United States

Parked cars in floodwater with two-story apartments or homes in background in Florida after hurricane.

Auto Insurance Rates Spike Due to Extreme Weather

Car insurance costs around the country are going up as insurers receive more claims from areas struck by storms and other climate disasters.

November 7, 2024 - Grist

Aerial view of flooded small homes in Florida after hurricane.

Research Shows White Communities Gain Affluence After Climate Disasters

People of color and lower-income residents tend to lose wealth despite the stated goals of federal assistance programs to restore communities impacted by disasters.

November 6, 2024 - Inside Climate News

A view of the mechanics of the engine at the back of a public bus.

APTA Requests CDL Testing Change to Address Bus Operator Shortage

Eighty-four percent of U.S. transit agencies surveyed said CDL complexity was a hiring obstacle, with the “under-the-hood” requirement being the most challenging.

November 6, 2024 - Mass Transit

Bike lane delineated with white paint and orange bollards.

Study: Bike Lanes Improve Road Safety

Bike lanes delineated with bollards or traffic cones are most likely to slow drivers and reduce crashes between cars and bikes.

November 6, 2024 - Next City

Aerial view of traffic in New York City entering Queens Midtown tunnel

Report Highlights Economic Benefits of Reducing Car Dependence

Encouraging Americans to drive less — and supporting cities where it’s possible to do so — could save the country trillions more than just electrifying the transportation sector.

November 5, 2024 - Streetsblog USA

"Vote Here" sandwich board sign with American flag on sidewalk in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

Public, Private Transportation Systems Offer Free Election Day Rides

From transit agencies to ride-hailing, bike share, and car rentals, transportation companies are encouraging people to vote by offering free and discounted rides to polling locations.

November 5, 2024 - TechCrunch

Pedestrians crossing a busy crosswalk on New York City street with tall buildings in background

It’s Now Legal to Jaywalk in New York City

For the first time since 1958, pedestrians in New York City are free to cross the street without adhering to traffic signals or marked crosswalks.

November 4, 2024 - CNN Travel

Trailer Parks

States Move to Protect Mobile Home Park Residents

Making it easier for mobile home park residents to collectively purchase the land they live on can protect their housing affordability for the long term.

November 4, 2024 - Stateline

Woman stands on rock overlooking mountain valley.

How Social Media Is Influencing Our Interactions with Public Lands

Getting the perfect online photo is drawing more people into nature. Land managers are trying to mitigate risks and damage to wild places.

November 4, 2024 - Paige Gross

Aerial view of historic core of Santa Fe, New Mexico at dusk.

‘Newbie Humility’ Meets the ‘Imported NIMBY’

In a precautionary essay about moving to another place, Chuck Wolfe explains tensions between simple and practical community life and newcomers’ arguably gentrification-laced expectations.

November 3, 2024 - Resurgence: A Journey via Substack

Construction workers in orange vests and white hard hats installing concrete curb.

Rebuilding America's Backbone: A Call for Resilient Infrastructure

How sustainable investments in infrastructure made today can secure the future.

November 3, 2024 - Maria Lehman

White Waymo autonomous SUV taxi on San Francisco street.

Opinion: Robotaxis a ‘Wolf in Sheep’s Clothing’

Recent efforts to paint autonomous ride-hailing services as a complement to public transit are, according to CityLab’s David Zipper, greenwashing.

November 1, 2024 - Bloomberg CityLab

Affordable housing

Commentary: How Can We Solve America’s Affordable Housing Crisis? CDFIs are the Key

As financial institutions whose mission is to support underserved communities, community development financial institutions can be key partners to ensure public-private efforts to build affordable housing pencil out.

October 31, 2024 - Bernel Hall

Close-up of computer screen with VRBO short-term rental platform site open.

How Much Are Short-Term Rentals to Blame for the Housing Crisis?

Whether and how deeply Airbnb and other short-term rentals affect housing costs depends largely on local conditions and economies.

October 31, 2024 - CNN

Person pusing person sitting in wheelchair down airplane ramp toward airplane at airport.

Delta Announces Wheelchair-Friendly Seating

The airline will soon allow passengers using wheelchairs to remain in their own equipment during flights.

October 31, 2024 - Fast Company

View of downtown Dallas, Texas skyline with skyscrapers against twilight sky.

How the Post-Covid Reality Is Reshaping Central Business Districts and Urban Centers

U.S. cities are working to redefine their downtowns in response to the “donut effect:” people and businesses abandoning city centers and flocking to suburban areas and beyond.

October 31, 2024 - Wes Guckert

Roadside sign for Nevada Utah State Line "Entering Ely District" with Bureau of Land Management logo with desert mountains in background.

More States Push Back on BLM’s Conservation Rule

Twelve states and industry groups are supporting Utah’s lawsuit against the Bureau of Land Management, arguing the agency can’t bar extractive uses on ‘unappropriated’ public lands.

October 30, 2024 - Utah News Dispatch

Two-story home being retrofitted with energy-saving insulation.

Future of Justice40 Initiative Hinges on Election

The program requires that 40 percent of some federal funds be used to benefit historically disadvantaged communities.

October 30, 2024 - Blavity

U.S. Supreme Court building in Washington, D.C. against purplish sunset light.

SCOTUS Hamstrings Federal Agencies, a Blow to Housing and Health Equity

The Supreme Court has overturned the legal precedent Chevron deference. Without the authority to interpret ambiguities in regulations, the critical work of HHS and HUD could suffer.

October 30, 2024 - Zachary Travis

Woman in exercise clothes walking on sidewalk against large wall with mural in Phoenix, Arizona.

Research Shows Cool Pavement Coatings Can Raise Ambient Temperature

Coatings that reflect heat can make the air feel warmer for people standing on and around these surfaces.

October 29, 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.