery concept.

June 16, 2017 - Modern Cities

DAPL Protests

Standing Sioux Tribe Wins Court Case on Dakota Access Pipeline

A federal judge ruled that the Army Corps of Engineers failed to fully comply with NEPA in allowing the controversial pipeline to cross under the Missouri River. The judge did not order Energy Transfers Partners to cease operations of the pipeline.

June 16, 2017 - NPR: The Two-Way

Trump Sign

When the Level of the Architecture Discussion Resembles the Level of the Political Discussion

Fancy renderings of fanciful ideas might make for "internet catnip," but they don't push the built environment toward healthier and more prosperous outcomes. Where have all the good ideas gone?

June 15, 2017 - The Architect's Newspaper

Nuclear Power

Communities Plan for Life After Nuclear Power Plants

Nuclear power plants around the country are shutting down. The communities where nuclear plants have been located for decades will now have to figure out how to rebuild their economies without them.

June 14, 2017 - Governing

Gas Station 7-Eleven

Odd Years are Good for Hiking State Gas Taxes

Already California, Indiana, Montana, South Carolina (overriding a governor's veto), Tennessee, and Utah* have raised gas taxes this year, while last year was a drought—only New Jersey increased its gas tax.

June 14, 2017 - The Council of State Governments

Plunger

Providence the Latest City to Get Toilet-Plunger Bike Lane

Bike advocates are plumbing new depths, with a growing trend toward placing plungers to act as separators for bike lanes.

June 14, 2017 - Bicycling

Bears Ears National Monument

Interior Secretary Wants to Reduce Bears Ears National Monument

Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke, in an early decision to come of a nationwide review of national monument designations, recommends that President Trump reduce the size of Bears Ears National Monument.

June 14, 2017 - The Wall Street Journal

Fast Food Restaurants

Transportation Access, Inactivity, and Obesity Play a Role in Cancer Deaths

As smoking related cancer deaths decline, other unhealthy lifestyle choices are quickly replacing it as a leading causes of cancer.

June 13, 2017 - USA Today

Road Construction

The Two Faces of Trump's Infrastructure Plan

The president spent Infrastructure Week touting a $1 trillion infrastructure investment plan that has yet to materialize, unlike the elimination of an essential grant program in his 2018 budget that will be detrimental to over 50 transit projects.

June 13, 2017 - The Washington Post

Austin

How State Governments Can Support Urban Revitalization

States have tremendous power to constrict or enable policy at the local level. A new report offer guidance in getting states and localities on the same page for the sake of urban revitalization.

June 13, 2017 - Lincoln Institute of Land Policy

Crosswalk

'Green Light for Great Streets' Initiative Aims to Remove Traffic Safety Roadblocks

Too often, the word "streamlined" is applied to transportation projects at the expense of safety and liveability. The National Association of City Transportation Officials (NACTO) would like to switch that dynamic.

June 13, 2017 - National Association of City Transportation Officials

Ohio

Awarding the Best Ideas for Successful Cities

The Knight Foundation asked: "What’s your best idea to make cities more successful?" When it came time to pick the best ideas, design and planning ideas for places like Wichita, Biloxi, and Akron emerged.

June 13, 2017 - The Architect's Newspaper

Main Street

New Web Based Tool Helps to 'Design Your Town'

A new tool produced by the Regional Plan Association, the Orange County Department of Planning, the Pace University Land Use Law Center, and the Lincoln Institute of Land Policy offers a starting point for people with big ideas.

June 12, 2017 - Regional Plan Association

Family Parking

The Next Baby Boom: Urban Millennials with Children

Affordable urban living for millennial families with children has the potential to become one of the largest market demands in the near future.

June 12, 2017 - Modern Cities

Seattle Public Art

The Best of the Best Complete Streets Policies

Complete streets policies are keeping planners busy across the country. An annual report features the best of the best when it comes to transforming city streets for the safety and activity of all users.

June 12, 2017 - 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.