United States

Close-up of 'To Trains' sign above blurred train platform in Washington, D.C.

Federal Grants for Passenger Rail Top $8 Billion

The Federal Railroad Administration announced the grants to dozens of projects for expanding or building new rail corridors.

December 11, 2023 - Mass Transit

Intersection with stoplights at night with one pedestrian waiting to cross.

Three-Quarters of U.S. Pedestrian Deaths Happen at Night

Unlike in comparable countries, U.S. pedestrians are most likely to die in traffic crashes during nighttime hours.

December 11, 2023 - The New York Times

Close-up of title of death certificate for state of California.

Understanding Mortality Risks Among Unhoused People

How tracking housing status at time of death can help policymakers identify when people are most vulnerable.

December 11, 2023 - Maine Morning Star

View from back of elderly man and woman holding hands and walking on a path in a park with fall colors.

Report: Housing Costs a Growing Concern for Older Adults

A growing number of older Americans are finding it difficult to downsize to smaller, more accessible, and more affordable homes while staying in their communities.

December 11, 2023 - Bloomberg CityLab

Colorful murals in freeway underpass in San Diego's Chicano Park.

Opinion: Enhancing Inclusive Development: The Crucial Role of the Creative Class in Urban Planning

How bringing local artists into the development process can foster more vibrant, equitable neighborhoods.

December 11, 2023 - Wells Davis

Woman bus driver sitting behind wheel of bus wearing long-sleeved shirt and yellow safety vest.

How Inequality Impacts Transit Safety

Transit workers are being assaulted by riders at alarming rates, and inequity may be partly to blame.

December 8, 2023 - Streetsblog USA

Aerial view of housingin Las Vegas, Nevada with desert mountains in background.

Where Are Millennials Moving to?

As the housing crisis rages on, four U.S. states are seeing high levels of new migration from young and middle-aged workers.

December 7, 2023 - Yahoo Finance

Group of sparrows sitting on decorative metal fence.

The Disparate Impacts of Urban Noise

Research shows higher levels of noise in formerly redlined neighborhoods, disrupting the health of both human and animal residents.

December 7, 2023 - Streetsblog USA

Row of multicolored three-story apartment buildings.

HUD Proposes Making Pandemic Eviction Protections Permanent

The proposed rule would apply to residents of multifamily housing supported by federal rental assistance.

December 7, 2023 - McKnight Senior Living

Red picnic benches in lush forested area in Griffith Park in Los Angeles, California.

Healing Neighborhoods Through Park Equity

Learn more about ways to improve park equity with Norma García-González, the director of the Los Angeles County Department of Parks and Recreation, and Catherine Nagel, the executive director of the City Parks Alliance.

December 6, 2023 - Resources Radio

Aerial view of industrial plant with large smokestacks, surrounded by smoke with sunset sky in background.

COP28: Will Developed Nations Reduce Emissions?

Tensions between developed and developing nations surfaced over emissions and energy, with the former focused on reducing fossil fuels and the latter pointing to unrealized emissions reductions from the nations most responsible for global warming.

December 6, 2023 - The Wall Street Journal

View of wetlands with lilypads at dusk.

States Scramble in Wake of Clean Water Act Ruling

The removal of federal oversight of wetlands has left millions of acres unregulated and erected major hurdles for lawmakers seeking to protect them.

December 5, 2023 - Pew Stateline

Milky Way in Big Bend National Park, Texas.

Turning Out the Lights on Light Pollution

Limiting light pollution can have beneficial effects for humans, animals, and the local economy.

December 5, 2023 - Smart Cities Dive

Close-up of exposed pipe in trench with blurred utility workers and yellow truck in background.

EPA Calls for Eliminating Lead Water Pipes in 10 Years

The mandate doesn’t include additional funding, prompting backlash from utility companies.

December 5, 2023 - Route Fifty

Green subway station entrance kiosk with brick buildings in background.

FTA Announces Accessibility Funding for ‘Legacy Stations’

The 2024 budget includes close to $350 million for accessibility improvements at transit stations.

December 4, 2023 - Federal Transit Administration

People walking on paved path in green city park with trees and tall city skyscrapers in background.

Green Spaces Benefit Neighborhoods—When Residents can Reach Them

A study comparing green space and walkability scores found that, without effective access to local parks, residents of greener neighborhoods don’t reap the health benefits.

December 3, 2023 - American Heart Association News

Blurred dense crowd of people with no recognizable faces walking in a busy city.

How Cities Can Avoid Perpetuating Segregation

Residents of big cities, known as the ‘melting pots’ of America, have fewer interactions with people outside their socioeconomic group than those in smaller communities, according to new research.

November 30, 2023 - Stanford News

Rows of solar panels on a large rooftop with office or industrial buildings in background.

US Building Emissions are Growing

Green building standards and efficiency retrofits are not keeping up with energy demand, resulting in a net increase in greenhouse gas emissions from buildings.

November 30, 2023 - Smart Cities Dive

Man with protective mask measures the moisture level on a white wall with green mold in an apartment.

In Rush to Build, Older Housing is Overlooked

Older homes provide an affordable housing lifeline, but poor conditions often lead to serious health impacts for residents.

November 29, 2023 - Bloomberg CityLab

Aerial view of suburb outside Dallas, Texas with large single-family houses with enclosed backyards and green lawns.

The Rise of Zoning Reform

As the housing affordability crisis spread from mainly coastal cities to the rest of the nation, cities and states are taking a serious look at outdated zoning codes that hamper efforts to build more housing.

November 29, 2023 - Bloomberg CityLab

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.