United States

Lake Mead 'bathtub ring'

Colorado River Water Crisis Deepens

The states that rely on the Colorado’s water must make drastic cuts in water usage to maintain use of the West’s most important—and most threatened—water source.

October 3, 2022 - NPR

Rendering of hydrogen storage tank with solar panels in background

Two New Clean Energy Programs Funded by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law Unveiled

The U.S. Department of Energy announced two new programs last month that are funded by the $1.2 trillion Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act: $7 billion to create regional ‘hydrogen hubs’ and $4.9 billion to ‘manage and store carbon pollution.’

October 3, 2022 - U.S. Department of Energy

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

Senate Bill Would Support Rural Tenants

With housing costs skyrocketing, a proposed bill would extend assistance and help preserve affordable rental housing in rural areas.

September 30, 2022 - The Daily Yonder

Flooded street with palm trees bending in the wind during Hurricane Irma in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida

Ian's Test

One of the most powerful hurricanes to hit the mainland United States in decades will be a major test for a governor with presidential aspirations as well as his constituents in the nation's third most populous state.

September 30, 2022 - Politico

Row of curbside electric vehicle chargers with black car approaching in background

Feds Approve Nationwide EV Charging Funds

A key approval from the Federal Highway Administration unlocks funding for electric vehicle charging stations and infrastructure in all states and territories.

September 29, 2022 - Smart Cities Dive

First-Time Buyers

The Vanishing American ‘Starter Home’

Rising land costs, expensive materials, and onerous building and lot size requirements are making it harder to build small, affordable ‘starter homes’ in the United States.

September 28, 2022 - The New York Times

For sale sign with SOLD sign pasted over it in front of white suburban house

Remote Work a Key Factor in the Rise of Home Prices

The shift to work-from-home policies drove more than 60 percent of the dramatic recent growth in U.S. house prices, according to a Fed study.

September 28, 2022 - Bloomberg

View from inside driver's seat of car with autonomous technology, with yellow rectangles highlighting obstacles in road

NACTO Fights Autonomous Vehicle Safety Exemptions

Two major automakers have petitioned for the right to test thousands of vehicles without major safety features such as brake pedals and steering wheels.

September 28, 2022 - Streetsblog USA

A wooden sign on the side of a road welcomes visitors to Priest Lake in Idaho.

Manchin’s Permitting Bill, Supreme Court Case Could Dramatically Alter the Clean Water Act

The future of the Clean Water Act could look much different after fossil fuel interests and the Supreme Court done with it.

September 28, 2022 - The Washington Post

Miami and Key Biscayne

The Great American Exodus: A Conservative's Perspective

During his keynote speech on September 11 at the National Conservatism Conference in Miami, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis describes the demographic shifts in America since he became governor in 2019 in what he calls the 'Great American Exodus.'

September 27, 2022 - The Wall Street Journal

Electric cars parked curbside and charging on a city street

Building Electric Vehicle Infrastructure for All

Advocates warn that an inequitable distribution of EV charging facilities could lead to ‘charging deserts’ that will prevent widespread adoption of EVs in low-income communities.

September 27, 2022 - Grist

Overpasses over freeway in Los Angeles, California

Rethinking Highway Expansions

The tide may be turning—albeit slowly—against new road construction and expansion in favor of more climate-friendly alternatives.

September 26, 2022 - Governing

Portland Transit

Promoting Diversity in Transit Leadership

Latinos in Transit works to connect and empower people of color to increase diversity in management roles at transit agencies.

September 25, 2022 - Smart Cities Dive

Screenshot of gameplay window with popup: "Error. Can't build in NIMBYville!"

A NIMBY Simulator Pokes Fun at All-Too-Real Issues

A classic game gets a sardonic update for the modern world.

September 25, 2022 - Bloomberg Culture

Suburban Homes

Where Housing Costs Are Falling Fastest

Although median home prices remain close to record highs in many cities, some of the country’s priciest metro areas are seeing home prices plummet.

September 23, 2022 - Bloomberg

Self-Driving Cars

Will Autonomous Cars Live Up to Their Potential?

A new report details the promise and perils of the growing autonomous vehicle industry.

September 23, 2022 - Smart Cities Dive

Close-up of car windshield with Uber sticker on city street

There Goes the Neighborhood? The Trickle-Down Effect of High Ride-Hailing Prices

Low-cost Uber and Lyft services helped some neighborhoods thrive, making them more accessible. Now these same neighborhoods are feeling the pinch as high ride-hailing costs push customers to stay closer to home.

September 22, 2022 - Bisnow

Outdoor Dining

Revamped Curb Management Strategies Among Pandemic Changes Likely to Stick in Cities

With so many more people working from home, ordering delivery, and moving around the public realm in new ways, advanced curb management strategies are among the pandemic-era innovations likely to stick long into the future.

September 21, 2022 - David Thom

Telecommute

D.C., San Francisco Lead Pandemic Work From Home Trend

Remote work increased threefold during the pandemic, but the numbers vary significantly from city to city and region to region. Almost half of D.C.-area employees, for example, worked from home in 2021, according to American Community Survey data.

September 20, 2022 - The Washington Post

Copenhagen Bikes

The Inflation Reduction Act's 'Inadequate' Reliance on Electric Vehicles

Electric vehicles can help reduce greenhouse gas emissions, but not enough to prevent the worst of climate change and not as much as walkable cities with far fewer cars on the road.

September 20, 2022 - Urban Institute

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.

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.