August Must-Reads: Top 10 Articles From Last Month

A proposal from Indiana could make it the first state to charge tolls on interstate freeways. In suburban Houston, some communities are putting limits on growth as they upgrade their aging water infrastructure to meet demand. The governor of Connecticut forcefully rejects President Trump’s order to further criminalize homelessness, California officials block multifamily development in wildfire-ravaged Pacific Palisades, and is the sprawl-versus-infill debate the wrong way to frame the housing crisis? Also, a Burning Man founder says artists could be the key to ending San Francisco’s ‘doom loop.’

The full list of August’s most-read stories:

1. Indiana Proposes Tolls on Interstate Freeways

If the request is approved by the FHWA, Indiana could gain over $38 billion in new revenue over a 22-year period. It would be the first state to charge tolls on interstate freeways.

2. A 'Grim Diagnosis': Houston's Suburbs are Running out of Water

The region’s water infrastructure isn’t keeping up with its rapid growth, prompting some communities to put a moratorium on new development until they can address the issue.

3. To Sprawl or Not to Sprawl: But Is That the Question? 

Alan Mallach argues that the solution to the housing crisis lies in a mindful combination of outward sprawl and infill development.

4. Connecticut Governor Rejects Trump Homelessness Order

Gov. Ned Lamont repudiated President Trump’s executive order calling on cities to crack down on homelessness and forcibly institutionalize unhoused people, saying that it’s up to governments to address the root causes of the housing crisis rather than punish people experiencing homelessness.

5. San Francisco is in a “Doom Loop.” A Legendary Artist and Burning Man Founder Knows how to Revive it. 

Artists create vibrant urban neighborhoods attractive to everyone, but too often, they’re displaced from the places they made desirable. P Segal encourages planners to see artists as an underutilized resource — and to protect affordable spaces for them.

6. Palisades Homeowners Barred From Rebuilding With Duplexes 

Citing fire risk, the Los Angeles mayor and California governor issued twin executive orders prohibiting homeowners in the Palisades Fire area from building multiple units on their lots.

7. Albuquerque Bookstore Owner Sues City to Continue Housing Homeless Neighbors 

A local business owner says the city’s move to force him to evict unhoused people he allowed to camp on his property is unconstitutional.

8. LA County Adopts Maximum Indoor Temperature Ordinance to Protect Renters from Extreme Heat 

A new ordinance requires landlords to allow cooling devices in rental units to keep indoor temperatures below 82 degrees.

9. Electrified Caltrain Boosts Ridership 76% 

After the San Francisco-to-San Jose commuter rail introduced electric trains and increased service frequency, ridership surged, signaling the potential for more efficient service as Caltrain works to electrify the rest of the system.

10. Hawaii’s Tsunami Scare Reveals Evacuation Shortfalls

Gridlock resulting from a tsunami warning prompted concerns about Oahu’s evacuation infrastructure and capacity to move people to safety quickly and efficiently.