Mayor Bloomberg's plan to mandate a standardized taxi for the streets of New York was given a potentially fatal blow this week by a State Supreme Court judge. With his successors unlikely to take up the legal battle, the plan appears doomed.
"A judge on Tuesday blocked New York City’s plan for a nearly uniform fleet of yellow taxis, dealing a potentially decisive blow to one of the Bloomberg administration’s signature transportation initiatives," reports Matt Flegenheimer. "Justice Shlomo S. Hagler of State Supreme Court in Manhattan said the city’s Taxi and Limousine Commission had exceeded its authority in devising a plan to require that nearly all yellow taxi operators purchase the same vehicle, a Nissan NV200 — the model chosen by the city as part of the Taxi of Tomorrow competition in 2011."
"The legal headaches wrought by the Nissan Taxi of Tomorrow — criticized since its inception for being neither a hybrid nor wheelchair-accessible (unless modified) — may not disappear with the cab itself," notes Felgenheimer. "Nissan, which secured a 10-year contract with the city worth an estimated $1 billion, may seek to recoup production costs and other expenses already incurred. A spokesman said the company was 'evaluating options for next steps regarding the exclusivity contract,' adding that the company had already invested more than $50 million in the program."
FULL STORY: Court Blocks City’s Plan for ‘Taxis of Tomorrow’
Pennsylvania Mall Conversion Bill Passes House
If passed, the bill would promote the adaptive reuse of defunct commercial buildings.
Coming Soon to Ohio: The Largest Agrivoltaic Farm in the US
The ambitious 6,000-acre project will combine an 800-watt solar farm with crop and livestock production.
World's Largest Wildlife Overpass In the Works in Los Angeles County
Caltrans will soon close half of the 101 Freeway in order to continue construction of the Wallis Annenberg Wildlife Crossing near Agoura Hills in Los Angeles County.
California Grid Runs on 100% Renewable Energy for Over 9 Hours
The state’s energy grid was entirely powered by clean energy for some portion of the day on 37 out of the last 45 days.
New Forecasting Tool Aims to Reduce Heat-Related Deaths
Two federal agencies launched a new, easy-to-use, color-coded heat warning system that combines meteorological and medical risk factors.
AI Traffic Management Comes to Dallas-Fort Worth
Several Texas cities are using an AI-powered platform called NoTraffic to help manage traffic signals to increase safety and improve traffic flow.
City of Costa Mesa
Licking County
Barrett Planning Group LLC
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
Mpact Transit + Community
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
Tufts University, Department of Urban and Environmental Policy & Planning
City of Universal City TX
ULI Northwest Arkansas
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.