United States

Methane

Congress Fails to Roll Back Obama-Era Methane Emissions Rule

Current events that have nothing to do with the environment but everything to do with politics might have caused the defeat of a bill to overturn an Obama-era rule designed to reduce methane emissions on federal lands.

May 12, 2017 - The Washington Post

Portland

Study: The Quality of Bike Infrastructure Matters

Another study shows what should be obvious by now: the higher quality the bike infrastructure, the better the results in terms of safety and mode choice.

May 12, 2017 - American Journal Of Public Health

Highway

The Most Dangerous Highway in Each State

Florida is infamous for the lack of safety on its roads. A new interactive graphic of the nation's most dangerous highways does nothing to dispel that reputation.

May 12, 2017 - Geotab

Funny Girl

Friday Fun: A Playlist of Transit Oriented Tunes

This one's for the straphangers.

May 12, 2017 - CityLab

Highway Construction

Coming Soon: Trump's Infrastructure Plan

President Donald Trump teased the release of his promised $1 trillion infrastructure earlier this month. Here's how a collection of experts reacted to that prospect.

May 11, 2017 - Grist

Group Meet Up

Pokémon Go to Expand its Reach in the Community

The makers of Pokémon Go, touted for its potential to activate sedentary Americans since its release last year, will take more initiative to participate in community-based events.

May 11, 2017 - Fast Company Co.Design

Hospital Signs

Report: 20-Year Regional Disparities in Life Expectancy

Life expectancy may be rising in the nation as a whole, but in some areas it's going down. Regional gaps are widening.

May 11, 2017 - The Washington Post

Gas Pumps

States Increasing Gas Taxes, Again

After a slow 2016, four states this year have already passed state gas tax increases. South Carolina may be next if they override the governor's veto. A new analysis should help legislators do just that.

May 10, 2017 - Governing

U.S. Census

Turmoil at the U.S. Census Bureau as Director Resigns

John H. Thompson resigned on Tuesday from his position as director of the U.S. Census Bureau. Thompson served as director of the Census Bureau since 2013.

May 10, 2017 - The Washington Post

Apartment renter

Rents and Inequity Rising Together

U.S. landlords are getting a bigger share of the economic pie than they ever have before, according to new government data.

May 10, 2017 - Market Watch

Housing Construction

Making the Case for Wooden Buildings

Is mass timber the new frontier in low-carbon building? The National Building Museum's newest exhibition, Timber City, pays homage to the potential of tall timber structures which have strength comparable to steel.

May 9, 2017 - Doggerel

Backyard Pool

U.S. Housing Prices Still Haven't Recovered from the Great Recession

While some cities become more and more expensive, most of the country's housing prices still haven't recovered from the great recession.

May 8, 2017 - Bloomberg

New York Subway

Omnibus Spending Bill Will Save Transit Grant Programs—for Five Months*

Congress passed a $1.1 trillion omnibus spending bill to keep the government operating through September that also restores funding to transportation programs that the president had eliminated or greatly reduced. Trump signed the bill Friday.

May 8, 2017 - The Hill

Flodding

Middle Neighborhoods: On the Edge of Greatness or Distress

St. Louis provides the backdrop for a discussion about "middle neighborhoods"—the subject of a 2016 book by Paul C. Brophy.

May 8, 2017 - St. Louis Public Radio

Trick Biker

'Bikelife' Brings BMX Style to a New Generation

The Wall Street Journal introduces "Bikelife" to the masses, showcasing an another side to bike culture.

May 8, 2017 - The Wall Street Journal

Silicon Valley

Solar Power Turning Energy Consumers Into Energy Producers

As the energy grid evolves to accommodate more and more solar energy, conflicts emerge.

May 7, 2017 - 99% Invisible

Electric Cars

EVs Not Exempt From California’s Transportation Infrastructure Plan

Governor Jerry Brown and the California Legislature reached a historic agreement to raise the gas tax, but electric vehicle owners will now be required to pay a yearly fee, Will this impact EV sales in the US's best market?

May 6, 2017 - The Planning Report

Bridj Van

Bridj Comes to a Halt

Bridj's bet that it could, well, bridge ride-hailing and public transit didn't pay off. Lacking new investment, the company is shutting down.

May 5, 2017 - CityLab

Where It's Cheapest to Build Out a New Office

With so much attention paid to the nation's housing crisis, it's still important to keep an eye on other kinds of uses. The office market is full of surprises, like cheap office build out costs in a city infamous for residential gentrification.

May 5, 2017 - Globe St.

Chicago Lake Michigan Trees

Study: Greenery Improves Quality and Length of Life

Living near vegetation appears to be linked to a longer life and better mental health—for women, at least.

May 5, 2017 - CNN

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.