United States

The Case For Including Quality In Travel Time Valuations

This study investigates the value travelers place on qualitative factors such as comfort, convenience, security and reliability, and practical ways to quantify these values for transport planning and project evaluation.

April 9, 2007 - Victoria Transport Policy Institute

Urban Areas Receiving Rural Aid

Billions of dollars in federal grants and loans intended for the development of rural areas have been given to areas The Washington Post has found to be far more urban than rural, including beach resorts and suburbs.

April 9, 2007 - The Washington Post

Calls For Foreclosure Moratorium In Wake Of Subprime Meltdown

As the subprime mortgage crisis worsens, civil rights organizations and Democratic presidential contenders alike are calling for a moratorium on foreclosures, but the mortgage industry is resisting.

April 8, 2007 - The Independent (UK)

Catastrophic Drought 50 Years Away For Southwest

Using sophisticated climate models, scientists are predicting a 15 percent loss of surface moisture by 2050. They suspect, but cannot conclude, that global warming is to blame.

April 8, 2007 - Los Angeles Times

Is There A Gender Gap In Commuting?

Randall Crane offers a blog post about his research of an exception to the gender gap: the trip linking work and home, which is consistently and persistently shorter for women than men.

April 7, 2007 - Urban Planning Research / Randall Crane's Blog

Hearing The Public

Utilizing citizen surveys to gauge public concerns and support for projects is an increasing trend in municipalities across the country. Some say this method is much more effective -- and more inclusive -- than traditional public hearings.

April 6, 2007 - Governing Magazine

The Best And Worst Cities For Safe Driving

Men's Health Magazine has rated the U.S. cities with the best and worst drivers. The three cities with the safest drivers are Des Moines, Iowa, Jersey City, New Jersey, and New York, New York. Columbia, South Carolina is the least safe.

April 6, 2007 - Men's Health Magazine

Metro Atlanta Tops U.S. Population Growth

Confirming what Atlanta residents have long sensed based on mind-numbing traffic and high-rise condo towers breeding like bunnies, the Census Bureau announced that the Atlanta region has added more residents since 2000 than any other U.S. metro.

April 5, 2007 - The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Western States Scramble For Water

Western states suffering from prolonged drought get proactive about water problems in the face of increasing demand. Projects include desalinization plants and a 280-mile pipeline to Las Vegas, but the fight over water is escalating.

April 5, 2007 - The New York Times

Should Gas Taxes Be Raised To Fund Public Transit?

While public transit trips have been increasing, funding the systems remains a chronic problem, illustrated by the woes facing the Chicago El. This editorial urges Congress to increase the gas tax to provide all transit systems more revenue.

April 4, 2007 - The New York Times

Dirty School Bus? Plug It In

Diesel school buses are typically high polluters. But production has begun on environmentally-friendlier electric-diesel hybrid buses, and school districts in 11 states have made orders.

April 4, 2007 - The Christian Science Monitor

What Changing Demographics Mean For Cities And The Housing Market

The nation's population trends can give planners insight into the demand for housing in the coming decades.

April 4, 2007 - The Brookings Institution

Public Libraries Cope With America's Homeless Problem

What library schools don't cover: The fact that public libraries are now de-facto homeless shelters, and librarians are having to act not only as social workers but also as frontline medical staff.

April 4, 2007 - AlterNet

Do We Need To Rethink Gentrification?

A growing number of scholars argue that traditional ideas about the causes of gentrification, as well as the winners and losers, may be unfit to describe the complex processes happening in modern day cities.

April 3, 2007 - The Boston Globe

Bush's Forest Management Plan Ruled Illegal

Federal forest management policy changes made by the Bush administration have been ruled illegal for not making proper environmental impact considerations.

April 3, 2007 - Washington Post via The Seattle Times

Retirement Communities That Reach For The Sky

Wealthy retirees who value city living over golf courses are creating demand for new urban, high-rise retirement communities.

April 3, 2007 - The New York Times

What Is The Risk Of Climate Change To Your Home?

A new web tool offers a way to check the climate risk of individual homes. The service is a collaboration between a private firm and three University of Arizona scientists.

April 2, 2007 - USA Today

Immigrants Are 'Saving' U.S. Cities

While some cities are attempting to drive immigrants out, others are welcoming them with open arms. As a Wall Street Journal writer asserts, "All booming American cities are immigrant cities."

April 2, 2007 - The Wall Street Journal

Why Kids Should Walk Or Bike To School

L.J. Williamson laments that many parents do not let their children walk, bike, or play outdoors fearing for their safety even as crime rates go down and concerns about childhood obesity-related ailments rise.

April 2, 2007 - Abhijeet Chavan

The Potential of Gentrifying Cities

Neal Peirce explores the capitalist and progressive potential of inner city housing in gentrifying cities.

April 1, 2007 - The Washington Post Writers Group

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.