Government / Politics

California

Legislation Introduced to Enable the Bay Area to Tackle Housing Crisis as a Region

A new bill would grant the Housing Alliance for the Bay Area taxing authority to raise revenue in the nine-county region to find solutions to the housing crisis. Another bill would reduce the voter threshold below two-thirds for eligible taxes.

March 11, 2019 - KQED News

Car Production Line

Auto Industry Reluctant to Support Trump Plan to Freeze Fuel Economy Standards

The auto industry appears to be balking at supporting the Trump administration's plan to freeze vehicle emission standards at 2020 levels even though they initially asked Trump to loosen the rigorous Obama-era fuel efficiency rule that goes to 2026.

March 10, 2019 - The Washington Post

Twin Cities

Neighborhoods 2020: Details on Minneapolis' Next Big Planning Effort

Minneapolis wants to diversify its neighborhood organizations, racially and economically. The Neighborhoods 2020 plan would require those organizations to meet diversity standards.

March 10, 2019 - MinnPost

Singapore Electric Bus

Trial Run of Driverless Buses Set to Start in Singapore

Singapore has ambitious plans for an autonomous public transportation system. New full-sized buses and an upcoming trial run will put the country closer to its goals.

March 9, 2019 - Bloomberg

Did Uber Just Get Away With Manslaughter?

Remember Elaine Herzberg, the 49-year-old woman who became the first pedestrian fatality due to an autonomous vehicle when she was hit last March by an Uber with a safety driver in Tempe, Ariz.? Prosecutors found no criminal liability.

March 8, 2019 - The New York Times

Downtown Boston

Spatial Mismatch's Far-Reaching Effects

When workers can't afford to live near jobs, the results are more than just housing cost burdens.

March 8, 2019 - Pacific Standard

Wisconsin State Capital

Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers Proposes Gas Tax Hike

The eight-cents-per-gallon gas tax increase is one of several measures in the Democrat governor's first budget that marks a major departure from the the tenure of former Republican Gov. Scott Walker.

March 8, 2019 - Wisconsin Public Radio

New York Bike Lane

Car-Free Streets, City Control of Transit: New York City Council Speaker's New Platform

New York City Council Speaker Corey Johnson had a busy week, releasing an ambitious plan to "break" the "car culture" of New York.

March 7, 2019 - StreetsBlog NYC

Youth Protest

The Climate Change Lawsuit That Won't Go Away

The now-famous children's lawsuit, featured on 60 Minutes last Sunday, was not filed against President Trump—he just inherited it from his predecessor. Both administrations have tried to have the case dismissed.

March 6, 2019 - CBS News: 60 Minutes

Redlining Map

A Reading List on Exclusion and Racism in the Legal History in the United States

The legal history of the United States is full of laws designed to exclude and segregate the racialized other. This reading list recommends scholarship that sheds light on that history.

March 6, 2019 - Places Journal

NCCU Station Rendering Durham

Duke Faculty Support N.C. Rail Project; University Opposes It

Duke University will not sign an agreement for a regional rail project that has widespread support from the campus community.

March 6, 2019 - Streetsblog USA

Minneapolis Minnesota

Mayoral Op-Ed Touts New Equitable Development Model in Minneapolis

A plan for 48 acres of riverfront land could make Minneapolis a leader in doing redevelopment right, argue city leaders.

March 6, 2019 - Star Tribune

MBTA Bus

MBTA Will Move to Proof-of-Payment System

A new plan will phase out cash fare payments on buses and trolleys, but many of the details are still up in the air.

March 6, 2019 - The Boston Globe

High-Speed Rail

The Future of U.S. High-Speed Rail Is in Texas

Carlos Aguilar, Texas Central president and CEO, comments on the changes to the San Francisco-to-Anaheim project announced last month by California Gov. Gavin Newsom, and why his project linking Houston and Dallas/Fort Worth will progress.

March 5, 2019 - Texas Central

Arlington Transit Bus

Arlington Transit Service Cuts on the Table

The county is considering service reductions on two routes with low ridership, but the cuts would significantly affect some neighborhoods.

March 5, 2019 - ARLnow

California Governor

Yes, Trump Can Recoup the $3.5 Billion Awarded to California High-Speed Rail

The beleaguered project is still very much alive, despite some media claims to the contrary. As for the Trump administration's claim to two grants awarded to the now-$77 billion project, the state has a deadline to meet if it wants to keep them.

March 4, 2019 - Capital Public Radio

Utah Public Lands

Op-Ed: Congress Passes Public Lands Bill, Ducks Harder Questions

The Natural Resources Management Act enjoyed bipartisan support in both houses of Congress. But it left out contentious issues like wildfires, greenhouse gas emissions, and protecting wildlife corridors.

March 4, 2019 - High Country News

Wastewater California

California Bill Would Increase Wastewater Recycling

In California, a billion gallons of water ends up in the ocean every day. A new bill seeks to curb this practice by requiring treatment facilities to increase recycling and reuse efforts.

March 2, 2019 - Los Angeles Daily News

New York City Traffic

N.Y.C. Takes Steps to Stop Parking Placard Abuse

Transit and cycling advocates say fake and misused placards result in crowded streets and limit mobility.

March 1, 2019 - Politico

Boston

Will Boston Follow New York City and Consider Cordon Tolling?

Tom Acitelli has been following the intersection of congestion pricing and transportation in Boston, particularly as at affects transit. Noting the landmark agreement on cordon pricing reached in New York on Tuesday, he asks if Boston is ready.

March 1, 2019 - Curbed Boston

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.

Top Books

An annual review of books related to planning.

Top Schools

The definitive ranking of graduate planning programs.

100 Most Influential Urbanists

The who's who of urbanism, according to Planetizen readers.

Urban Planning Creators You Should Know

A short list of voices on social, video, and podcasting platforms.