Government / Politics

Coal, a Campaign Promise Unfulfilled
President Trump still touts coal and its return, but what’s happening in the real world suggests coal is on its way out for good.

Mixed Messages on Federal Spending Bill's Attention to Gateway Rail Project
Project supporters and the Trump administration disagree on the takeaway for the Gateway project after Congress and the president signed a federal spending bill earlier this month.

Trump Administration Targets California High-Speed Rail After Border Wall Lawsuit
The Trump administration has canceled a nearly $1 billion grant assigned to the California high-speed rail project and is attempting to get the state to return the $2.5 billion it has already spent on the $77 billion project.

The Robert Moses Nexus to Amazon's Cancellation of Queens HQ2
Last week, Amazon abruptly canceled its decision to invest about $2.5 billion and bring 25,000 high-paying jobs to Queens. A scholar blames their abrupt decision on an arcane state bureaucracy tasked with preventing Robert Moses-like takings.

Momentum Builds for Public Housing in California
A "white supremacist" law that blocks public housing in the state is up for repeal—again.

Connecticut Transportation Funding Debate: Toll Trucks or Toll All Vehicles?
New Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont has reversed the position of his campaign, when he pledged to toll only heavy trucks to tackle traffic congestion. In an op-ed, Lamont explains why all vehicles must be tolled. He also rules out a gas tax hike.

What President Trump's Border Wall Can't Stop
William H. Frey, a demographer with Brookings, argues that racial diversity is a good thing for the country by many measures. Trump's wall would make it harder to benefit from demographic changes, but changes is still coming.

Gender, Climate Change, and Transit Decision Makers
A member of Ottawa’s city council says transit commissioners should support women’s rights and believe that climate change is real.

Sale of Illinois Tollway Considered to Pay Pension Debt
Gov. J.B. Pritzker has a $134 billion problem in unfunded pension liabilities. Along with several other measures, his administration is considering selling state assets, including the Illinois Tollway, to fill the hole.

Ontario's Plan for Taking Over Toronto's Subway Revealed
Ontario Progressive Conservatives want the province to take ownership of the city of Toronto's subway network and take responsibility for maintaining and construction.

Form at the Forefront of Zoning Code Rewrite in Covington, Kentucky
The city of Covington is conducting public hearings to gather feedback on at the outset of an 18-month process of rewriting its zoning code.

Post-Mortem: Why Amazon Canceled the Queens HQ2
New York City and State offered up nearly $3 billion in incentives to lure Amazon and its 25,000 high-paying jobs to Queens only to see the tech company cancel their plans after local opposition materialized. Was their retreat too hasty?

More Fallout From Downsizing California High-Speed Rail
A San Francisco Chronicle editorial warns that San Francisco must find funds, intended to come from the state's ambitious rail project, to extend the Caltrain commuter rail line to the SalesForce Transit Center.

Who Has Access to NYC Subways?
For many people with mobility challenges, just getting to an accessible subway station in New York is an impossibility.

New Report on San Francisco Transportation Trends: Driving on the Rise
The city is seeing more transit use and biking, but driving and congestion are also on the rise.

Post-Recession Migration Patterns of Younger and Older Americans
New census data shows that millennials and seniors are migrating less, a result of the Great Recession and its economic impacts. For those who are moving, cities in the Sun Belt have been primary destinations.

HUD Official Moves From Trump Plaza to New York Public Housing
The Trump administration's critiques of the New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) took a strange turn this week.

Vancouver's Ride-Hail-Free Mobility Landscape
While ride-hailing is on the horizon for the Canadian city, the experience so far without the mode provides useful insight into its effects on regional mobility.

How Transit Creates a Two-Tiered Transportation System in America
Transit is not providing what many travelers need, in terms of both location and service. The result is that transit use is a time and financial burden for those who can least afford it.

Washington Ferry Ridership Continues to Grow
The state's ferry system has seen ridership increases year after year, and a new plan outlines the long-range measures needed to keep up with the growth.
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