United States

Atlanta Sprawl

Too Many Roads Already

Henry Grabar argues that the United States has already too many roads, and the burden of maintenance costs and the sprawl encouraged by road-building should make new roads and bridges the country's last priority.

April 13, 2017 - Slate

Lawn Sign Liberalism

Seeing "No Matter Where You're From" signs in liberal-leaning towns makes me both smile and cringe. Why? Because I know the tolerant message belies the real feelings many have towards neighbors, not from other countries, but "other" neighborhoods.

April 13, 2017 - Shelterforce/Rooflines

Baker, California

More Sources Expressing Alarm at the Budgetary Fate of the 2020 Census

The Trump Administration's draft budget blueprint allotted a 10 percent increase in funding for the Census Bureau, but experts say that's not nearly enough funding in context of the decennial census's ten-year cycle.

April 13, 2017 - Science

Homeless Encampment

Mapping to Explain Homelessness in the U.S.

A team at Sasaki has created the "Understanding Homelessness" website, full of interactive features and one particularly helpful data visualization.

April 13, 2017 - CityLab

Eviction

Evicted's Stories of Housing and Poverty Earn the Pulitzer Prize

Housing experts have been reading and passing around "Evicted," by Matthew Desmond, since its release last year. Now the book has won the Pulitzer Prize for general nonfiction.

April 12, 2017 - Slate

Demonstration Project

Resources for Creating a Pop-Up Traffic Calming Demonstration

A how-to guide for concerned citizens and tactical urbanists interested in slowing down traffic in their community.

April 12, 2017 - Strong Towns

Parking Lots

Winner of the 2017 Parking Madness Tournament Announced

It's every Shoupista's favorite day of the year.

April 12, 2017 - Streetsblog USA

Children

Where Community Development Block Grants Money Goes

A Forbes contributor provides analysis of how much states stand to lose if the Trump Administration succeeds in cutting funding for the Community Development Block Grants program.

April 12, 2017 - Forbes

Neighbors

Nextdoor Looking to Expands its Influence on Local Politics

A decade into its history, the hyperlocal social media site Nextdoor is looking for feedback and hoping to expand its reach before the 2018 and 2020 elections.

April 11, 2017 - Politico

Medellin

Opinion: Gondolas Distract From the Realities of Transit

Gondolas seem to find their way into the public transit investment conversation again and again over the years, taking up space and air that could be devoted to more substantive issues of investment, maintenance, and operation.

April 11, 2017 - Streetsblog USA

BART Train

Can Public Transit Run on Solar Power?

California's Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) has recently been exploring ways to power its system using renewable energy sources, but is it really possible to power one of the state's "top 10 power consumers" with alternative energy?

April 11, 2017 - Doggerel

Border

Trump's Border Wall Would Bring 'Ecological Disaster'

Vox offers a feature length article, with lots of visual references, that tells the story of the ecological risks inherent with any plan to build a wall along the border between the United States and Mexico.

April 11, 2017 - Vox

Pokemon

A Few Ideas for Planning and Governance in the Digital Age

The Guardian samples prominent examples of digital natives bringing new expectations for the use of technology to the public sector.

April 11, 2017 - The Guardian

Cedar Rapids Flooding

A Toolbox of Green Infrastructure Solutions to Flooding Risks

A new one-stop shop for green infrastructure solutions is available to planners and engineers challenged by flooding.

April 11, 2017 - CityLab

Texas

Design Activism, Texas-Style

With suburban sprawl a long-standing issue in Texas, one San Antonio-based architecture firm is aiming to strengthen and revitalize its city's downtown core.

April 10, 2017 - Doggerel

Capitol Hill

Americans Are Ready for Tax Reform; But at the Cost of the Mortgage Interest Deduction?

Kenneth R. Harney reports on the possibility that lawmakers in Washington, D.C. could target the mortgage interest deduction as part of a Republican tax reform plan.

April 10, 2017 - The Washington Post

Capitol

Road to Infrastructure Bill May Run Through Freedom Caucus

Much talked about Trump infrastructure bill has yet to be written, but the president's failure to pass a health care bill in the House has drawn Congress watchers' attention to the Freedom Caucus and the impact they may have an infrastructure bill.

April 9, 2017 - The Hill

Atlanta streetcar

More Evidence for a Link Between Transit and Home Values

Judging from a statistical analysis by Redfin, there is in fact a positive correlation between home values and transit access. But that only applies in areas where transit and walking are already common modes.

April 8, 2017 - City Observatory

Retail

Is Payless ShoeSource Bankruptcy a Sign of the Coming 'Retail Apocalypse'?

The latest Chapter 11 in a familiar story.

April 7, 2017 - The Washington Post

Housing Construction

Ten Ways to Frame Constructive Housing Messages

There are lots of arguments available for people that want to oppose new housing projects, but what are a few guiding principles for framing a supportive and constructive housing conversation?

April 7, 2017 - Sightline Institute

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.