United States

NOAA Awards $575M in Coastal Resilience Grants
The program received over $16 billion in requests from communities around the country.

Addressing the Perils of Extreme Heat
With this year bringing on more record heat waves, governments at the local and federal levels are elevating extreme heat management as an urgent priority.

Bringing Back the Block Party
How a humble neighborhood get-together can help build stronger cities.

State AGs Call for FEMA to Classify Extreme Heat, Smoke as ‘Major Disasters’
State and local officials say explicitly naming heat and wildfire smoke would give local agencies more certainty in developing their mitigation strategies.

Rural Areas Benefiting From Wind Energy Revenue
For some rural districts, tax revenue from wind energy projects can have a major impact on local school districts and infrastructure.

US Bike Share Ridership Hit Record High in 2023
According to a new NATO report, micromobility ridership in the U.S. was up 16% in 2023. Shared bike ridership set a new record, despite higher fares.

Study: ‘Sweeps’ Don’t Impact Homelessness
A study of three Los Angeles neighborhoods revealed that ‘cleanups’ of encampments don’t result in fewer people on the streets.

Zoning for Electric Vehicles
Local zoning codes can be adjusted to encourage the building of EV charging infrastructure into neighborhoods.

Bike Share, Scooters Break Ridership Record
The popularity of e-bikes continues to drive growth for shared mobility systems.

Survey Indicates Strong Support for Anti-Speeding Tech
More than half of drivers would be comfortable with speed-limiting technology or audio and visual signals warning them they’ve gone over the speed limit.

In Upstate New York, the Fight for ‘Good Cause’ Continues
This week, Ithaca became the latest city to opt into New York’s new Good Cause Eviction Law. What are tenant organizers doing to make the law work better for their communities?

How Local Park Agencies Contribute to Decarbonization Efforts
Park agencies play an important role in decarbonization by creating and managing parklands, promoting sustainable practices, and engaging communities to combat climate change and enhance public health and biodiversity.

Cities, States Use AI and GIS to Make Permitting Less of a Pain
Across the country, state and local governments have turned to AI to optimize their building permitting processes. The efficiencies they’ve achieved are impressive and welcomed by applicants and government agencies alike.

Parking Ticket Revenue: Which Cities Earn Most?
A list of 15 cities with the highest per-capita parking enforcement revenue.

Senate Bill Proposes Federal Antitrust Review for Institutional Housing Investors
The bill would require private equity and other corporate investors to report housing purchases to the Federal Trade Commission and the Department of Justice for antitrust review aimed at stopping anticompetitive transactions that would increase housing costs and push homeowners out of the market.

Millions in California at Risk Where Oil Wells and Wildfires Converge
Those living near oil and gas wells face increased risks from wildfires, which threaten these infrastructures and could lead to explosions, pollution, and other hazards, particularly affecting communities of color.

San Francisco Considers Nation’s First Ban on Rent-Setting Software
Property management software used by corporate landlords is under scrutiny for using algorithms populated by proprietary rental data to encourage their clients to collectively raise rents.

11 Most-Improved Bike Networks in the US
PeopleForBikes has evaluated bike networks in thousands of cities across the United States and identified several that have achieved “incredible increases” in just a few years.

Federal Judge Dismisses Lawsuit Against Short-Term Rental Ordinance
A group of homeowners in Summit, Colorado, filed a federal lawsuit alleging that a local ordinance imposing short-term rental license caps and annual booking limits is unlawful and violates their rights.

Industry Groups Sue BLM Over Public Lands Rule
Farmers, ranchers, and others are challenging a policy change that puts conservation on the same footing as other land uses.
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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.
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