No sooner had the ink dried on the Times' "Obama's Night" headline, than planning advocates began offering suggestions for what the President should focus on in his second term. With an enduring split in Congress it's unclear what is achievable.
At The Atlantic Cities, Emily Badger and Sommer Mathis have put together a list of eight urban policy ideas (some old and some new) for the President to pursue in order to jump start America's economy and strengthen its cities. Ideas include: reforming the home mortgage interest deduction and spending the savings on low-income housing; raising the gas tax; deploying social impact bonds; and funding measures to protect our largest coastal cities from rising sea levels.
At the NRDC's Switchboard blog, Kaid Benfield proffers "a modest set of community principles" for Obama's second term. Rather than swing for the fences, Benfield discusses some principles the President could realistically follow, given the adversarial political climate. These include: continuing the cooperation among federal agencies that assist communities; helping cities, towns, and regions bring planning and coding up to date; evaluating federal infrastructure spending according to the triple bottom line; and taking a fresh look at MPOs.
Read the full story: 8 Urban Policy Ideas for Obama's 2nd Term
Why does Maryland's gas tax change every year?
The state's annual gas tax update may still not be enough to keep up with changes in the transportation sector and rising project costs.
Analysis: Suspending the gas tax wouldn't save Americans much on gas this summer
Even if Congress approves a proposal to temporarily lift the federal gas tax, a variety of other factors and transportation and processing delays would mean American consumers would see little difference at the pump.
Oregon Transportation Bill Saves 500 ODOT Jobs, but Leaves Future Funding Uncertain
A bill passed in a special legislative session will raise over $4 billion for transportation and public transit in the next 10 years, but fails to establish a long-term funding solution.
Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.
Eastern Nebraska is running out of electricity
Data centers and electrification are straining eastern Nebraska’s grid, throttling economic development.
Study reveals best places in the U.S. for cycling, walking
New research from Streetlight Data examines bicycle and pedestrian miles per capita in the 100 largest U.S. cities by population.
DSA members accuse Mamdani of 'abandoning values' over housing redevelopment
New York City's mayor plans to replace about 2,000 units of public housing with private, mixed-income housing.
All sides of BRT debate unhappy with CDOT’s most recent move
The Colorado Department of Transportation is no longer considering center-running bus lanes for Colorado Boulevard.
Massachusetts bogs generate both power, and cranberries
Putting solar panels above farmland is one way Massachusetts is advancing toward its goal of net-zero carbon emissions by 2050.
FREE Course: Walkable City 1: Why Walkability?
After describing his path towards focusing on walkability as the essence of good planning, Jeff Speck marches through his five principal reasons for making more walkable places.
Reinventing Malls: Planning Alchemy—Turning Gray Fields Into Gold
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City of Rosemead
Rutgers University, Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy
One Hundred Miles
University of Michigan School for Environment and Sustainability (SEAS)
Hunter College, City University of New York (CUNY)
The Architects Foundation
City of Cambridge
The Pocatello Development Authority
The Urban Renewal Agency of the City of Pocatello