Government / Politics

Climate Change Conference

Implementing the Paris Climate Agreement in Katowice, Poland

Representatives from nearly 200 nations have been attending the U.N. Climate Change Conference in Katowice since Dec. 2 to work on implementing the 2015 Paris climate agreement. Scheduled to end Friday, it will be extended two days due to discord.

December 17, 2018 - The Independent

Gas Station 7-Eleven

Who's Advocating Rolling Back Fuel Economy Standards?

Conventional thinking is that the auto industry, wanting to sell more fuel-gulping SUVs, are pushing for weaker fuel economy standards, but Hiroko Tabuchi, climate reporter for The New York Times, exposes Big Oil's stealth campaign.

December 17, 2018 - The New York Times

Longfellow Bridge Boston

Boston Bridge Separated Bike Lane Might Get the Ax This Winter

MassDOT and cycling advocates don’t agree on what should happen to the Longfellow Bridge’s bike lane in the coming months.

December 17, 2018 - The Boston Globe

U.S. Department of the Interior

Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke Resigns Amid Scandals

With a tweet from the president on Saturday morning, the public learns that yet another embattled cabinet member will lose his job. Zinke, a former congressman from Montana, is the subject of numerous investigations and controversies.

December 17, 2018 - The New York Times

Bay Area Wetlands

EPA and Army Corps of Engineers Propose Revision of Wetlands Definition

Fulfilling a promise he made as a candidate, the Trump administration proposed a redefinition of what is classified as a wetland, with the result being the loss of federal protection of millions of acres of waterways and wetlands.

December 14, 2018 - NPR

Brooklyn-Queens Expressway

Brooklyn-Queens Expressway Needs Innovative Solutions

The New York City roadway is desperately in need of repair, but just tearing it down and replacing it would be a shortsighted fix.

December 14, 2018 - Intelligencer - New York Magazine

San Francisco Apartments

Recent Parking Reform: Start of a Wave of Change?

The range of cities that have recently removed parking mandates could help motivate others that are eyeing new parking policies.

December 14, 2018 - Sightline Institute

Hoover Boards and Bus Transit

Cities Need to Create Level Playing Fields For New Mobility (That Tilt Towards Community Goals)

The new mobility landscape requires a few key roles from government.

December 12, 2018 - Urbanism Next Blog - Sustainable Cities Initiative

Port of Morrow

Advocates for Oregon's Carbon Pricing Plan Proceed Cautiously

With the re-election of Gov. Kate Brown and Democrats increasing their majorities in both legislative chambers, Oregon appears poised next year to pass the Clean Energy Jobs bill which caps carbon emissions, but opponents could put it on the ballot.

December 12, 2018 - The Bulletin (Oregon)

Oil

Are Environmentalists Turning Away From Carbon Taxes?

Economics 101: It's difficult to reduce an activity if there's no price attached to it, so why are many environmentalists increasingly turning away from wanting to price carbon emissions?

December 11, 2018 - Politico

Queen Anne Hill Seattle

Seattle Needs More Housing Diversity and Less Single-Family Zoning

The city should look back to its past for lessons about creating more livable, affordable, and equitable neighborhoods, says a new report.

December 11, 2018 - The Urbanist

Recreational Vehicle

Legislation to End Sales of Gas and Diesel Passenger Vehicles in California Reintroduced

Assemblymembers Phil Ting and Ash Kalra have reintroduced the Clean Cars 2040 Act with the goal of banning the sale of passenger vehicles powered by internal combustion engines by 2040, with the California Air Resources Board playing a lead role.

December 10, 2018 - SF Gate

Portland Interchange

Interstate Highway Tolling Takes Major Step Forward in Pacific Northwest

The state that implemented the first gas tax and the first bike tax took a huge step on Thursday toward becoming the first, since 1956, to toll all lanes on an interstate highway by approving an application to the Federal Highway Administration.

December 9, 2018 - The Columbian

Rural Utah

When Cities Prosper, Rural Areas Are Better Off

The pitting of cities and rural communities against one another is the wrong approach. Instead, policies that help cities thrive will benefit rural areas in the long run.

December 9, 2018 - Brookings

Monterey Park California

Roads or Transit: How Will 710 Extension Project Funds Be Used?

The available funding could shift transportation priorities in Southern California’s San Gabriel Valley. But transportation leaders appear to be leaning toward more of the same.

December 7, 2018 - Streetsblog LA

Nation's Newest Toll Road Opens in North Carolina

For a small fee, motorists can now bypass a congested arterial road with two dozen traffic lights outside of Charlotte. Built and operated by the North Carolina Turnpike Authority, the 18-mile, electronically tolled Monroe Expressway opened Nov. 27.

December 6, 2018 - WFAE

Macron Protest

President Macron Acquiesces to Yellow Vests' Demands on Fuel Tax Hike

Despite statements to the contrary just a week ago, Macron reversed position and caved to the demonstrators' demands that upcoming fuel tax hikes be suspended.

December 5, 2018 - CityLab

Los Angeles Road

Speed Limit Increases Needed to Improve Enforcement, Says L.A. City Proposal

In a strange confluence of factors, expired speed limits and a state statute have hampered speed enforcement. Unfortunately, the proposed solution also looks a like a problem.

December 5, 2018 - Los Angeles Times

Mall Parking Lot

'Tis the Season for Abundant Parking

On what is arguably a peak parking day, parking lots around the country still had plenty of space.

December 5, 2018 - CityLab

OC Streetcar Breaks Ground After Receiving Full Funding Grant Agreement

It's only the third full funding grant administration signed by Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao. The $149 million capital investment grant will help fund the 4-mile modern streetcar line from Santa Ana to Garden Grove in Orange County, Calif.

December 4, 2018 - PR Newswire

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