United States

Pumping Gas

10 States Where the Gas Tax Is Highest

As the gap between gas tax revenue and transportation funding needs widen across the country, the funding mechanism is drawing increased scrutiny from both public officials and consumers.

June 9, 2024 - The Ascent

For rent sign with blurry house in background

DOJ Investigating Corporate Landlords for Criminal Conspiracy

Lawsuits allege corporate landlords used property management software RealPage to cooperatively raise rents. The impact on the Atlanta rental market appears to be broad enough that the Feds are investigating for potential criminal conspiracy.

June 9, 2024 - Popular Information

Aerial view of downtown Seattle, Washington.

Top 5 US Cities for Office-to-Residential Conversions

As more and more cities look to adapt vacant office buildings into homes, a new analysis from Urban Institute says some cities will benefit more than others.

June 7, 2024 - Urban Wire

Close-up of floor fan operating with blurred woman sitting at table in background.

Cooling Costs to Hit 10-Year High This Summer

Longer, more intense heat waves are driving up cooling costs and putting low-income households at higher risk for heat-related illnesses.

June 5, 2024 - Smart Cities Dive

Heavily damaged white small SUV parked on street with heavy tornado damage and leveled houses in Mayfield, Kentucky.

The Growing Role of Federal Government in Disaster Relief

As flooding, fires, and other disasters become more destructive, an effective response requires more resources than local governments can offer.

June 4, 2024 - Governing

A wooden gavel with gray background filled with a stack of books.

Home Equity Takings Case Will Move Forward, Federal Judge Rules

Two plaintiffs in Greenfield, Massachusetts, have accused city officials of violating the Takings Clause after the city foreclosed on their properties to recoup unpaid property taxes and then kept all the equity.

June 4, 2024 - Greenfield Recorder

Close-up of white delineators with red stripes denoting green painted bike lane in Berlin, Germany.

Study: Bike Lane Prompts Reduced Traffic Speeds

Marking a bike lane with cones or other delineators can dramatically reduce driving speeds in adjacent traffic lanes.

June 4, 2024 - Rutgers University—New Brunswick

View from inside large cave with ancient Mogollan cliff dwellings in Gila Wilderness, New Mexico.

The Changing Nature of Wilderness

U.S. public lands management is undergoing a slow but significant shift.

June 3, 2024 - High Country News

hand holding house key with house-shaped keychain and house in background

New Playbook Aims to Accelerate Housing Supply in the US.

As communities across the country work to address massive housing shortage and affordability issues, a new guide from the American Planning Association and the National League of Cities can help decision-makers chart a clear path forward.

June 3, 2024 - American Planning Association

Closed, boarded-up two-story motel behind chain-link fence.

Hotels Top Offices for Adaptive Reuse

Changes in tourism and travel behavior and demand are prompting more conversions of hotels to apartments.

June 2, 2024 - Multifamily Dive

Aerial view of cars evacuating flooded residential neighborhood in Florida.

Combating Climate Gentrification in Vulnerable Communities

As extreme weather forces more Americans to relocate to safer areas, this climate-driven displacement impacts not just those who flee high-risk areas, but also the communities they can displace from their new homes.

June 2, 2024 - Lindsay Brugger

Close-up on red and white "Coming Soon" and "For Sale" signs in front of single-family homes on sunny day.

How the ‘Housing Trap’ Keeps Housing Unaffordable

The financialization of housing uncouples housing prices from local supply and demand. Fixing this requires a new approach.

May 31, 2024 - Strong Towns

Manzanita tree against red rock desert background.

Planting for the Future: The Urban Trees of Tomorrow

How urban forest managers are preparing urban tree canopies for tomorrow’s climates.

May 30, 2024 - Wired

 The west tunnel entrance to the Oceanside Water Pollution Control Plant in March 2020 with O and A letters missing in Oceanside.

San Francisco Takes on EPA in Supreme Court Case

The Court has agreed to hear an appeal challenging federal water pollution regulations.

May 30, 2024 - San Francisco Chronicle

Panorama Close up of pedestrian traffic light signal against blue sky and bright clouds.

Traffic Safety Efforts Chug Ahead — Too Slowly for Some

Around the United States, traffic deaths are growing or plateauing, yet efforts to make roads safer still face political opposition.

May 30, 2024 - KFF Health News

Colorful vacant, boarded-up two-story rowhouses in East Baltimore, Maryland.

States Move to Limit ‘Squatters’ Rights’

A wave of new legislation targets people who reside illegally in properties they don’t own.

May 30, 2024 - Smart Cities Dive

Worker in yellow safety vest holds clipboard and stands in front of parked red and white train in maintenance center building.

Report: Transit Agencies Face Imminent Staffing Crisis

Already understaffed, most of the nation’s transit agencies will need to replace a majority of their workers due to retirement, but recruitment efforts are not yet keeping up with the need.

May 29, 2024 - Governing

Bird's eye view of multi-lane road with dedicated bus lanes.

Cities Are Building More Bus and Bike Lanes. The Challenge: Keeping Cars Out

Bus-mounted and stationary cameras are becoming a popular tool for enforcing bus and bike lane regulations and keeping dedicated lanes clear.

May 28, 2024 - Smart Cities Dive

Bird's eye wide view of schoolyard with coated pavement.

Cool Pavements Show Promise as Part of Urban Climate Resilience Strategy

Results from a pilot project in Los Angeles show that cool pavement treatments can serve as a key tool in a city’s climate resilience strategy.

May 27, 2024 - Dr. Haider Taha

Tree lined residential street in the historic West Village neighborhood of Greenwich Village in Manhattan, New York City.

Sibling Study Highlights Impact of Green Neighborhoods on Public Health

More evidence that access to green spaces and walkable communities improve public health outcomes.

May 26, 2024 - University of Maryland

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.