Federal Funding

New Orleans Aerial

New Orleans Public Housing in Decade-Long Stall

In the aftermath of Katrina, President Obama's Choice Neighborhoods initiative promised thousands of new affordable units. But so far the Housing Authority of New Orleans hasn't proved up to the task.

July 6, 2015 - Next City

Baltimore Rail

Op-Ed: Maryland Governor Is No Friend to Transit

According to this editorial, Governor Larry Hogan's decision to halt a planned $2.9 billion light rail line betrays a politically-motivated preference for roads.

June 30, 2015 - Baltimore Sun

Cost of River Restoration Project Rising Quickly in Los Angeles

Questions are emerging about the funding equation for an ambitious $1 billion proposal to improve 11 miles of the Los Angeles River through some of the most urban parts of the city.

March 26, 2015 - Los Angeles Times

Powerful Political Forces Aligning Against Southwest Light Rail in Minneapolis

One of the most heavily-contested transit projects in the United States, the Southwest light rail line in the metropolitan Twin Cities area, is encountering increased levels of political opposition.

January 12, 2015 - MPR News

State Transportation Funding Falling Faster than Federal Transportation Funding

A new analysis form the Pew Charitable Trusts showed a 20 percent reduction in state spending on transportation between 2002 and 2011, compared to a 4 percent drop from the federal government over the same period.

September 26, 2014 - Governing

The Danger of Federal Money for Local Projects

Scott Beyer provides four reasons why federal money is the wrong policy mechanism for delivering the best possible transportation outcomes in the United States.

August 29, 2014 - Next City

City Council Hearing Prompts Opposition to Minneapolis' Light Rail Plans

The Southwest Corridor light-rail project appeared before the Minneapolis City Council last week, which prompted James Linbeck to write a scathing op-ed in opposition to the project.

August 28, 2014 - Minneapolis Star Tribune

The Incredible, Rising Cost of Forest Fires

The kicker in a recent article about the current realities of forest fires—and the cost of fighting them—in the United States: The federal government spends 624 percent more on fires than it did 20 years ago.

July 29, 2014 - The Washington Post - Wonkblog

Congress' Head-in-the-Sand Approach to Fire Management

The way Congress has appropriated funds for the prevention of forest fires, and fighting forest fires when they occur, guarantees that they will become more costly and dangerous in the future.

May 21, 2014 - Vox

Secretary Foxx Talks Funding (and Possibly Tolling)

A recent article by Yonah Freemark details the policy agenda of Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx, the former mayor of Charlotte and successor of well-regarded Transportation Secretary Ray La Hood.

April 26, 2014 - Metropolitan Planning Council - The Connector

How Infrastructure Investment Became Political Fodder

Andrea Bernstein traces how, in four short years, partisan politics have infected discussions about investment in infrastructure.

September 25, 2012 - Transportation Nation

Will D.C. Stand Up for America's Cities?

In his column Urban Nation, Harry Moroz argues for deeper involvement from the federal government in urban policy in order to give American cities the fighting chance they deserve to be healthy and enjoyable places to live.

September 19, 2012 - Next American City

Senate Approves Federal Funding for NJ Rail Tunnel

Despite cancelling the ARC Tunnel project last year, New Jersey may build an alternative tunnel using U.S. Senate funding.

November 15, 2011 - TheCityFix.com

The Irrationality Of Federal Infrastructure Spending

Charles Marohn believes that the way the US manages its infrastructure spending is problematic He finds that the lack of federal support for maintenance leads states to irrationally prioritize new projects over repairing old.

November 3, 2011 - Strong Towns Blog

Federal Funds on the Line as Cities Challenge Census Results

The U.S. Conference of Mayors expect the number of challenges to be higher than the 1,200 challenges filed for the 2000 Census because regions claimed to have received low population counts.

June 30, 2011 - Associated Press

Funding Issues Keep American Tranposrtation Infrastructure Down

This article from The Economist explains why America's transportation system is failing, and how the federal government's infrastructure funding mechanisms are contributing to the decline.

May 4, 2011 - The Economist

Republican Plan to Shortchange Rail May Be Shortsighted

Eric Jaffe pushes back on the Republican Study Committee's proposal to cut over $6 billion in rail funding over the next ten years.

January 29, 2011 - The Infrastructurist

Mayors Wince as Block Grants Face Cuts

Mayors across the country are facing the possible loss of federal Community Development Block Grants, which could pull many local projects aimed at helping low-income residents to a halt.

January 27, 2011 - Governing

North Carolina Hopes to Lure Extra Rail Money

As states return money aimed at high speed rail projects, officials from North Carolina are hoping to scramble up some of this newly available funding to augment existing projects.

January 19, 2011 - News and Observer

TIGER Funding Spurs Transit Plaza and Park in Philadelphia

Flush with federal grants, a new transit plaza and park is set to pop up in Philadelphia.

November 24, 2010 - The Architect's Newspaper

News from HUD User

HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research

Call for Speakers

Mpact Transit + Community

New Updates on PD&R Edge

HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research

Top Books

An annual review of books related to planning.

Top Websites

The best of the Internet—since 2002.

Top Apps

Planning apps for a brave new world.

Top Schools

The definitive ranking of graduate planning programs.

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.