Urban, city, and town planning seek to inform land use, development, and transportation infrastructure to accommodate the needs of the community, often with the explicit goal of maximizing both economic vitality and overall quality of life. RAND helps to inform policymakers who plan long-term urban services and neighborhood design, from determining the public health implications of proximity to parklands or inner city waste abatement to the role of urban planning in nation-building efforts.
Research conducted by:
Palestine Initiative;
RAND Health;
RAND Labor and Population;
RAND Justice, Infrastructure, and Environment;
RAND Europe;
RAND Gulf States Policy Institute;
RAND-Qatar Policy Institute;
Environment, Energy, and Economic Development Program
News Releases (15)
Using zoning laws to shape the type of development and activity that occur in a neighborhood may be one way to reduce crime in urban areas. Single-use commercially zoned blocks in Los Angeles have crime rates that are 45 percent higher than similar blocks that include residential uses.
Policymakers need to address equity concerns early when implementing congestion pricing to improve traffic flow, as each situation is unique and must be evaluated on a case-by-case basis.
A federal program designed to help metropolitan public health agencies prepare to deliver essential medicines to the public after a large-scale bioterror attack or natural disease outbreak has succeeded in improving the level of readiness.
A comprehensive look at Los Angeles traffic debunks common myths about the metropolitan region's traffic patterns and details the reasons why congestion is so bad -- and why it will get worse in the coming years without significant policy changes.
Louisiana homeowners who sought federally-funded grants through “The Road Home” program for homes damaged by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita have had to wait more than eight months on average to receive grants.
New Orleans should craft a comprehensive economic redevelopment plan that combines public- and private-sector funding with a centralized structure.
Affordable housing recovery in three coastal counties in Mississippi heavily damaged by Hurricane Katrina lags behind the pace of the rest of the housing market in the region.
Addressing Sprawl Issues and Protecting Biodiversity Can Benefit Military Bases, RAND Study Finds.
May 29, 2007 news release: Six Emerging Scholars Receive Awards from RAND Gulf States Policy Institute for Research on Key Gulf Policy Questions.
The RAND Corporation received the prestigious Urban Land Institute (ULI) Award for Excellence: The Americas, which recognizes outstanding achievement in land use practice.
February 27, 2007 News Release: RAND Study Finds Walking Is More Likely in Neighborhoods with More Four-Way Intersections, Diverse Business Mix.
June 8, 2006 News Release: RAND Report Says Action Needed to Speed Rebuilding of Affordable Housing in Hurricane-Damaged Mississippi.
May 16, 2006 News Release: Two Directors Are Appointed in RAND Infrastructure, Safety and Environment Division.
RAND news release: RAND Study Estimates New Orleans Population to Climb to About 272,000 in 2008
RAND news release: Los Angeles Residents Like Their Parks, but Are Most Likely to Use Those Close to Home