Government / Politics

Denver Transit Now Part of Uber App
Linking Uber and transit is an attempt to bridge the first-and-last-mile issue for Denver users.

Funding Focus in Push to Diversify Minneapolis Neighborhood Groups
The leadership of neighborhood associations does not reflect the city’s demographics. In the future, funding of the groups could be dependent on reaching diversity benchmarks.

Major Parking Reform Effort Moving Forward in San Diego
Civic San Diego and San Diego planning commissioners approved new parking standards that would eliminate minimums and set maximums of one space per multifamily unit. Those reforms and more must still be approved by the City Council.

If Road Pricing Is Inherently Unfair and Regressive...
Road pricing has its faults as a revenue measure, but it needs to be compared to ten elements of the current system of paying for transportation, including hidden subsidies, says Joe Cortright, an urban economist with Portland-based City Observatory.

More Concern for the 2020 Census: Misinformation on Social Media
The Census Bureau expects misinformation campaigns like those leading to the 2016 President Election to sway the results of the 2020 Census.

Inside the $2 Billion Stadium Hosting the Super Bowl
The hot dogs cost $1,999,999,998 less than the stadium, and either $199,999,998 or $699,999,998 less than taxpayers invested in the stadium.

Active Transportation Program Suffers as Truck Toll Revenue Falls Short
Delays in constructing an extensive truck-only toll system have caused a shortfall in toll revenue affecting the Rhode Island DOT budget. A promise to repair bridges repair means a big cut for bike and pedestrian funding.

Analysis Highlights Causes of Bus Ridership Declines in D.C. Region
Regional governance and more bus lanes are needed to improve ridership, according to a new study.

Boise Faces Growing Pains From West Coast Migration
As more people head to Idaho to escape cities they cannot afford, Boise is encouraging growth and also grappling with the consequences.

Housing Politics: Think Regionally, Lose Locally
Two Bay Area city council members serving on a regional commission suffered the political consequences of supporting a controversial regional housing initiative, not from their constituents, but from their colleagues.

Census Citizenship Question Still Not Decided
Cities fear federal funding cuts if the citizen question stays on the Census and results in an undercount of Latino populations.

California Communities Embrace Fuel Breaks as Effective Wildfire Strategy
Fuel breaks involve clearing vegetation that feeds fires in order to prevent the catastrophic and fast-spreading wildfires that have plagued the state.

Equity Considerations Delay Congestion Pricing in Los Angeles
After discussing a staff report on road pricing at their Jan. 24 meeting, Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority directors paused to weigh the equity implications of charging motorists to drive on roads.

Huntington Beach Sues California Over 2017 By-Right Affordable Housing Bill
When it comes to housing lawsuits involving the state and new housing laws, Huntington Beach might be ground zero. Over a week before Attorney General Becerra sued the Orange County city at the behest of Gov. Newsom, the city sued the state.

New California Governor Follows Up Tough Housing Rhetoric with Action
Gov. Gavin Newsom, only weeks into his new office, had warned cities that his office would hold them accountable for failing to meet their housing requirements. On Friday, he directed Attorney General Xavier Bacerra to sue Hungtinton Beach.

Road Tolls Considered to Replace Declining Fuel Tax Revenues as EV Sales Grow
Iceland is thinking ahead when it comes to revenue losses resulting from its newly adopted "Climate Strategy" that calls for ending petrol-powered, fuel tax-paying motor vehicles by 2030. Widespread electronic road tolls are being considered.

Transportation Priorities of the New Democratic Leadership in the House
With Democrats rising to power in the U.S. House of Representatives and the government recently reopened (temporarily at least), it's time to plot the legislative ambitions of the coming session in Congress.

Houston's $7.5 Billion Multimodal Transportation Plan
The Moving Forward Plan seeks to improve transportation throughout the region, but funding and project priorities still need to be sorted out.

Minneapolis Liquor License Restriction Lifted
The city’s "7-acre rule" limited liquor licenses to restaurants in a commercial zone, but a repeal of the ordinance last year means that restaurants across the city can now apply to serve liquor.

Carbon Tax-and-Dividend Bill to Be Reintroduced
Two members of Congress, a Democrat and a Republican, both from Florida, will reintroduce their bill to put a tax on carbon emissions and return the revenue to the people in the form of a dividend.
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