Legislation

Bill Proposes Privatization of Northeast Rail Corridor

House Transportation Committee Chairman John Mica has proposed a bill to privatize Northeast Corridor rail operations. This post from Pedestrian Observations looks at what such a plan would mean.

18 June 2011 - 5:00am

Pedestrian Observations

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1 comment

Mortgage Headache Spawns Legislation in California

Mortgage debt is crippling the housing market all over the country, and the homeowners who've taken on more debt than they can afford. Now, real estate interests and banking interests are battling over legislation intended to ease the pain.

23 June 2010 - 6:00am

The New York Times

Is A Mass Transit Bailout the Right Move?

National Journal asks its panel of transportation experts whether mass transit agencies really deserve $2 billion in emergency operating aid.

3 June 2010 - 8:00am

National Journal

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2 comments

Fighting Against Cheap Parking

This post from GOOD looks at a bill from California state senator Alan Lowenthal that seeks to incentivize cities into reforming their parking rules.

26 February 2010 - 8:00am

Good

Wide Web of High Speed Rail Could Boost Congressional Spending

The projects receiving funding through the federal government's roughly $8 billion high speed rail investment travel through more than 40% of congressional districts. Analysts predict this will encourage more legislators to push for related funds.

15 February 2010 - 9:00am

The New York Times

Lawmakers Consider Using Trust Fund for Transportation Projects

Lawmakers in Alabama are considering a plan to withdraw $1 billion from a state investment fund to pay for road and transportation projects in the state. It's a move proponents say will create jobs, but opponents worry about diverting those funds.

20 January 2010 - 10:00am

The Birmingham News

Ag Secretary Concerned Over Farms-to-Forests Conversion

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack has ordered the revision of a forecasting model related to congressional climate legislation that makes the conversion of farmland to forests more lucrative than producing food.

30 December 2009 - 8:00am

The Washington Times

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1 comment

How Did We Get Here?

In an interview, Rep. Jim Oberstar gives a retrospective of American infrastructure funding and talks about the need to consider transportation in light of the "post-interstate era."

26 July 2009 - 11:00am

PBS: Blueprint America

Inching Towards Graywater Reuse in Oregon

Legislators in Oregon are making moves to allow residents to reuse graywater.

20 July 2009 - 7:00am

The Statesman Journal

New York's Legislative Lock Down Leaves Cities Hanging

As a power struggle between legislators in New York drags on, statutes in the state are expiring, leaving many cities with procedural headaches and tied hands.

3 July 2009 - 1:00pm

The New York Times

Jess Zimbabwe

Cul-de-sacs verboten?: Tim Kaine and Roman Polanski on dead-end streets

Tue, 03/31/2009 - 07:20

As you may have heard in yesterday's Planetizen Podcast, Virginia Governor Tim Kaine doesn't like cul-de-sacs.

Most news reports on the story have claimed that the state is "forbidding," "banning," or even "outlawing" the cul-de-sac. In fact, Virginia municipalities can still design, build, and approve any road patterns they wish, but the State will no longer agree to foot the bill for the ongoing maintenance of cul-de-sacs. The news item came up in a staff meeting yesterday and one colleague told us that a friend he was having dinner with declared the move "Un-American!"

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Effect of California's New Anti-Sprawl Law Uncertain

Clearly it has aroused enormous excitement and hope amongst California's smart growth advocates, but the new anti-sprawl, greenhouse gas-reducing law, SB 375, may do more in the tone it sets than in the changes its supporters hope it makes.

4 December 2008 - 6:00am

San Francisco Chronicle