United States

Publicly-Funded Stadiums Bad Deal for Cities

Sports teams often coerce cities into contributing public funds toward the building of new stadiums. Numerous reports indicate that it's a bad deal for cities with little to no positive economic impact, writes Neal DeMause.

August 21, 2011 - The Nation

Richard Florida Picks Hot Urban Neighborhoods

In USA Today, Florida picks 10 neighborhoods that give a "slice of local urban life," ranging from Miami's Wynwood and Design District to Fort Worth, Texas' West 7th community.

August 20, 2011 - USA Today

Expanding the Panama Canal On Time and Under Budget

Completed in 1914, the project was the most ambitious undertaking by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in its time. Today, the $5.25 billion upgrade is in the works.

August 19, 2011 - The New York Times

NYC Jumps on the Gravy (or, uh, Tomato) Train

Mayor Michael Bloomberg ramps up efforts to support NYC's growing urban food cluster via set up new legislation, signed yesterday.

August 19, 2011 - Initiative for a Competitive Inner City

The Trouble with Designing for Transit Preference

Suburban areas don't necessarily equate with car-dependence, according to some New Urbanist plans for far-out areas. But convincing residents to opt for transit can be a challenge.

August 19, 2011 - Scientific American

Behind the Decline in Driving

Driving is down in the U.S. and countries all over the world, according to a variety of studies. This piece from New Scientist looks into why the road is less traveled.

August 18, 2011 - New Scientist

Crime Dropping in Urban Areas

Crime in urban areas is on the decline. Some attribute the drop to increases in the amount of people returning to city centers.

August 17, 2011 - Governing

South Carolina's DOT Funding Predicament

The S.C. Dept. of Transportation is so broke that it won't be able to pay its contractors after meeting its payroll. It is depending on a payment from the FHWA and requesting additional reimbursements while rejecting federal funds for education.

August 17, 2011 - The (Charleston) Post and Courier

Court Sides with Sadik-Khan: Bike Lane Stays

The ruling by Judge Bert A. Bunyan of the State Supreme Court in Brooklyn on Tuesday added steam to the NYC transportation commissioner Janette Sadik-Khan's campaign for pedestrian-oriented, cyclist-friendly streets.

August 17, 2011 - The New York Times

Florida Found Most Dangerous Place for Pedestrians

Four Florida metropolitan areas recently ranked as the most dangerous places for pedestrians, according to a survey by Transportation America.

August 16, 2011 - New York Times

Psst - Wanna Buy A Parking Spot?

A new app puts parking spots on the open market, as drivers sell access to the spots they are vacating.

August 16, 2011 - GOOD Magazine

Poverty Aid Misfocused

As aid programs continue to focus on battling poverty in cities, suburban areas are becoming the new front lines.

August 16, 2011 - The Brookings Institution

Best Small Towns in the USA

A week after the Ames straw poll in Iowa brought all the hype to America's heartland, Money magazine announces its annual ranking of the nation's best small cities. The Midwest dominates the Top 100 list, with the Northeast coming in second.

August 15, 2011 - Money

Free Interstate Lanes Must Remain Free, States John Mica

House Transportation And Infrastructure Committee Chairman John Mica, R-Fl, in this opinion in the Orlando Sentinel, states his position on tolling the nation's interstate highways. He supports tolling only if applied to newly constructed lanes.

August 15, 2011 - Orlando Sentinel - Opinion

Deindustrialization and Vulnerability

An overdependence on offshore suppliers has left the American economy extremely vulnerable to disaster, writes political activist Matt Stoller.

August 15, 2011 - AlterNet

Multi-Million Dollar Student Housing in Manhattan

It is not uncommon for wealthy Chinese to spend seven figures - in cash - on real estate "as housing for children studying in New York."

August 15, 2011 - The New York Times

BMW Unveils Design Alternatives for BART

A follow-up to last month's story, BMW Group DesignworksUSA released three interior concepts - each one more posh and modern than the last - for BART's "Fleet of the Future." No spy shots needed.

August 15, 2011 - The Huffington Post

Invest in America's Infrastructure

A new report from an advocacy group called Build America's Future argues that investment in U.S. infrastructure is desperately needed to keep the country from falling behind.

August 14, 2011 - The Infrastructurist

Closing Coal Plants Difficult With Nation's Energy Needs

Across the heartland and the East Coast record heat waves have caused enormous electricity usage, but no blackouts have occurred. Yet there are concerns that EPA regulations that cause older coal plants to shut down could have dire consequences.

August 14, 2011 - The New York Times - Energy & Environment

The Overdue Pedestrianization of Chicago's Streets

To be released at the end of the year, the Draft Chicago Pedestrian Plan will primarily address safety issues that street users experience for decades.

August 14, 2011 - The Architect's Newspaper

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.