Infrastructure

Woman walking two small children across crosswalk.

How Urban Design Can Benefit Parents and Kids

Designing thoughtful, child-friendly public spaces can ease the burdens of modern parenting and offer safe spaces for children to learn self-reliance and resilience.

January 2, 2025 - Bloomberg CityLab

Pedestrians in a busy city intersection with a cirty bus passing behind them.

Save Lives on Our Roads Using the Safe System Approach

Prioritizing safety and committing to the SSA framework can make a big impact in the effort to reduce traffic fatalities.

January 1, 2025 - Beth Wemple

Oil well pumpjack sillhouetted against a bright pink sunset sky.

Upcoming Conference Spotlights California's Orphan Wells

The 2025 Orphan & Idle Wells California Conference will address the environmental, economic, and public health challenges of abandoned oil and gas wells, focusing on remediation strategies, regulatory frameworks, and community-centered solutions.

December 31, 2024 - Energy Conference Network

Aerial view of wildfire damage in Lahaina, Maui.

$2.1 Billion Secured for Maui Wildfire Recovery and Resilience

Congress has approved federal funding to support Maui’s wildfire recovery, including housing, economic development, and infrastructure improvements while fostering long-term community resilience and preparedness.

December 31, 2024 - Hawaii Public Radio

Spikes on building designed to prevent people from sitting.

One Year Into Brazil’s ‘Hostile Architecture’ Ban

A recent law prohibits ‘defensive’ architecture designed to keep people away from buildings or public spaces.

December 31, 2024 - Next City

Oil well in prairie landscape.

Reclaiming Oil Wells for Renewable Energy in Rural Colorado

A company is seeking to repurpose abandoned oil wells in Pierce, Colorado, to create a cost-effective geothermal energy system that could heat and cool local buildings, reduce emissions, and serve as a model for sustainable energy nationwide.

December 31, 2024 - Fast Company

Aerial view of construction site with yellow dump truck and heavy machinery.

National Brownfields Training Conference: Driving Sustainable Redevelopment

The conference will bring together diverse stakeholders to share knowledge, strategies, and resources for the remediation and sustainable redevelopment of contaminated properties, fostering economic growth and environmental restoration.

December 31, 2024 - Brownfields 2025 Conference

Aerial view of Lahainaluna neighborhood with smoke from fires in Maui, Hawaii.

Maui's Deadly Firestorm: Investigating the Tragedy and Lessons for the Future

FRONTLINE's Maui’s Deadly Firestorm investigates the 2023 Lahaina wildfire, uncovering critical failures in preparedness and response while examining the tragedy’s causes, impact, and lessons for future disaster prevention.

December 30, 2024 - PBS

Huntington Beach, CA pier at sunset.

Storms and Sea Levels: The Growing Threat to California’s Piers

California’s aging piers face growing threats from climate change, with intensifying storms, rising repair costs, and structural vulnerabilities forcing tough decisions about their future preservation.

December 30, 2024 - Los Angeles Times

View of St. Louis cathedral in New Orleans, Louisiana.

New Orleans Seeks Consultants for $8M Tree Planting Initiative

The city seeks consultancy firms to help implement an $8 million USDA Urban and Community Forestry Grant, advancing its goal of planting 40,000 trees by 2030 and strengthening urban sustainability and resilience.

December 30, 2024 - Biz New Orleans

View from back of classroom of young children at desks raising hands.

New York Law Addresses Extreme Heat in Schools

The law calls for heat mitigation measures when temperatures exceed 88 degrees.

December 29, 2024 - WBEN

Multicolored modern aerial gondolas in Mexico City.

Mexico City Raises Mobility, Public Works Budget Ahead of World Cup

The Mexican capital plans to improve mobility to its major sports venues and invest in public works and infrastructure.

December 27, 2024 - Bloomberg CityLab

Metro-North Railroad

Presidential Transportation Innovations

A detailed list of each U.S. president’s contributions to transportation.

December 26, 2024 - Eno Center for Transportation

TEXRail train at Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport station.

North Texas Transportation Council Advocates for Road Safety, Rail Projects

The North Texas Regional Transportation Council issued a series of recommendations for state legislators that include more support for road safety projects and high-speed rail.

December 25, 2024 - Fort Worth Report

Bike path, part of Grand Rounds Scenic Byway in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

How to Make Greenways Better

Adding amenities such as public restrooms and shade trees can make greenways like Detroit’s Joe Louis Greenway more inviting and comfortable for their users.

December 25, 2024 - Time Magazine

Aerial view of Manhattan Beach pier.

Los Angeles County Secures Funding for Beach Protection

L.A. County is getting a $1 million grant from the California Ocean Protection Council to develop a Regional Coastal Strategic Adaptation Plan to protect its beaches from climate change impacts while prioritizing equitable access and sustainability.

December 24, 2024 - Los Angeles County Department of Beaches and Harbors

Houses on Lake Michigan shore with yellow "Keep Off Rocks" sign.

How US Cities Can Prepare for Climate Disasters

Resilience, encompassing infrastructure, governance, economic strength, and social cohesion, is critical for cities to mitigate rising climate risks like flooding, wildfires, and heat, ensuring long-term recovery and adaptability.

December 24, 2024 - The Washington Post

Scenic seasonal landscape from above aerial view of a small town in countryside Cleveland, Ohio.

Planetizen’s Top Posts of 2024

The most-read articles on Planetizen in 2024.

December 24, 2024 - Diana Ionescu

View of San Francisco Bay on sunny day from residential area of Oakland, California.

Oakland Adopts Urban Forest Plan to Foster Equity and Environmental Justice

The Oakland City Council has adopted its first Urban Forest Plan, a 50-year roadmap focused on equitable tree care, canopy preservation, and environmental justice to benefit underserved communities.

December 23, 2024 - City of Oakland

Man in wheelchair in designated area on public bus.

USDOT Issues Accessibility Guidelines for Transit Stations

A new rule aims to clarify accessibility requirements to help state and local DOTs upgrade their facilities more quickly to meet ADA standards.

December 23, 2024 - Smart Cities Dive

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.