United States

Plaque with City Hall engraved

What Is the Best Way To Run a City?

City management models offer different benefits and drawbacks.

December 13, 2022 - Governing

Row of white two-story townhomes with black trim

When Zoning Reform Isn’t Enough: How To Boost Missing Middle Housing

For upzoning efforts to result in a significant rise in new housing units, cities and states must do more than just change zoning codes to ensure missing middle housing is easy and affordable to build.

December 13, 2022 - Terner Center for Housing Innovation

Screeenshot of Social Vulnerability Index (SVI) tool from CDC

Using Data to Identify and Prioritize the Most Vulnerable

The Social Vulnerability Index (SVI) is a resource that can be used by public agencies to identify parts of a community that are most in need of investment.

December 13, 2022 - National Recreation and Park Association Open Space Blog

Playground

How Big Data Informs Park Planning

Data analysis and research by national organizations are helping to ensure equitable distribution and provision of parks and recreational facilities.

December 12, 2022 - On Common Ground

Detroit, Michigan

Placemaking Redefined by a New Era of Federal Investment

Six tips for ensuring that new placed-based funding programs, such as the Build Back Better Regional Challenge, achieve the full potential of a new era of place-based federal investment.

December 12, 2022 - Brookings

Volunteers wearing masks moving pallets of water bottles during February 2021 storm in Austin, Texas

How Mutual Aid Increases Community Resiliency

Recent devastating weather events highlight the importance of community connection in keeping people safe when infrastructure fails.

December 12, 2022 - Next City

A computer generated graphic of a man loading 2022, approaching 2023.

Planetizen's Top Posts of 2022

The most popular articles on Planetizen in 2022.

December 12, 2022 - James Brasuell

Group of people waiting in line at polling place

Brookings: A Demographic Post-Mortem of the Midterms

Young adults, according to a deep dive analysis by Brookings Metro demographer William Frey, were a key demographic group responsible for stopping the red wave that most polling predicted as the likely outcome of last month's midterm elections.

December 9, 2022 - Brookings

Biketown

Roadways for People: The Necessity of Collaboration

Breaking down planning silos to ensure transportation options in a car-oriented world.

December 8, 2022 - Lynn Peterson and Elizabeth Doerr

View from back of two elderly people sitting on park bench

How Neighborhoods Impact Older Adults’ Resiliency to Climate Change

New research seeks to learn how homes, neighborhoods, and communities affect how older residents are affected by climate change.

December 7, 2022 - Joint Center for Housing Studies of Harvard University

Aerial view of small rural community in Kentucky with ild rolling hills and sparse development

Rural Communities Growing Faster Than Cities

After a decade of sustained population loss, rural America is bouncing back thanks to shifting demographics and pandemic-induced migration.

December 7, 2022 - Carsey School of Public Policy

Gray houses under construction

U.S. Housing Least Affordable in History

American households are spending more of their income on housing than at any other point in recorded history.

December 7, 2022 - The Real Deal

Bike Lane in Philadelphia

Opinion: The Case Against Bounty Laws

Recent proposals that would reward citizens for reporting bike lane violations could further damage social cohesion and create a ‘narc economy.’

December 7, 2022 - StreetsBlog NYC

Rendering of Juneteenth Museum

The Best, Worst, and Most Questionable in 2022 Architecture and Design

A list of innovative projects, intriguing design, and flummoxing failures.

December 6, 2022 - Medium

The website for Project Sidewalk shows a street with a menu for identifying issues with mobility infrastructure.

Top Websites for Urban Planning - 2022

Every year, Planetizen collects the websites breaking new digital ground in the world of planning and related fields.

December 6, 2022 - James Brasuell

Roundabout

The ‘Quiet Roundabout Revolution’ Sweeping U.S. Cities

Roundabouts, which can dramatically improve traffic safety, have been slowly proliferating across U.S. cities over the last two decades.

December 5, 2022 - The Washington Post

Machine spraying white crosswalk lines on street

How Tactical Urbanism Succeeds Where Bureaucracy Fails

Making the case for do-it-yourself infrastructure.

December 5, 2022 - Bloomberg CityLab

Amtrak Sunset Limited train viewed from the side passing low desert hills in West Texas

$4.3 Billion for Amtrak Expected to Modernize Stations and Trains

The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act of 2021 has provided funding for Amtrak to make some sorely needed improvements throughout the system.

December 5, 2022 - Smart Cities Dive

Empty New York City street during the COVID-19 pandemic with #NYSTRONG billboard in foreground.

From ‘Urban Exodus’ to ‘Urban Doom Loop’

The initial shocks of the Covid 19 pandemic have become more persistent, and it’s time to start wondering what comes next for the communities on either side of the changes.

December 4, 2022 - The New York Times

Rendering of Van Ness Avenue with Bus Rapid Transit

Some States Use More Highway Funding for Transit Than Others

A news study brings the receipts on state and regional transportation spending.

December 2, 2022 - TransitCenter

Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools

This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.

Planning for Universal Design

Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.

Senior Manager Operations, Urban Planning

New York City School Construction Authority

Building Inspector

Village of Glen Ellyn

Manager of Model Development

Central Transportation Planning Staff/Boston Region MPO

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.