Government / Politics

Dallas Breaks Ground on Yet Another Downtown Park
Pacific Plaza will the fourth park built in the center of the city in the last decade, and there are still plans for three more.

No Two Property Taxes Are Alike
The annual "50-State Property Tax Comparison Study" is available examines the imbalances across jurisdictions, and even within jurisdictions, when it comes to property taxes.
USDOT Awards $96 Million to BRT Projects in Washington, Missouri and Commuter Rail in California
On April 9, FTA awarded $43 million for a new, 12-mile bus rapid transit line in Everett; $30 million to extend BRT 10 miles in Kansas City and $22.5 million to extend a North Bay commuter rail line two miles to a ferry terminal on San Francisco Bay.

The Amazon Opportunity to Revitalize Urban Communities
If corporations continue to be able to take public subsidy as the price of locating in an area, maybe the debate isn't whether to offer subsidies but simply how and for what to offer them. Here’s one incentive that might actually benefit communities.

Manhattan Congestion Pricing Effort Ends With For-Hire Vehicle Fee
A new fee on trips made in ride-hailing and other for-hire vehicles and taxis in much of Manhattan was approved by the New York State legislature as part of the budget legislation. Plans for future tolls on cars and trucks weren't included.
Legislation Would Ensure California Housing Construction Keeps Pace with Population Growth
A companion bill to the controversial SB 827, also introduced Sen. Scott Wiener (D-S.F)., could have a similar impact on housing production but hasn't gathered nearly as much attention. SB 828 makes critical changes to the state's housing supply law.

Atlanta Suburbs Reconsidering Public Transit
A sweeping set of bill approved by the State legislature could pave the way for a "transformational" investment in public transit throughout the Atlanta region.

How Surveillance in Cities is Evolving
Across the globe, smart cities are increasingly procuring and implementing information technology in order to improve the efficiency and sustainability of urban spaces. The former CTO of L.A. and the mayor of Beverly Hills weigh in on the subject.

Speculation Continues on the Death of the Brooklyn-Queens Streetcar
The New York Times transit reporter looks into the lack of progress on the $2.5 billion project proposed by Mayor Bill de Blasio in his 2016 State of the City speech. The mayor responds angrily to a Daily News article casting doubt on the project.

Squaring Urbanism, Equity, and Density in the SB 827 Debate
As Sen. Wiener has announced new amendments to the controversial land use, transit-oriented development, and real estate bill, The Planning Report turns to three experts to unpack the legislation's consequences.

Bill to Toll Connecticut Interstates and Parkways Advances
A bill backed by Gov. Malloy that directs the Department of Transporation to prepare a plan to toll three interstates and two state parkways narrowly passed two legislative committees largely along party lines. It now advances to the full House.

Hudson River Park Revamp Finally Has the Funding Deal It Needed
The project was originally scheduled for completion in 2003.

Cabinet Secretaries Sign Pledge to Speed Up Permitting and Approvals
A key part of the Trump Administration's infrastructure plan, dormant as it is, is to speed up permitting.

Reviving the 'Miracle Mile' May Be Tucson's Next Big Thing
After tremendous success with a streetcar line, the desert city is considering strategies for investing in its historic automobile corridor.
Four TEXpress Lanes Open on I-35 West in Fort Worth Ahead of Schedule
Four miles of the 10-mile North Tarrant Express project opened to motorists on April 5. The $1.6 billion project, built by a public-private partnership working with TxDOT, includes rebuilding general purpose and frontage road lanes.

Cryptocurrency Goes in Search of Cheap Power, Finds it in Small-Town America
Some of the least expensive electricity in the country can be found in Upstate New York, where cryptocurrency miners are starting to set up shop—with or without local approval.
The Dilemma of Autonomous Vehicle Testing
Autonomous vehicles hold the potential to greatly reduce auto crashes. Advocates want them on the road as early as possible to reduce fatalities. Skeptics worry that the public will be guinea pigs during the testing—case in point: Elaine Herzberg.

Why Would Arizona Deregulate Groundwater Now?
For decades the arid state has required most new construction projects to demonstrate adequate water supply, but at the edge of the next dry spell, two lawmakers are trying to get rid of the rules.

Maybe National Park Entrance Fees Won't Triple After All
After public outcry, Department of the Interior officials seem to have changed their mind about raising the price of entrance fees into National Parks.
Noncompliant Bodies, Accommodating Space
The architects behind “Stalled!” see gender as one of many variables and identities to consider in designing inclusive environments.
Pagination
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