United States
Autonomous Cars Putting Strain on Local Governments
As the industry pushes ahead in fits and starts, local officials and first responders are scrambling to develop protocols for handling driverless vehicles.
Getting Buy-in for Road Diets From Fire Departments
Proposals to narrow streets often meet resistance from emergency responders concerned about safety and access.
FHWA Issues Emissions Tracking Rule
The agency will require states to monitor transportation emissions and create plans to address air pollution.
FTA Proposes Measures to Prevent Transit Operator Fatigue
Public transit is the only type of transportation not already subject to ‘hours of service’ and fatigue risk management regulations.
The Variable Benefits of Streetcars
An analysis of several streetcar systems shows that they bring different benefits based on a community’s goals.
Study: Homeless People Face Higher Mortality Risk
Unhoused adults are more than three times as likely to die in any given year as their housed counterparts, research shows.
How ‘Daylighting’ Intersections Can Save Lives
Eliminating visual obstructions can make intersections safer for all users.
Greyhound Abandons Stations at Travelers’ Expense
As the company shutters stations, passengers are left without shelter, basic amenities, and often farther from central cities and transit connections.
EPA Launches Environmental Justice Grant Program
The agency says the program is designed to be more accessible to smaller and underresourced communities.
Planetizen’s Top Planning Books of 2023
The world is changing, and planning with it.
The Promises and Limitations of Modular Housing
Converted shipping containers offer the promise of fast construction and low costs, but face regulatory and accessibility challenges.
A Little-Known Loophole Puts Cyclists at Risk
Crosswalk laws in most U.S. states don’t offer legal protections to people on bikes, scooters, or mobility devices.
Pop-Up Shops are Reviving Dormant Downtowns
The future of downtown retail is uncertain. In the meantime, pop-ups fill the gaps and provide small businesses with unique opportunities to showcase their wares.
It’s That Time of Year: #BlackFridayParking
An annual social media project underscores just how much parking goes unused, even on the busiest shopping days.
‘Renters Bill of Rights’ One Step Closer to Reality
The Biden administration could strengthen tenant protections on a national scale by leveraging federally backed mortgages to mandate rent stabilization and bar discrimination in rental housing.
How Speed Governors Could Save Lives
Most personal vehicles can travel at speeds of over 100 miles per hour, far above any U.S. speed limit. Why?
Study: Office Conversions One-Third More Affordable Than New Housing
Where conditions are right for office-to-residential adaptive reuse, projects can be completed faster and at a significantly lower cost than new construction.
Commentary: Avoiding Ableism in 15-Minute Cities
One author calls on planners to challenge assumptions that exclude people with mobility challenges and other disabilities.
Mayors’ Meeting Focuses on Housing Crisis
As the number of unhoused Americans grows, mayors met to learn from each other and assess their needs for federal support.
How States Are Improving Accessibility for Parks and Trails
State parks are introducing adaptive mobility devices to help more visitors enjoy natural spaces.
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.
One Hundred Miles
County of Mendocino
planning NEXT
The Architects Foundation
University of Cincinnati Online
Montrose County
Northern Illinois Transit Authority (NITA)
The Pocatello Development Authority
