Government / Politics

Houston Sprawl

Houston’s Growth Poses Service Challenges

The Houston region continues to grow, and local regional governance is struggling to meet residents’ needs.

November 12, 2018 - Houston Public Media

Gas Pump

Missouri Voters Rejects Legislative Gas Tax Increase

Missouri legislators approved a bill at the end of the legislative session to place a 10-cents per gallon gas tax increase on the ballot to fund road repair. It had the support of Gov. Mike Parson but was rejected by nearly 54 percent of voters.

November 11, 2018 - FOX 4 News

Game

Sunday Fun: New Video Game Explains Land Use Politics

We're not sure if planners will find this game, since it's so close to real life, but maybe it will make a good recommendation for friends and family members?

November 11, 2018 - Greater Greater Washington

Seattle Light Rail Construction

Voters Approved $30 Billion for Transportation This Election

Nationwide, voters approved nearly 70 percent of transportation ballot measures on the ballot.

November 10, 2018 - Eno Center for Transportation

Center City

Philadelphia Project Seeks Diverse Array of Investors

A development project in Philadelphia is raising funds through a combination of Opportunity Zones benefits, federal tax credits, and crowdfunding.

November 10, 2018 - Next City

Los Angeles

Californians Vote to Maintain Roads and Transit by Rejecting Gas Tax Repeal

In potentially the most important transportation ballot measure in the state since 1990, the last time residents voted on the gas tax, Californians were deciding whether to repeal fuel taxes and vehicle registration fees approved last year.

November 9, 2018 - Los Angeles Times

Dupont Station, Toronto

Toronto Mayor Wants a 'Transit Czar'

Toronto Mayor John Tory knows the city's residents take transit seriously, so he's appointing a new position: transit czar.

November 9, 2018 - CBC

Solar and Wind Energy

Mixed Results on Renewable Energy Initiatives

Two western states had very similar renewable energy initiatives on the ballot sponsored by NextGen America requiring utilities to get 50 percent of electricity by 2030. It passed in Nevada but was rejected in Arizona.

November 8, 2018 - The Arizona Republic

Vote

Election 2018 Results: Local and State Land Use, Transportation, Housing, and Infrastructure

Election results from every corner of the country.

November 7, 2018 - James Brasuell

Vancouver Skyline Bikes

New Vancouver Council Plotting to Rescind Recently Approved Zoning Changes

Local elections have consequences.

November 7, 2018 - Vancouver Courier

Los Angeles Little Tokyo

L.A. Decides to Keep Short-Term Rentals Out of Rent Controlled Apartments

A City Council decision on short-term rental regulations reverses the decision of the City Planning Commission.

November 7, 2018 - Los Angeles Times

Spokane, Washington

No West Coast Climate Bloc

Had election results proved favorable in Oregon and Washington, UC Berkley Law Climate Program Director Ethan Elkind suggested that the two states could join California to form a West Coast Climate Bloc. Oregon came through, but not Washington.

November 7, 2018 - Ethan Elkind

Folsom Car Culture

Trump Administration's Error-Riddled Fuel-Economy Rules

The official case for repealing car fuel-economy rules is so full of errors it will be hard to defend in court.

November 5, 2018 - The Atlantic

Solar Panel on a Wind Turbine

Energy Issues at Stake in New Mexico Land Commission Election

Unlike energy issues that will appear in the form of ballot initiatives on Tuesday in three western states, voters in New Mexico will cast their energy vote in their choice for state land commissioner, an arcane position with considerable authority.

November 4, 2018 - NPR

Interstate Research Triangle Park North Carolina

‘Nudging’ Durham Commuters Toward More Sustainable Modes of Travel

Behavioral science is informing the city’s efforts to change the way people commute.

November 4, 2018 - CityLab

U.S. EPA

U.S. EPA's Climate Change Website Still Missing in Action

It might take a new administration for climate change to be of concern to the federal government again.

November 3, 2018 - The Guardian

FLV California train

Major Court Victory for California High-Speed Rail Authority

Plaintiffs suing the state of California over a 2016 law that allowed the High-Speed Rail Authority to tap a $9.9 billion bond measure, passed by voters a decade ago to pay for construction on "usable segments," came up short for the second time.

November 2, 2018 - The Sacramento Bee

Pittsburgh

Judge: Pittsburgh Can't Hide Amazon HQ2 Offer From the Public

City and county officials have already appealed a decision that would require them to release the details of a proposal designed to entice Amazon into locating its second headquarters in Pittsburgh.

November 2, 2018 - Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Downtown Freeway

State Gubernatorial Elections Have Environmental Consequences

The environment and climate change may not be top issues in the nation's hotly contested gubernatorial contests next Tuesday, but their outcomes can cause policy changes. Take North Carolina and the election of Roy Cooper, a Democrat, two years ago.

November 1, 2018 - The Charlotte Observer

Autonomous Vehicles

TEDx: How Will Autonomous Vehicles Transform Cities?

Nico Larco presents a TEDx Talk on the impacts AVs will have on cities, including impacts on land use, land valuation, and the environment. AVs are more than just a transportation issue, and planners need to prepare for the coming changes.

November 1, 2018 - TEDx Talk

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.