United States

New California Law Empowers Local Governments to Plan for Climate Adaptation
State Senator Bob Wieckowski is working to help communities get the necessary tools to increase capacity for climate resilience.

Could the Philadelphia Transit Strike Determine Who Becomes the Next President?
Hundreds of thousand of bus, trolley and subway riders (and potential voters) in Philadelphia have been left to find alternative means of transportation since Nov. 1 due to a strike by the local Transport Workers Union who work for SEPTA.

Poor Suburbs, Rich Cities: Popular Fiction
The false dichotomy of rich cities and poor suburbs is reductive and damaging.
Fatal Explosion in Gasoline Pipeline that Suffered Major Spill in September
A strategic interstate gasoline pipeline exploded in Alabama on Oct. 31, not far from the September spill site after an accidental strike by a track hoe, killing one and injuring five workers. Higher gas prices and long lines are anticipated.

When City Planning Fails: Taking a Single Hotel Development to the Ballot
What Happens When A Beverly Hills Developer Decides A Ballot Initiative Is Easier than the Planning Process?

Pedestrian Shaming Is the Wrong Way to Vision Zero
It seems like pedestrian safety campaigns that focus on the errors and guilt of pedestrians miss the point. Shaming pedestrians will not keep them safe, but safer streets will.

Amazon Planning to Open 2,000 Drive Thru Grocery Stores
Amazon plans to build 2,000 drive through grocery stores across the country.

How Los Angeles Redefined Mobility as a Service
Los Angeles Department of Transportation General Manager Seleta Reynolds discusses her vision for urban mobility and the growing role of city leadership.

Advocates to Harvard: We Don't Need Another Study
After receiving a large grant to study poverty and income inequality, the Hutchins Center of African and African-American Studies finds itself having to justify the need to study the problems, rather than spending that money on programs or services.

Small Number of Repeatedly Flooded Properties Account for Much of Flooding’s Cost
New policies may be needed to encourage more responsible development and keep builders from constructing structures that will inevitably be flooded.

The White House Announces a Big New Resilience Collaboration
The White House yesterday announced several initiatives aimed at improving awareness of resilience practices around the country. One of the initiatives has enlisted 97 universities and other organizations to train design professionals.

U.S. Gasoline Consumption Jumps Three Percent in First Six Months of 2016
Gasoline consumption continued to increase for the first six months of the year, as it has for the last years, reports the Federal Highway Administration. What's different this year is that it was by the largest amount, ever.

The Promise and Significance of Planning Month
This October, the American Planning Association celebrated National Community Planning Month, or #PlanningMonth for short.

U.S. District Court Judge Approves $14.7 Billion Settlement in VW Emissions Scandal
The record deal between Volkswagen, the federal government, California, and consumers directs $5 billion to states to mitigate air pollution. The remainder will be used to compensate consumers who purchased the tampered diesel cars.

Google Fiber Halts Expansion Plans
Alphabet will likely pursue other ways to deliver high-speed fiber-optic internet service.

Study: Children Benefit From Public Housing
New research challenges prevailing wisdom on the best kind of housing assistance.
Stunning Acquittal of Defendants in Standoff with Feds at Oregon Wildlife Refuge
Will the acquittal of seven defendants in a U.S. district court who used force to occupy the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge in Oregon last January embolden other takeovers of public lands by resentful ranchers or militia?

How *Not* To Do Economic Development
It's clear that New Jersey’s economic development planners didn't spend much time thinking about opportunity costs when they approved $1.1 billion in tax incentives under the Grow NJ program.
Facebook Ads Haven't Figured Out the Fair Housing Act
Facebook's advertising platform might run afoul of the Fair Housing Act of 1968—a reminder of the risks as new business models gain traction on the Internet.

Y Combinator's New Cities Project Gets Curiouser and Curiouser
The Silicon Valley start-up devoted to reinventing the city made a splashy hire this week.
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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