Exclusives
FEATURE
Planners Across America: Philadelphia on the Rebound
Garry Jastrzab, executive director of the Philadelphia Planning Commission, explains how a new comprehensive plan and a focus on the public realm guide the city as it searches for a balance between the old with the new.
BLOG POST
The Water Wars Are Here, Sort of
Ambiguity in a mid-century water compact has Texas and New Mexico before the Supreme Court.
BLOG POST
Substance, Style, and the Success of the 606
The Bloomingdale Trail, the star attraction of the 606 in Chicago, has been compared to NYC's High Line. But with its restrained design and focus on high-use activity, it is nothing like it, and, in certain ways, it's even better.
BLOG POST
Economic Benefit of Increasing Neighborhood Walkability: Is it a Myth?
Researchers from Texas A&M blog about their study of the economic benefits of walkability in neighborhoods in Austin, Texas.
FEATURE
A Counterpoint in the Great Uber Dialogue
An op-ed counters concerns about the social equity consequences of Uber by allowing the possibility of public benefits arising from transportation network companies.
BLOG POST
The Economics of Rent Control
A simple explanation of why strict rent control reduces housing supply, and why moderate rent control does so to a much lesser extent.
FEATURE
Crises and Innovation Converge on San Francisco Planning Director John Rahaim's Watch
The latest installment of the Planners Across America series interviews John Rahaim, planning director for the City and County of San Francisco, about the heightened passions and perpetual controversies of planning in the City by the Bay.
BLOG POST
Travel Demands Are A-Changin', and That's Good News
According to "The End of Traffic & the Future of Transport," demographic, economic and technological trends are changing travel demands. In the future, people will prefer to drive less and rely more on alternatives. Not everybody has got the message.
BLOG POST
Different Spokes for Different Folks
Bike sharing and rental systems are becoming more inclusive, considering the needs of those with disabilities and children. And systems are expanding based different uses people have for different types of bicycles.
FEATURE
A Planning Primer: Validating the Lived Experiences of Immigrants
A few key considerations, implemented during a public engagement process, can ensure active and engaged participation from commonly marginalized groups and individuals.
BLOG POST
Oregon Is Not Just Portland: Planning a Sustainable Economy in Peripheral Areas of the American West
Dr. Robert Young of UT-Austin guest blogs about his work on the challenges of promoting sustainable development in peripheral areas of Oregon.
FEATURE
A Tale of Two Neighborhoods: TOD, Fair Housing, and Economic Mobility
"Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing"—as a new rule by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development proposes to do—can vary widely, even in the same city.
BLOG POST
What HUD's Been Up To
The new "Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing" rule may impose additional paperwork burdens on local government, but is unlikely to cause major policy changes.
BLOG POST
Using Technology to Create Better Traffic Counts
Tired of standing on a street corner to count traffic? Technology is automating traffic counts and providing more detailed and accurate data to support planning.
BLOG POST
10 Keys to Making A Great City Plan
Too many city plans represent business-as-usual, sit on a shelf collecting dust, or miss the chance to reflect a truly game-changing moment in the direction of a city. Want your new city plan process to result in a great plan? Consider these 10 keys.
BLOG POST
An Equitable Recovery? New Orleans Ten Years After Katrina
University of New Orleans Professor Dr. Anna Livia Brand writes about the shortcomings in the recovery planning process in post-Katrina New Orleans caused by unaddressed racial inequality.
BLOG POST
Oakland Is Cool
Building on its physical assets, city planners are succeeding in efforts to bring vitality to the Uptown district in Oakland, CA by supporting new housing development and enlivening what was once a preeminent arts and entertainment district.
FEATURE
What We Didn't Learn From Katrina
Cities are immensely complex self-organizing systems, not mere top-down designs—but they do need top-down interventions in strategic places. Unfortunately, we still have inadequate models and tools.
FEATURE
What Is a 'Great' Neighborhood? An Analysis of APA's Top-Rated Places
A study recently published in the Journal of the American Planning Association finds that the APA's definition of "great neighborhoods" might be leaving low-income and minority populations behind.
BLOG POST
2015 Urban Mobility Scorecard: Still Measuring Urban Travel Conditions Incorrectly
The new Urban Mobility Scorecard measures traffic congestion with greater precision, but incorrectly. As with previous editions, it exaggerates congestion costs and undervalues the congestion reduction benefits of alternative modes and Smart Growth.
EMC Planning Group, Inc.
Planetizen
Planetizen
Mpact (formerly Rail~Volution)
Great Falls Development Authority, Inc.
HUDs Office of Policy Development and Research
NYU Wagner Graduate School of Public Service
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.
