United States

Suburbs: The Last Frontier

As people move to cities and the outer suburbs begin to become more desolate, what will become of them? WorldChanging envisions the suburbs as the next frontier.

August 3, 2009 - WorldChanging

MPOs Have Scope, But No Power

As the regionality of urban planning issues becomes more clear, metropolitan planning organizations are uniquely suited to shape the policy response. But, according to this piece from Citiwire, they lack the power to do it.

August 2, 2009 - Citiwire

House Votes To Extend Clunkers Program

The Cash For Clunkers Program or CARS (Car Allowance Rebate System) received a major vote of confidence on July 31 when the House overwhelmingly voted to inject $2 billion into the enormously popular program.

August 1, 2009 - The New York Times - Business

Top Cities for Active People

Outside Magazine ranks the top 10 U.S. cities for people who like to exercise and be outdoors.

August 1, 2009 - Outside

How Policy Can Make Better Neighborhoods and Schools

A new study from The Brookings Institution discusses how school quality and neighborhood affordability are linked, and how both can be improved.

August 1, 2009 - The Brookings Institution

'Cash For Clunkers' Kaput?

The Fed's "Cash For Clunkers" program, which set aside funds to give people an incentive to trade in old polluting cars for newer models, is already reportedly running out of money. (VIDEO)

July 31, 2009 - ABC

$7 Billion Stop-Gap Measure for Highway Fund

On Weds., the U.S. House of Representatives approved $7 billion in stop-gap funding for road, bridge and transit projects until SAFETEA-LU can be reauthorized.

July 31, 2009 - The Washington Post

24% Reduction in Emissions Possible by 2050

Changing changing transportation habits and land-use patterns in America could result in a 24 percent reduction in carbon emissions by 2050, says a new report from Cambridge Systematics.

July 30, 2009 - The New York Times

Feds Take Action On Driving While Texting

Banning "DWT" - driving while texting, could soon become the next 'seat belt requirement' for states to avoid forfeiture of some of their federal highway funds if a Senate bill is to become law.

July 30, 2009 - The New York Times - Technology

Un-Damming America's Rivers

Dams are increasingly being removed in the U.S. as part of an effort to save fish.

July 30, 2009 - Good

'Invisible' Cities Want Bigger Role in Climate Bill

Officials in big cities are expressing disappointment that the House-approved climate bill looks to state capitals for guidance, not the metropolitan areas the bill will largely impact.

July 30, 2009 - The New York Times

A Cost-Benefit Analysis for High Speed Rail

In the first of a series of posts to the NYTimes' Economix Blog, Edward Glaeser explores the value of high-speed rail in the US.

July 29, 2009 - Economix Blog: NYTimes

Midwest Governors Coordinate to Seek High Speed Rail Funding

At the Midwest High Speed Rail Summit today in Chicago, an agreement was struck between eight states to work cooperatively to achieve Recovery Act funding to develop the Chicago Hub High Speed Rail Corridor - also called the Midwest corridor.

July 29, 2009 - Environmental News Service

U.S. Behind in Drive for Clean Energy

China, South Korea and Japan are all investing teh equivalent of hundreds of billions of dollars in clean energy technologies, while the U.S. is debating a mere 1.2 billion in the Waxman-Markey bill.

July 29, 2009 - San Francisco Chronicle

Jane Jacobs vs. Robert Moses

A review by John King of Anthony Flint's new book, Wrestling With Moses: How Jane Jacobs Took On New York's Master Builder and Transformed the American City.

July 29, 2009 - The San Francisco Chronicle

Reset America

Author Kurt Andersen's new book describes the last three decades as a period of wanton growth, from homes to waistlines. He sees the economic bust as a way to return sanity and size appropriateness.

July 29, 2009 - Boing Boing

Top Cities for Local Food

The Huffington Post offers a mouth-watering slide show of the top 10 cities for locavores, and asks readers for suggestions of examples they might have missed [Slideshow]

July 28, 2009 - Huffington Post

Builders Vs. Firefighters in National Battle Over Sprinklers

A fierce battle is brewing over new requirements for sprinklers in homes. Firefighters say the sprinklers are needed, but builders say the Sprinkler Code Coalition is having undue influence on code development.

July 28, 2009 - The Center for Public Integrity

Incentives for Energy Efficiency Expanding

The Department of Housing and Urban Development and the Federal Housing Administration are looking to increase energy efficiency incentives for homeowners, including opportunities for larger home loans.

July 28, 2009 - Los Angeles Times

Countering the High Costs of Paratransit

A huge but largely under-noticed portion of public transit money goes to paratransit -- equipment and services to transport disabled people. Now, cheaper alternatives are emerging.

July 28, 2009 - Governing

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.