American Planning Association

Cities across the U.S. are advancing active transportation projects despite federal funding uncertainty.

From Oak Park to Cleveland, communities are using local investment and pilot bikeways to improve street safety.

https://plnn.org/4pGQPDm

This issue of Zoning Practice examines how zoning rules and procedures can better accommodate reuse and redevelopment.

It begins by summarizing the case for reorienting zoning around previously developed sites before suggesting specific reform strategies that remove zoning barriers to common reuse and redevelopment projects.

https://planning.org/publications/document/9330093/

The words we use shape how we see the world and ourselves.

Learn how swapping limiting language for positive, empowering words can open possibilities, build confidence, and help everyone approach challenges with a “can-do” mindset.

Change the Words, Change the Impact Self-esteem mentor Dr. Mary Beth Janke challenges you to change your language and embrace empowering speech.

Manny Patole, Industry Assistant Professor at NYU Tandon School of Engineering, joins Critical Conversations in Transportation Planning for a thought-provoking discussion on data centers, AI infrastructure, environmental justice, and the growing role of digital development in shaping communities.

This episode explores why planners should start viewing data centers as critical infrastructure, and what that means for the future of transportation planning.

From Data Centers to City Streets: Rethinking Infrastructure in a Digital Age In this episode of Critical Conversations in Transportation Planning, we chat with Manny Patole. Drawing on his groundbreaking community data science research and his interdisciplinary data center impact project at NYU, Manny walks us through what transportation planners need to understand about AI....

Planners can strengthen judgment, keep projects on track, and avoid burnout by focusing time and attention where it matters most.

Experts recommend strategies like Time Economics, which prioritizes tasks with the greatest return, or slow productivity, which emphasizes fewer tasks done sustainably for higher-quality results.

Investing Attention Wisely: Rethinking Productivity By making deliberate choices about where to focus your attention, you can shift from a traditional time management practice to intentional time investment, a more sustainable approach to productivity that supports professional momentum and personal well-being.

Everyone deserves a place to feel seen, safe, and supported. 🏳️‍🌈 This join us as we celebrate planning and the planners that help communities truly include all.

Planning departments are rethinking digital security as a swarm of imposters scrape public records to send clients fake invoices.

Fraud Alert: How Scammers Are Now Impersonating City Governments Planning departments are rethinking digital security as a swarm of imposters scrape public records to send city clients fake invoices.

Reflective practice is the intentional act of pausing to think about how work is experienced, not just what is produced.

In the planning profession, where progress can be incremental and many forces shape outcomes, reflective practice functions as a professional skill that supports clarity, learning, and perspective.

Building Endurance in an Era of Constant Change A reflective practice can help you make sense of your work in a more constructive way, reducing the strain that often leads to burnout.

Burnout is becoming more common in professions like planning since cognitive capacity is finite. Learn some ways you can sustain your productivity by batching tasks, reducing mental clutter with task trackers, and more.

Tips for Maintaining Capacity in Planning to Avoid Burnout Get tips for how to manage capacity to help prevent burnout in the workplace.

As planners rethink traditional public engagement, communities are moving beyond “dot voting” to more interactive, conversation-driven experiences.

From visioning activities to immersive community workshops, creative engagement strategies are helping planners foster deeper dialogue, broaden participation, and better understand residents’ priorities and values.

Can a Year Without Dots Lead to Better Community Engagement? Red vs. green flags, shopping malls, sushi-inspired menus, and more helped these Atlanta-based planners get creative with their asks.