United States

27 Towns for Working Artists

Art Calendar magazine presents its list of towns, cities and districts offering incentives or other benefits for artists living there.

January 5, 2009 - Art Calendar

A Second Federal Commission Pushes Fuel Tax Hike

Exactly a year after the National Surface Transportation Policy and Revenue Study Commission released its report calling for a fuel tax hike, the National Surface Transportation Infrastructure Financing Commission calls for much of the same.

January 5, 2009 - Takepart

Big Three a Hard Sell Among Young Folks

Research shows that of the ten vehicles most popular with 16-35-year olds, not one comes from the Big Three U.S. manufacturers. CampusProgress.org argues that it will take more than a bailout to attract younger customers.

January 5, 2009 - Campus Progress

Automatic Local Information

This article from Next American City looks at the strengths and weaknesses of the website EveryBlock.com, an automated, geography-based information aggregator.

January 4, 2009 - Next American City

Without Funding, State Transportation Projects Stall

Thousands of transportation projects across the country are being temporarily halted or canceled completely due to lack of funding. More than 40 states have been forced to cut back on transportation projects.

January 4, 2009 - The New York Times

'Consumption Amenities' Key to City Success

Cities that have fun things to do -- so-called "consumption amenities" -- are more successful at attracting people and growing jobs, according to a recent report.

January 4, 2009 - The Boston Globe

Job Growth Linked to Housing Supply

Job growth is slower in areas that don't have enough housing, according to a new study.

January 3, 2009 - The Boston Globe

Bridging the Broadband Gap in Inner Cities

As President Elect Obama delivers his weekly address via YouTube, half of all Americans don't have the broadband access necessary to watch.

January 3, 2009 - Business Week

Kunstler Predicts 2009

James Howard Kunstler predicts the Dow falling to 4000 by the end of the year, more dramatic swings in oil prices, and an overall contraction of services and the economy.

January 2, 2009 - Straight.com

Rand: Best Congestion Strategies Are Price-Based

In 2008, RAND Corp. conducted a study on mitigating traffic congestion in Los Angeles. They studied two types of strategies: conventional, e.g. signal timing, and market-based, e.g. increased the price of driving. The results were surprising.

January 2, 2009 - Gristmill Blog

Stripped Malls

Retail analysts predict a "sea change" in the retail landscape in 2009, with a record number of bankruptcies, closures and vacancies.

January 2, 2009 - CNN Money

A Place For Sustainable Food in Obama Administration?

This column looks at President-elect Barack Obama's food politics and wonders just how sustainable his administration's food policies will be.

January 2, 2009 - The Seattle Post-Intelligencer

SUVs And Light Trucks Make Comeback

Cheap gas, great deals, and winter weather resulted in SUV and light trucks resuming their dominance in vehicle sales in December, climbing to 51% of all sales, as Prius sales dipped 48% in November.

January 2, 2009 - CNNMoney.com

NYT Editorial And Column Push Gas Tax

A NYT editorial and NYT columnist Thomas Friedman both arrive at the same conclusion - some type of gas tax is essential for both the auto bailout and Obama's goal of greening the U.S. economy.

January 1, 2009 - The New York Times

A Glimpse at Incoming Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood

This brief profile in Time offers a look at newly-appointed Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood, in his own words and in the words of others.

December 31, 2008 - Time

Obama Plan: Stimulating The Economy Or Sprawl?

Obama has compared the size of the stimulus package he wants to the 1956 National Highway Act. If the states have their way, it may be just that -- a new highway bill with little left for transit.

December 31, 2008 - Bloomberg

One-Third of Americans Breathing Too Much Soot

People in 46 American metropolitan areas breathe air that exceeds federal soot levels, according to new figures from the Environmental Protection Agency. Nearly one-third of all Americans live in affected areas.

December 30, 2008 - San Francisco Chronicle

Federal Funding Seems Likely for California High Speed Rail

California transportation officials are confident that federal support will back up $10 billion in recently approved bond sales to fund the state's proposed high speed rail system.

December 30, 2008 - San Francisco Chronicle

Funding Sources Need Revision to Enable Obama's Highway Plans

President-elect Barack Obama's plans to update the nation's highway system will be limited by funding. Congressional transportation officials are calling for an update of the gas tax, among other changes.

December 30, 2008 - NPR

The End of America?

A Russian analyst is predicting the 2010 dissolution of the United States into at least six republics, each under the influence of foreign nations.

December 30, 2008 - Wall Street Journal

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.