Exclusives

Washington D.C. - The National Mall

PLANOPEDIA

What Is the City Beautiful Movement?

Known for grand buildings and sweeping green spaces, the City Beautiful movement combined philosophy and architecture into a powerful planning ideology that still drives urban design into the present day.

December 2 - Diana Ionescu

Empty Road

BLOG POST

The Roadway Expansion Paradox

Motorists want expensive roadway expansions provided that somebody else foots the bill, but when required to pay directly through tolls, the need for more capacity often disappears. What should planners do?

November 28 - Todd Litman

The New York Public Library's stone lions Patience and Fortitude have donned face masks to remind New Yorkers to wear face coverings during the COVID-19 pandemic.

FEATURE

The Top Urban Planning Books of 2021

Planetizen's annual list of the top urban planning books of the year is here—maintaining a tradition that dates back to 2002.

November 26 - James Brasuell

A black and white photo of U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg.

BLOG POST

The Bill is Signed; What’s Next?

The work begins, particularly for the folks at the U.S. Department of Transportation.  Whether you are a transportation official, a consultant, or a weekend transportation policy wonk, here are a few things to consider.

November 23 - Robert Fischer

Baltimore Rowhouses

FEATURE

'Supporting Shrinkage': Lessons for U.S. Cities

An excerpt from "Supporting Shrinkage: Better Planning and Decision-Making for Legacy Cities," written by Michael P. Johnson, Justin B. Hollander, Eliza W. Kinsey, and George R. Chichirau and published by SUNY Press.

November 22 - Michael P. Johnson


An image of President Joe Biden at a meeting in the White House while wearing a mask in February 2021.

BLOG POST

More Details of the $1.2 Trillion Federal Infrastructure Bill

There's plenty of room for analysis and discussion in a $1.2 trillion bill, so Planetizen's coverage of the historic bill continues.

November 21 - James Brasuell

Montgomery County

BLOG POST

Land Costs and Housing Costs

One common argument against upzoning is that it increases land costs—but land costs rose in the most restrictive markets as well as the least restrictive ones.

November 18 - Michael Lewyn


Wide shot of bridge overpasses under construction at the intersection of GA 400 and I-285 on July 22, 2019 in Atlanta, GA.

BLOG POST

Key Details of the $1.2 Trillion Federal Infrastructure Bill

With President Joe Biden scheduled to sign the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act today in Washington, D.C., Planetizen shares insight into the fine print of the historic bill.

November 15 - James Brasuell

A group of people gather around an information booth to share ideas about the future of South Street in Philadelphia.

FEATURE

It's Time for Public Participation to Evolve With Transportation Planning

A manifesto by planning and transportation professionals committing to hearing all voices during public engagement processes.

November 15 - Marisa Denker

An aerial view of Teotihuacán, with the modern settlement of San Juan Teotihuacán in the background.

BLOG POST

Deep History, Ancient Wisdom, and Modern Planning

David Graeber and David Wengrow’s new book, "The Dawn of Everything: A New History of Humanity," offers an important counter-narrative to the usual history of cities that’s rich with implications for urban scholars, policy-makers, and planners.

November 14 - Dean Saitta

Cool shops along Melrose Avenue in Los Angeles.

FEATURE

An Expanded Approach to the Analysis of Cities

Even with so much data in the world, cities are a slippery subject. What if an everyday part of life in cities—the "scenes" comprised by businesses, people, and practices of similarly distinct aesthetics—can help our understanding?

November 11 - Martha Frish

Port of Los Angeles

BLOG POST

Zoning and the Global Supply Shortage

Zoning has been blamed for a lot of things in recent years, but a global supply crunch increasing prices and creating shortages of household goods—and potentially ruining the holidays—is a new one.

November 10 - James Brasuell

Rittenhouse Square, a park in Philadelphia, framed by large buildings.

BLOG POST

Sun and Parks

Some people fear tall buildings near parks, asserting that such buildings will reduce sunlight. But because many parks are a block or more wide, this impact is likely to be minimal.

November 10 - Michael Lewyn

Electric Cars

BLOG POST

The Best Cities for Owning an Electric Car

Electric vehicles are a relatively new technology, and cities are still developing compatible infrastructures. Here are some of the best cities to own EVs right now.

November 9 - Devin Partida

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

BLOG POST

Historic 'Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act' Passes Final Hurdle in Congress, Heads to Biden for Signature

Months after the Senate voted to approve the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act in a historic moment of bipartisan legislation, the House of Representatives put the finishing touches on a $1.2 trillion bill with $550 million in new spending.

November 8 - James Brasuell

A public plaza along a main street in downtown Wheaton, Illinois.

FEATURE

Suburban Revival: How the 21st Century will Redefine Life Outside the City

America’s suburbs are increasingly diversifying, expanding, and evolving as COVID-19 and new economic realities shape behavior. New stories are unfolding in these suburban places as they change and grow. Is it time for a suburban revival?

November 7 - Chris Freda

Downtown Skyline

PLANOPEDIA

What Is Infill Development?

Billed as an alternative to urban sprawl, infill development encourages the development of underused or vacant land in existing urban areas to increase density and place new development near existing resources and infrastructure.

November 5 - Diana Ionescu

San Fernando Valley

BLOG POST

Why and How Do Cities Plan for Extreme Heat?

C.J. Gabbe at Santa Clara University and Greg Pierce at the University of California, Los Angeles write about their recently published article in the Journal of Planning Education and Research.

November 1 - JPER

Venice Beach Pedestrian and Bike Path

PLANOPEDIA

What Is Micromobility?

Micromobility is an umbrella term encompassing a variety of small, generally low-speed vehicles and conveyances that can be electric or human-powered and privately owned or part of shared fleets.

October 29 - Diana Ionescu

Agrihood

PLANOPEDIA

What Is Conservation Development?

Conservation development combines the development of land with the protection of natural resources.

October 28 - James Brasuell

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.

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.

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