Pennsylvania

Peach Tree

Pittsburgh's Food Deserts

A map of Pittsburgh's food deserts illustrates a nationwide problem with food insecurity.

October 26, 2015 - Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

SEPTA Investing $18.3 Million in Energy Efficiency

SEPTA has approved funding for $18.3 million in energy-efficient upgrades to the regional transit network.

October 24, 2015 - Philadelphia Inquirer

When the Rush to Redevelop a Transit-Adjacent Parcel Spells Missed Opportunity

Haddon Township, a suburb of Philadelphia located in New Jersey, might have been so relieved to finally close a deal on a long-disputed redevelopment project that it neglected the immense potential of the opportunity.

October 21, 2015 - The Philadelphia Inquirer

The Benefits of Free Transit for College Students

A growing coalition of education and transit advocates are calling for a program that would allow Philadelphia-area college students to access transit for free with their student IDs.

October 21, 2015 - The Philadelphia Citizen

Philadelphia

Preservation in Philly Is Attracting a Younger Generation

Young historic-preservation minded Philadelphians are organized and ready to protect the history of their city.

October 21, 2015 - PlanPhilly

Pittsburgh

Making the Case for Planning

Planetizen Managing Editor James Brasuell recently gave the Pitkin Lecture at the Pennsylvania state chapter of the American Planning Association's annual conference. An adapted and excerpted version of that lecture follows.

October 20, 2015 - James Brasuell

A New Bridge Opens Today in Suburban Pittsburgh; An Old Bridge Closes

A new bridge across the Alleghany River will connect Oakmant and Harmar. Another bridge located in nearby Pittsburgh, made infamous by John Oliver, closed earlier this week.

October 20, 2015 - Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Philadelphia SEPTA Station

Planners Find Support for Rail Transit Connection from Lehigh Valley to Philadelphia

MoveLV: Long Range Transportation Plan process is finding support for the rebirth of defunct rail transit corridor between the Allentown-Easton-Bethlehem and the City of Brotherly Love.

October 16, 2015 - The Philadelphia Inquirer

Is Philadelphia's Healthy Rowhouse Project an Answer to Gentrification?

The Healthy Rowhouse Project seeks to improve the health of Philadelphians and preserve critical affordable housing by using innovative strategies to improve housing conditions in thousands of rowhouses each year.

October 14, 2015 - The Citizen

Open Streets as Teachable Moments

"There is just too much to learn," from open streets events, says Philadelphia Inquirer Architecture Critic Inga Saffron.

October 13, 2015 - Philadelphia Inquirer

Philadelphia's Benjamin Franklin Parkway

Philadelphia's New Arrivals Are Unapologetic Gentrifiers

As the new arrivals—young, mostly white urbanites—have descended into some of Philadelphia's working class and immigrant neighborhoods, the push back by locals has been met with a push back by the gentrifiers.

October 11, 2015 - PhillyMag

Pope's Visit Converts Car-Free Believers in Philadelphia

The decision to shut down a 4.7-square-mile swath of Philadelphia's Center City on the occasion of the Pope's visit last weekend has converted a lot of new believers to the open streets cause.

October 2, 2015 - Philly Voice

Opening Tomorrow: Pier 68—Philadelphia's Newest Waterfront Park

The latest city to upgrade its urban waterfront into an open space amenity is Philadelphia, which will open Pier 68 to the public October 1, 2015.

September 30, 2015 - PlanPhilly

Philadelphia's Open Data Reveals Land Use Trends

A trove of data from the Office of Property Assessment has been released to the public. It's like Christmas day for zoning wonks in the City of Brotherly Love.

September 6, 2015 - PlanPhilly

Pittsburgh Project Could Include Corridor for Driverless Vehicles

A massive redevelopment project moving forward in Pittsburgh would provide in-demand office and tech space near local universities. An innovative transportation infrastructure project could be a part of the deal.

September 3, 2015 - Pittsburg Post-Gazette

Bike Amtrak

Amtrak Becoming Bike Friendlier

It's still not bike-friendly, but it's getting better. The Capitol Limited from Chicago to Washington joins a small list of routes allowing for "roll-on, roll-off," though reservations and a $25 fee may apply.

August 29, 2015 - Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

SEPTA Cycle-Transit Plan a Model for Multi-Modal Commuting

As ridership grows on the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA) rail system, system planners are looking to a novel approach to relieve crunched station parking: bikes.

August 27, 2015 - Next City

California Cap-And-Trade Surprise: Cash Flows Out-of-State to Reduce Emissions

California industries are buying offsets in lieu of purchasing carbon allowances or reducing carbon emissions, and most of the offsets are spent out-of-state, assisting the recipients economically as well as reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

August 21, 2015 - KQED: California Report

Take a Digital Tour of Pennsylvania's Urban Waterfronts

Keystone Crossroads has produced an interactive series about Pennsylvania's urban waterfronts. A storymap and in-depth reporting provide waterfront access from afar.

August 12, 2015 - Keystone Crossroads

Indego Bikeshare in Philadelphia Building on Early Success

Now that Philadelphia has established itself as a bikeshare town by quickly reaching high numbers of rides on Indego, the question turns to what happens next for expanding and improving the system.

August 10, 2015 - PlanPhilly

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.