United States

TRB Report Evaluates Densification & VMT Reduction

A new Transportation Research Board study examines the relationship between land use and carbon emissions - specifically reduction of vehicle miles traveled resulting from densification and the shape of new growth to come.

September 8, 2009 - Streetsblog

Best Cities to See Live Music

Here's another way to rank your city- the Society of American Travel Writers surveyed their members on the Top 10 cities to see live music. New Orleans comes in over Austin, home of the famed SXSW festival.

September 8, 2009 - Society of American Travel Writers

A Region-by-Region Look at "Shovel-Readiness"

NPR looks at a few of the areas that have submitted proposals for high-speed rail funding.

September 8, 2009 - National Public Radio

Friday Funny: Honolulu Tackles B.O. on The Bus

The Honolulu City Council is considering a bill that will make it illegal to bring "odors that unreasonably disturb others" onto the bus.

September 4, 2009 - Honolulu Advertiser

Biden Says Aid to Cities 'Imperfect'

Speaking to members of the Brookings Institution, Vice President Joe Biden acknowledged that there have been problems with implementing the stimulus package funds at the local level.

September 4, 2009 - Streetsblog

Cities Facing Turf Questions

Water saver or environmental hazard? Questions are compounding about artificial turf as more homeowners ditch their grass for fake lawns. Contradicting city policies muddy the issue in the arid Southwest.

September 4, 2009 - Miller-McCune

Following the Path of the Meltdown

A new documentary tracks the meltdown of Wall Street and its impact on housing throughout the country. The New York Times offers this review.

September 3, 2009 - The New York Times

Quality vs. Time in Transportation

Alex Marshall points out the fallacy of creating transportation policy based solely on figures like miles traveled per hour, average commuting times, and cost per passenger. Quality of the time spent commuting is rarely taken into account.

September 3, 2009 - Governing Magazine

New Study on the Benefits of Density

A new report from the National Research Council seeks to establish the scientific basis for the relationships among development patterns, VMT, and energy consumption. So what did they find?

September 3, 2009 - Reconnecting America

Pop-Up Stores Find New Popularity in Bad Economy

Pop-up stores -- stores that fill retail space for a couple of quick months, than vanish -- were once scoffed at by retail landlords. Today, they're plugging holes in the retail economy.

September 2, 2009 - Retail Traffic Magazine

Recession Taking A Bite Out of City Budgets

A new report from The National League of Cities shows that declining property and sales income is impacting city coffers, resulting in layoffs and cuts to construction projects.

September 1, 2009 - The Wall St. Journal

Chicago Schoolchildren to Ride Greener, Safer Buses

As the new school year starts, Chicago Public Schools yellow buses will be upgrading to new technologies including GPS, mobile data terminals (MDT), and adding hybrid buses.

September 1, 2009 - Chicago Sun-Times

Balancing Rail Passengers, Freight, and Sustainability

Caltrain, the California passenger rail train, intends to electrify its rail system by the time high-speed rail comes online. This is at odds with freight railroads, however, and may lead to an increase in trucks on the road.

August 31, 2009 - San Jose Mercury News

Development Comes to a Halt, as Obscure Agency Loses Funding

Two jobs in the Howard County Soil Conservation District were cut on Friday, leaving developers with plans in for review in the lurch. Officials are scrambling to find funding to get development rolling again.

August 31, 2009 - The Washington Post

Broadband Stimulus Grant Requests Flood In

The application period has opened for federal stimulus grants to fund broadband Internet access projects in underserved areas. The response has been overwhelming.

August 31, 2009 - USA Today

States Cutting Economic Development Budgets

Retail Traffic Magazine reports that money-starved states like California are raising taxes on commercial property and gutting local economic development agencies, hurting developers.

August 31, 2009 - Retail Traffic Magazine

Can Living in a Bad Neighborhood Make You Fat?

A new study of public high school students suggests a connection between obesity and feeling unsafe in one's neighborhood.

August 31, 2009 - ABC News

Tarmac 2.0

New solar road technology could both absorb solar energy for electricity and provide a changeable LED grid that could respond to traffic conditions.

August 31, 2009 - autobloggreen.com

Moving Beyond "Town Brawls"

The health care reform town halls are just the latest evidence that traditional forms of public engagement are no longer effective and in fact can be counterproductive, writes Sandy Heierbacher.

August 30, 2009 - Yes! Magazine

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.

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.