United States

Rendering of Samara Backyard ADU

That ADU Would Make a Nice Airbnb

An Airbnb co-founder is jumping in the pre-fab backyard cottage game—but will too many ADUs become short-term rentals to make a difference for housing costs?

November 25, 2022 - Curbed

View of vacant lot in Manhattan through chain link fence

How Low Land Taxes Contribute to the Housing Shortage

The relatively low cost of holding on to vacant lots leads to underdevelopment in what are often prime residential areas.

November 23, 2022 - The Wall Street Journal

View of cars in traffic jam from behind

How to Beat the Turkey Day Traffic

The best and worst times to undertake your Thanksgiving drive.

November 23, 2022 - The Washington Post

Heritage Rail Trail County Park, York, Pennsylvania with railroad next to unpaved walking/biking trail and sun filtering through green trees

Rails-to-Trails Conservancy Issues 2022 Grants

The organization awarded 25 grants for projects that promote outdoor recreation and access to trail facilities for underserved communities.

November 22, 2022 - Rails-to-Trails Conservancy

Wood-framed apartment building under construction with red crane in background

America’s Housing Shortage Is More Dire Than We Thought

How much housing does America need to reduce soaring prices? Potentially more than anyone has estimated.

November 22, 2022 - The Atlantic

Light rail train passing under apartments in Pasadena, California

Feds Award $13 Million for Transit Oriented Development

The Federal Transit Administration selected 19 projects aimed at boosting development, affordable housing, and connectivity to transit.

November 22, 2022 - Mass Transit

People sitting at outdoor dining tables next to bike lane protected by delineators and three-story buildings in Dublin, Ireland

Where Car-Free Streets Won Out

While some open streets experiments have met with backlash from community members, others were so successful they led to permanent changes.

November 22, 2022 - Next City

Blueish tinged shot looking up at modern glass office buildings

Office Conversions More Popular Than Ever

The adaptive reuse of non-residential buildings has soared in recent years as demand for office space drops and the housing shortage deepens.

November 21, 2022 - Smart Cities Dive

Blue FLEX bus with "Request & Go" text on side, woman rider boarding

Microtransit Gains Momentum With Public Transportation Agencies

On-demand van services are competing with ride-hailing and filling some crucial gaps in public transit networks.

November 17, 2022 - InTransition Magazine

"No Boats" sign on dry Lake Mead bed

Colorado River Compact Needs 21st Century Update

While the historic agreement set a new precedent for water rights, its inherent flaws, growing demand, and the threat of climate change make much of it obsolete for today’s needs.

November 16, 2022 - High Country News

Close-up of a pile of Census 2020 forms

Detailed 2020 Census Data Coming in 2023

The data release was delayed in part so that the agency could implement a new privacy policy aimed at protecting the identities of respondents.

November 15, 2022 - Poynter Online

Aerial view of New Orleans port with cranes and barges and skyline in background

Proposed Legislation Sounds Alarm on Mississippi River Drought

Without concerted restoration efforts, the river’s historically low levels could dramatically impact shipping activities and economic development throughout the region.

November 15, 2022 - American Rivers

Electric big rig truck plugged into charging station

How Utilities Can Prepare for Vehicle Electrification

As more electric cars and trucks hit U.S. roads, large charging stations could require as much power as a small town.

November 15, 2022 - Bloomberg Green

Sidewalk curb cut painted with blue and white disability symbol

Why Accessible Sidewalks Fall by the Wayside

Despite the passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act more than 30 years ago, most U.S. cities delay making accessibility improvements to sidewalks until activists bring them to court.

November 15, 2022 - Streetsblog USA

Small autonomous bus vehicle in Helsinki, Finland

Opinion: Regulation Must Precede the Mass Rollout of Autonomous Cars

The time to craft a comprehensive set of regulations governing safety, privacy, accessibility, and equity is now.

November 14, 2022 - Next City

A close up image of the exterior of the U.S. Capitol Rotunda illuminated at dusk.

Elizabeth Warren Points to Development as a Path for Electoral Success

An op-ed written by Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-Massachusetts) details Democrats’ recent track record of large-scale capital investments and calls for more.

November 14, 2022 - The Washington Post

Electric Scooters

Scooter-Share Company Tosses Financial Reports

Bird was counting money in customers’ digital “wallets” as revenue, and has admitted that financial statements from 2020 and 2021 “should no longer be relied upon.”

November 14, 2022 - The Verge

The sign for a WeWork office appears at the exterior of a brick high-rise in a dense downtown.

Seeking a Post-Pandemic Comeback, WeWork to Close More Offices

WeWork isn’t dead yet, hoping to ride post-pandemic interest in flexible workspace to a comeback story for the ages. There are still cuts to be made, however.

November 14, 2022 - CoStar News

Crosswalk

Putting Pedestrians First

Improving road safety starts with considering the safety of people outside cars early and often.

November 14, 2022 - The Seattle Times

The High Cost of Free Parking

The United Nations Calls on U.S. Planners to Break Land Use, Transportation Status Quo

“We are on a highway to climate hell with our foot on the accelerator.”

November 13, 2022 - Greater Greater Washington

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.