United States

Close-up of rental application laying on table with green pen laying across the paper

White House Targets Landlord ‘Junk Fees’

The administration is urging states to more heavily regulate application fees, administrative fees, and other often hidden costs imposed on renters.

July 21, 2023 - Marketwatch

White shuttle bus picks up passengers in Zion National Park, red cliffs and mountains in background.

Improving Transit Access to Parks and Trails

Too often, national parks and other recreational spaces in the United States are difficult or impossible to access without a car. Some parks are working to change that.

July 21, 2023 - Streetsblog USA

Four-story white L-shaoped apartment building with small parking lot in front in Edina, Minnesota

Nonprofit Affordable Housing Developers Navigate Troubled Waters

As housing and building costs rise, nonprofit developers find themselves with strained resources as pandemic relief dries up and tenants need housing assistance more than ever.

July 20, 2023 - Dr. Eric Anthony Johnson

View of traffic on freeway with Los Angeles skyline and palm trees in background

California On Schedule to Launch Second Road Charge Pilot Program

The California Transportation Commission met the initial deadline specified in 2021 state legislation requiring the state to perform a fully operational pilot program where participants will pay for the miles they drive.

July 19, 2023 - California Transportation Commission

Tent covered with tarp with bike and other objects on sidewalk in Skid Row, downtown Los Angeles

New Study Debunks Homeless Migration Theory

More evidence finds that the root cause of homelessness is, ultimately, a lack of sufficient housing.

July 19, 2023 - The Atlantic

Vacant lot with overgrown concrete foundation

The Double-Edged Sword of ‘Healthfields’

Building hospitals and other health-oriented facilities on former brownfield sites can benefit the community, but can also perpetuate historic inequities and exploit undervalued land at the expense of local residents.

July 19, 2023 - Next City

Arizona Streetscape

Institutional Investors Gaining a Larger Footprint in the Housing Market, Report Says

The locations with the fastest growing populations are seeing the most dramatic increase in investor-owned single-family housing rentals.

July 19, 2023 - Joint Center for Housing Studies of Harvard University

Close-up of yellow dandelion flower poking through crack in broken concrete

How to ID Urban Wildflowers

Ever wonder what those flowers growing through a crack in the sidewalk are? This guide from Streetsblog has you covered.

July 18, 2023 - Streetsblog Massachusetts

Vacant run-down houses in Gary, Indiana

Commentary: Place-Based Policy Must Target Chronically Poor Areas

As more evidence shows that neighborhood-level factors heavily impact future outcomes, place-based policies should use more accurate measurements to ensure persistently poor places don’t fall through the cracks.

July 18, 2023 - Route Fifty

Zoning map of New Hampshire

National Zoning Atlas Makes Headway

The project aims to bring zoning data from around the country into one database, making it easier for planners and researchers to compare policies and their impacts.

July 17, 2023 - PD&R Edge

Greyhound bus at Philadelphia bus station

Shuttered Bus Terminals Cause Problems for Riders, Cities

The closure of intercity bus stations is putting passengers out on the curb.

July 17, 2023 - Governing

Encampment set up by unhoused residents in Portland, Oregon

Tent Encampments: Will the Legal Restraint be Lifted?

A controversial U.S. Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals ruling in 2018 that has hindered the ability of western cities to clear tent encampments on public spaces will likely be revisited and overturned by the Supreme Court, predicts a popular CNN host.

July 17, 2023 - OPB

An eastbound Amtrak Empire Builder passes through the Cascade Mountains as the trees turn fall colors in Skykomish, WA

A Look at Amtrak’s Ambitious Expansion Plan

The agency wants to add new lines, improve service, and modernize its fleet as part of a $75 billion plan to revive U.S. train travel.

July 16, 2023 - Bloomberg CityLab

Signpost with signs for archery, jousting, privies, etc at Renaissance faire

The Geekiest Cities in America

Which cities have the most comic book shops, D&D meetups, and LARPing groups?

July 14, 2023 - Lawn Love

‘Divided by Design’ Underscores Inequities in Transportation Policy

The report calls for a wholesale overhaul of U.S. transportation policy to redress the damages caused by decades of auto-centric development.

July 14, 2023 - Smart Growth America

Pedewstrianized street paved with red bricks flanked by historic four-story buildings in Dublin, Ireland

How Walkable ‘Activity Centers’ Can Reduce Driving

Encouraging mixed-use neighborhoods that help reduce vehicle miles driven and put urban amenities within easy walking distance is possible with surprisingly modest policy tweaks.

July 12, 2023 - Streetsblog USA

Jane Jacobs

The 100 Most Influential Urbanists, Past and Present

Planetizen readers have decided the who's who of urbanism (and its discontents) in 2023.

July 11, 2023 - Planetizen

Young bull moose stands in grassy field in Bridger-Teton National Forest

How Noise Pollution Impacts Nature

Overly loud noise isn’t just a public health risk for humans.

July 11, 2023 - High Country News

Two bridges over Puget sound, Tacoma washington

Washington Governor Delays Progress on Mileage Fee, Again

For the second time in two years, Gov. Jay Inslee has dealt a legislative setback to transportation planning efforts to prepare for the 2035 ban on the sale of gas-tax paying light duty motor vehicles to reduce carbon emissions.

July 10, 2023 - The Seattle Times

People crossing street at crosswalk in downtown San Francisco, California

Reorienting Business Districts for Walkability

Traditionally car-friendly Business Improvement Districts are turning to walkability and bike infrastructure to replace the 9-to-5 crowd and boost local economies.

July 10, 2023 - Bloomberg CityLab

Top Books

An annual review of books related to planning.

Top Websites

The best of the Internet—since 2002.

Top Apps

Planning apps for a brave new world.

Top Schools

The definitive ranking of graduate planning programs.

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.