Urban Planning
News on cities, suburbs, and how we design the places we live
SEPTA rolls out tap-to-pay on buses, trolleys, and trains
The transit agency had been beta-testing contactless payments since late July.
Billy Penn
Sixers arena saga: 76 Devcorp pumps the brakes on City Council approval deadline
A timeline of everything that’s happened so far regarding 76 Place.
2 weeks ago
A 1,400-foot levee could be built in Eastwick. Here’s what you need to know
In a long-awaited study, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers recommended the levee to reduce flooding in the low-lying Philly neighborhood.
2 weeks ago
Wells Fargo Center adding LED screens, lights in final phase of transformation project
New LED screens, lighting, and canopies at the Wells Fargo Center will be completed by early 2024.
3 weeks ago
Billy Penn
Pa. could pass a ‘lemon law’ for homes to protect residents from shoddy construction
A recent building boom has made this a big issue in Philadelphia, where hundreds have dealt with “construction destruction.”
3 weeks ago
Billy Penn
Neither the Schuylkill or Delaware pathways are continuous — yet.
3 weeks ago
The Roundhouse moves closer to historic preservation with committee vote
The curvy building is considered both an architectural marvel and a symbol of police brutality.
3 weeks ago
Concept phase nearly complete for Philly’s plan to cap section of I-676
The city just released three possible designs for the massive project in Chinatown.
4 weeks ago
Listen 1:22
Philly still has roughly 8K property assessment appeals to review
The city received nearly 20,000 “First Level Reviews” following a three-year pause in assessments that led to widespread sticker shock
4 weeks ago
‘Phoenixville is connected’: Borough set to embark on two major transportation projects
The Borough of Phoenixville is looking to complete two transportation construction projects, thanks to a pair of timely grants.
4 weeks ago
Delaware Nature Society receives federal dollars for Wilmington pollinator gardens
As the impacts from climate change loom, the Delaware Nature Society hopes community gardens can mitigate heat and stormwater.
4 weeks ago
Philly’s FDR Park gets federal grant for stream and wetland restoration
$1.5 million from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law will help fund work in the natural areas of FDR Park, part of a $250 million park renovation.
4 weeks ago
New bike trail in New Castle County funded with federal infrastructure dollars
The ADA-accessible path will connect Newport, Wilmington, and New Castle.
1 month ago
With sewers, streets and skyscrapers, modern cities are complex systems, and it takes a huge amount of design, planning, and maintenance to keep them moving. From transportation news on SEPTA and the PPA to real estate reporting on the 10-year tax abatement and neighborhood gentrification, WHYY and PlanPhilly cover the people, organizations, and policies that affect city life in Philadelphia and across the Delaware Valley.