United States
Chinese Bullet Train to Come to American Southwest
America's third planned high-speed rail line received good news on Sept. 17, by entering an agreement with China Railway Group to receive $100 million to start building the 230-mile line from Victorville, Calif. to Las Vegas.
Is Tactical Urbanism a Thing?
A review of the book by Mike Lydon and Anthony Garcia asks the question. The answer is a clear "yes."
Surveying the Academic Findings about Gentrification and Displacement
Gentrification is neither a quick nor an easy study—as many Planetizen readers know. But what has been discovered thus far, and what obstacles to more understanding need to be overcome?
Cities Honored for Smart Growth
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's 13th annual Smart Growth Achievement Awards recognize communities that lead the way in compact, walkable growth.
New Census Data Shows Lack of Improvement on Income, Poverty
While the Census Bureau reported impressive findings on the reduction of Americans without health insurance last year, there was nothing impressive in the numbers on income and poverty, notwithstanding an increase in employment.
Census Reveals the States Where the Affordable Care Act Has Insured the Most Residents
If the goal of the Affordable Care Act is to reduce the percentage of Americans without health insurance, new Census data shows it's doing just that. Americans without health insurance fell by three percent last year, or 8.8 million people.
When Publicly Funded Stadiums Gut Neighborhoods
In Atlanta—and throughout the country—city politicians have proven willing and eager to support stadium construction. But though these facilities are marketed as economic drivers, they often cause steep declines instead.
Online Retail Curbs Urban Traffic
Despite claims that urban truck traffic continues to rise, recent data shows no real increase in urban vehicle miles traveled. Online shopping may be helping keep people off the roads.
The problems of success in the new urban era
Cities face challenges associated with rising values, an influx of more educated residents, and gentrification. Here's what cities can do.
Friday Funny: The Onion Discovers New Gentrification Indicators
The satirical site The Onion has been consistently roasting the contemporary conversation about urban living.
Tips for Writing Better Planning Documents
Writing may not be the key focus for urban planners, but it is a necessary skill for better communicating with the public on important planning issues, writes Clement Lau, a Los Angeles County planner.
21 Winners Selected for Federal TOD Planning Grants
$19.5 million was awarded to 21 planning projects that will leverage transit investment for land use benefit.
Marohn Debates O'Toole
Charles Marohn, known as a reformed traffic engineer that launched Strong Towns, recently debated Randall O'Toole, known as the anti-planner. Recommended for understanding the conflicts that arise on the right side of the political spectrum.
How the Media 'Walk-Shames' Pedestrians
Innocent until proven guilty—unless you're a pedestrian in the court of opinion.
How Social Impact Bonds Close the Funding Gap
The number of social impact bond programs in the United States has expanded quickly, to eight, with examples found in Massachusetts, New York, Ohio, Utah, and, now, California.
What's the Rush on the Highway Bill Reauthorization?
Surprise! A three-month transportation funding bill turns out to have funds for nine months! While unanticipated funds certainly sound like good news, it also takes immediate pressure off the House to working on a six-year reauthorization bill.
Walkability: It's About Experience
The Surgeon General's call to action, Step It Up, asks us all to get moving. And that to do that, to clear the hurdles to walkable, bikeable, rollable places. We knew that sitting is the new smoking, and now we have the full admonition to go with it.
More on the U.S. Surgeon General's Historic Pro-Walking Stance
The idea that Americans should walk rather than drive: "a radical idea wrapped in a banal government document."
Urban Greening: A Solution to Blight and Toxic Stress?
The economic consequences of urban blight are obvious: depressed property values for individuals and increased maintenance costs with reduced tax revenue for local government. What is less recognized is that urban blight is making residents sick.
Women in Architecture Awards Announced
The Architectural Record recognizes five women for their contributions to the study and practice of architecture.
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.
One Hundred Miles
County of Mendocino
planning NEXT
The Architects Foundation
University of Cincinnati Online
Montrose County
Northern Illinois Transit Authority (NITA)
The Pocatello Development Authority
