United States

Taking On O'Toole

Ryan Avent at Streetsblog calls Randal O'Toole's anti-transit arguments "transparently foolish."

June 3, 2009 - Streetsblog

Census in a Fortune Cookie?

The U.S. Census Bureau is putting marketing messages in soaps and fortune cookies in foreign languages in an attempt to improve the number of participants.

June 3, 2009 - USA Today

Buy Frank Lloyd Wright's Falling Water for $100

LEGO and the Wright Foundation have launched two new sets to honor the architect's centennial.

June 3, 2009 - The Architect's Newspaper

Win $50,000 by Solving Congestion

A new contest challenges planning professionals and ordinary people to submit their solutions for improving congestion in the United States.

June 2, 2009 - SF.STREETSBLOG.org

Making Cities Net Producers of Energy

Professor David Godschalk, City and Regional Planning, University of North Carolina -Chapel Hill, discussed the need to initiate 'positive development' strategies in cities during a National Building Museum symposium.

June 2, 2009 - THE DIRT

The Pedaling Revolution

PEDALING REVOLUTION: How Cyclists Are Changing American Cities by Jeff Mapes, a political reporter for The Oregonian and long-time bike commuter in Portland, details how cycling and advocacy are changing America's urban landscape.

June 1, 2009 - The New York Times - Sunday Book Review

Moore Says, Save GM by Killing GM

Michael Moore marks the GM bankruptcy by calling for the preservation of its industrial infrastructure in order to build sustainable transportation systems.

June 1, 2009 - michaelmoore.com

Transit Stops Increase Property Value- But Why?

Sam Staley argues that the increase in property values around transit stations isn't attributable to increased ridership, and in fact the locations with the least investment had the highest ridership.

June 1, 2009 - The Business Journal (Fresno)

What About the Uncreative Class?

Columnist Josh Leon agrees with Richard Florida's assessment that greater mobility would be better for the economy and the creative class, but wonders what will happen to the immobile and un-creative.

June 1, 2009 - Next American City

LaHood To Learn From Spain On HSR

Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood is visiting Spain, hoping to glean some knowledge from the country's recent successes with high-speed rail.

June 1, 2009 - The New York Time - Energy & Environment

Best Cities for Jobs

Kiplinger's picks its 2009 Best Cities list, and in this tough economy decides to put the emphasis on job creation and stability. Number one? Huntsville, Alabama.

June 1, 2009 - Kiplinger's

Underused Natural Gas Capacity

Our underused natural gas capacity could almost completely replace our current coal-generated energy, argues Sean Casten, President & CEO of Recycled Energy Development.

May 31, 2009 - Grist

Rethinking Tax Abatements

Cities across the country are reconsidering tax abatement plans, in the new belief that cities just can't afford them.

May 31, 2009 - Next American City

School Sprawl

The American Academy of Pediatrics has released a new report focusing on the effect of the built environment on children's health. Access to parks, the ability to walk to school, and opportunities for 'incidental exercise.'

May 30, 2009 - American Academy of Pediatrics

Green Developments Getting Green Light

Developers are finding it easier to get funding for sustainable building projects due to federal incentives and investor interest in green certification.

May 30, 2009 - Apartment Finance Today

Is Smart Growth Successful?

The Lincoln Institute of Land Policy has undertaken the first significant study to find out if state smart growth policies are achieving their stated goals.

May 29, 2009 - Lincoln Institute of Land Policy

AASHTO Releases A National Rail Vision

The American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials has released a report, "Achieving the Vision: Intercity Passenger Rail" to guide investment of the $8 billion Recovery Act and future funding on passenger and freight rail.

May 29, 2009 - AASHTO Press Release

U.S. Towns Facing Disincorporation

Small towns like Mesa, WA and larger ones like Vallejo, CA may be forced to dissolve in light of their worsening finances. Local counties will need to absorb residents.

May 28, 2009 - The Wall St. Journal

An "Urban Presidency"?

While Mike Madden finds President Obama's approach to America's cities is a vast improvement over that of the Bush administration, he wonders why it has yet to deliver on its promise.

May 28, 2009 - Salon.com

Fixing America's 'Food Deserts'

Time Magazine looks at the problem of 'food deserts' in America- usually low-income communities that groceries have spurned, leaving only fast food and bodegas to fill the bill.

May 28, 2009 - Time

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.