United States

Stimulus Projects Bring Delays to Nation's Roads

Thousands of stimulus-funded transportation projects are underway this summer, creating thousands of delays on the nation's roads.

July 22, 2009 - The Christian Science Monitor

Worst Water Contamination Coverups in U.S. History

Contaminated water is bad news for cities, unless nobody knows about it. This post from Good looks at some of the most notorious water contamination cover ups in recent U.S. history.

July 21, 2009 - Good

Study Showing Danger of Cellphone Driving Buried

The former head of the NHTSA has admitted that he was encouraged to bury the results of a study showing the mounting risk of cellphone use by drivers. The study is being released today under a Freedom of Information Act request.

July 21, 2009 - The New York Times

Why Can't Americans Get Their Heads Around Roundabouts?

They're safer, faster, require less fuel use and enhance public space. So why do Americans tend to reject proposals for roundabouts?

July 21, 2009 - Slate.com

Is New Urbanism Conservative-Friendly?

A conservative Christian reporter attended the Congress for New Urbanism this year, and found that many New Urbanists support strategies that don't fit neatly into Democratic or Republican platforms.

July 21, 2009 - WORLD Magazine

Crime Dropping in Major Cities

Crime is down in big cities across America, leaving experts wondering why.

July 20, 2009 - The Washington Post

Oberstar Predicts The Future of Transportation

In this radio interview covering high speed rail, streetcars, bicycling, and paying for the proposed $500 billion transportation bill, Chairman Oberstar of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee discusses the future of transportation.

July 20, 2009 - Living on Earth

Don't Give Me Your Tired, Your Poor?

New studies rank cities based on the extent to which they "criminalize homelessness."

July 20, 2009 - NPR

Where City Rankings Fail

Worldchanging's Alex Steffen looks at the recent city rankings compiled by the Natural Resources Defense Council and says the method of measurement doesn't really prove how sustainable a place is -- or how it's improving.

July 20, 2009 - WorldChanging

Putting the 'Urban' in 'Suburban'

The suburbs are steadily becoming more urban, with denser development, taller buildings, and a greater mix of uses.

July 20, 2009 - USA Today

Most Sustainable Cities in the U.S.

Grist brings us this list of the top 15 sustainable cities in the U.S.

July 19, 2009 - Grist

The Importance of Bicycle and Pedestrian Infrastructure

Pedestrian and bicycle infrastructure is a part of transportation, whether some elected officials like it or not. In this piece from Citiwire, Neal Peirce writes that this fact is becoming increasingly clear.

July 19, 2009 - Citiwire

How Does Fuel Fuel American Lifestyles?

Americans will be forced to change their lifestyles as fuel prices rise. NPR's "Talk of the Nation" talks to author Chris Steiner about the good that might result.

July 19, 2009 - National Public Radio

China's Urban Policy Leaps While U.S. Lags

China's fast-paced development is making it into a major economic power. Its emphasis on urban policy is leaving the U.S. in the dust, writes Eugenie Birch.

July 18, 2009 - Citiwire

Randal O'Toole: The Man, The Contrarian

In the wake of his appearance on Capitol Hill, The New York Times delves into what makes Randal O'Toole tick.

July 17, 2009 - The New York Times

R.I.P. Julius Shulman

Julius Shulman, famed popularizing mid-century modern architecture through his photographs, died yesterday at the age of 98. In his honor, The Architect's Journal features some of Shulman's photographs and commentary.

July 17, 2009 - The Architect's Journal

GE's Home of the Future

General Electric has released a design for a Home of the Future, which is planned to be almost completely energy-neutral. As GOOD Magazine notes, the house is almost overloaded with gadgets to get you there.

July 17, 2009 - GOOD Magazine

Congressmen Propose Water Trust Fund

A group of U.S. representatives has proposed the creation of a national trust fund for water infrastructure in the U.S.

July 17, 2009 - Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel

Make No Big Plans

Salon's Michael Lind argues that attempts to create "comprehensive reform" of anything is a recipe for disaster.

July 16, 2009 - Salon.com

Urban Bees in Brooklyn

Beekeeping is on the rise in urban areas, despite laws to the contrary. Some beekeepers are concerned about the decline in bee populations and are doing their part to change that- other see it as a way to nurture local food movements.

July 16, 2009 - The Christian Science Monitor

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.