Federal policy changes send shock waves through agencies at all levels of government as we continue to monitor the effects of the new administration’s slash-and-burn approach to government.
Federal funding freezes and firings continue to roil agencies that address housing, public lands, and transportation. A program that supported a nationwide EV charging network was suspended, while mass layoffs at national parks have recreation officials concerned about park safety and access during the upcoming busy season, while park-adjacent communities could stand to lose billions in tourism revenue. Planetizen blogger Todd Litman offers some advice on how to continue doing good work as a planner when politics get in the way of effective policy. And the planning world lost a beloved figure in Donald Shoup, the dynamic “parking guru” that transformed the way people think about parking and public space.
The full list of February’s most-read stories:
1. Colorado Bill Would Legalize Housing ‘In God’s Backyard’
A proposed bill would let churches and religious institutions build housing on their properties as part of a growing zoning reform movement.
2. Federal EV Charging Program Suspended
The new administration wants to end an initiative to fund a nationwide EV charging network focused on major freeways.
3. Housing Measure Wins in Seattle Special Election
Voters approved a new tax that is expected to generate roughly $50 million annually for affordable housing projects.
4. Legendary Parking Guru Donald Shoup Dies at 86
Former UCLA professor and Planetizen Courses instructor Donald Shoup helped planners understand the value of parking and curb management, always remaining a passionate advocate for walkable, livable cities.
5. Good Planning Under Bad Leadership
How can planners execute good policy under questionable regimes?
6. Analysis: Cybertruck Fatality Rate Far Exceeds That of Ford Pinto
In its short lifespan, the infamous truck has become much more deadly than one of automotive history’s most famous failures.
7. New Intercity Bus Service Will Connect Texas Cities
A charter bus company will start offering trips between Dallas-Fort Worth, Houston, and San Antonio, with plans to expand to more routes.
8. National Parks Layoffs Will Cause Communities to Lose Billions
The firing of thousands of National Park Service workers will have rippling negative effects throughout the communities that depend on them for jobs and tourism revenue.
The Trump administration’s DOT says it will tie funding to cooperation with immigration enforcement and prohibits mask or vaccine mandates.
10. Washington State E-Bike Rebate Set to Launch in April
Washington joins a growing number of states helping to offset the purchase of electric bikes, offering eligible residents rebates of up to $1,200.
April Must-Reads: Top 10 Articles From Last Month
A key federal housing assistance program is in peril, Maui tries to balance housing affordability with its tourism-based economy, and a landmark Virginia law could set a new standard for road safety.
Judge Orders Release of Frozen IRA, IIJA Funding
The decision is a victory for environmental groups who charged that freezing funds for critical infrastructure and disaster response programs caused “real and irreparable harm” to communities.
Fair Housing Funding Cuts Open Door to Discrimination, Advocates Say
Federal cuts to grants for fair housing advocacy organizations could lead to ‘widespread’ housing discrimination as enforcement resources are reduced.
The state-sanctioned urbicide of Austin
People don’t kill cities. Freeways do.
US to reduce Colorado River water deliveries to Mexico
A new Colorado Treaty amendment reduces Mexico’s Colorado River water allocation by 250,000 acre feet.
New Jersey’s second-largest city bans standalone data centers
Jersey City will continue to allow co-location facilities, such as those meant for research institutions that store their own data.
Amtrak not solely to blame for New Jersey commuter rail's unreliability, report finds
A new study from the Garden State Initiative found that NJ Transit’s budget grew 20% across a 4 year period, but reliability declined significantly over the same period.
EPA erases limits on planet-warming pollution from power plants
Under Monday’s plan, power plants would still have some limits on how much mercury, arsenic and other contaminants they can emit.
Phoenix announces new on-demand transit service, more frequent RAPID buses
Both new services will launch in October, and are part of Phoenix's Project Effective Access Solutions for Easing Congestion.
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
The course focuses on the opportunities and imperatives that shape reinvention of mall sites.
Eagle County Government
Harvard University Graduate School of Design
Nashville Planning Department
The Architects Foundation
University of Cincinnati Online
The Pocatello Development Authority
The Urban Renewal Agency of the City of Pocatello
Journal of the American Planning Association
