Government / Politics

Architect of Trump Infrastructure Plan Resigns

Among the many departures of the Trump administration, one name hasn't made major headlines: DJ Gribbin, a former Macquarie Capital Group executive and general counsel for the U.S. Department of Transportation serving President George W. Bush.

April 6, 2018 - NPR: The Two-Way

Wheelchair Ramp

The Americans With Disabilities Act Survives Congress (for Now)

Threat of a Senate filibuster has blocked the progress of a bill that would restrict enforcement of the Americans With Disabilities Act.

April 6, 2018 - Rewire.News

Volunteers

When Coastal States Kill Building Codes, FEMA Pays

Despite the increasing number and intensity of natural disasters, some vulnerable states are relaxing building regulations and leaving the federal government to pick up the tab when tragedy strikes again.

April 5, 2018 - Bloomberg

Intercontinental Hotel

Massachusetts Considering a Hotel Tax on Short-Term Rentals

Legislation moving through the Massachusetts Legislature would implement the same tax on short-term rentals that already applies to hotels. Local jurisdictions would also be free to implement their own taxes on short-term rentals under the law.

April 5, 2018 - The Boston Globe

Jersey City Demolition Ban Is All About the 'Bayonne Box'

An inexpensive architectural style is deemed unfit for a town looking to preserve its history—and become a more sophisticated city.

April 4, 2018 - The Jersey Journal

Tesla

More Bad News for Tesla—This Time From the EPA

A rollback of fuel economy standards carries huge financial consequences for the all-electric vehicle manufacturer that makes over $300 million annually by selling credits to auto manufacturers unable to achieve current fuel economy standards.

April 4, 2018 - Vox

Free Floating Bikeshare

BART Has Had Enough of Dockless Bikes

With piles of them strewn around stations, the transit agency is "cracking down" on bikeshare companies.

April 4, 2018 - San Jose Mercury News

Rural Traffic

Rollback of Fuel Efficiency Standards Announced by EPA

EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt announced Monday that his agency is siding with auto manufacturers and relaxing greenhouse gas emission standards for new cars and light trucks.

April 3, 2018 - Bloomberg Politics

Virginia Freeway

Popularity of Express Lanes Spreads Beyond Virginia

Dan Vock of Governing takes a broad look at congestion pricing, beginning with the success of Virginia's 66 Express Lanes, the ones where tolls initially topped $40. Notwithstanding complaints, managed lanes are spreading, but challenges remain.

April 3, 2018 - Governing

HUD

Amid Turmoil, HUD Relaxes Fair Housing Enforcement

The department's activities, or lack thereof, under the Trump administration have caused housing advocates a lot of consternation. Under Ben Carson, is HUD abandoning its fair housing mission?

April 3, 2018 - The New York Times

Nashville

Tennessee Legislature Blocks Nashville's 2016 Inclusionary Zoning Policy

Republicans in the Tennessee State Legislature made sure Nashville will never know if its inclusionary zoning policy would have delivered affordable housing in the city.

April 2, 2018 - Tennessean

facebook

Facebook Launches New 'Smart City' Experiment: Zuckerburgh

Facebook has announced plans for a new kind of city, which will begin as a new digital layer over reality in Menlo Park, California before quickly spread over everything.

April 1, 2018 - Planetizen April 1st Edition

Skaters

Yes Sitting, Yes Skating, Yes Music

Where can teenagers hang out and be safe in public? Members of Yes Loitering, advocates for public spaces where youth can “hang out and be themselves” without fear of reprisal.

March 31, 2018 - Urban Omnibus

Uber Self-Driving Car

Scrutiny Turns Toward Uber After First Pedestrian Death by Autonomous Vehicle

It's not just the autonomous vehicle technology, but also the company that operated the self-driving SUV receiving scrutiny after the death of Elaine Herzberg in Tempe, Az. on March 18.

March 31, 2018 - San Francisco Chronicle

NYC Subway Construction

Feds to Investigate Transit Project Costs

The Government Accountability Office will investigate why it costs so much more to build transit in the United States than anywhere else in the world. Perhaps this could be the change of systematic change.

March 29, 2018 - The New York Times

Homeless

Protests Push O.C. to Kill Its First Real Plan to Help the Homeless

The affluent county finally authorized a concrete plan to address a housing crisis, but forceful opposition from residents put them 'back to Square One.'

March 29, 2018 - Los Angeles Times

D.C. Streetcar

D.C. Mayor Proposes Tax Increase on Ride-Hailing to Fund Transit

Mayor Bowser's 2019 budget also continues investments designed to create affordable housing and distribute homeless shelters throughout the city.

March 29, 2018 - The Washington Post

Oklahoma City

2018 Planning Excellence Awards Announced

The APA revealed their annual recognition of the best of the best for planners and planning in 2018.

March 29, 2018 - American Planning Association

Capitol

Omnibus Spending Bill Expands Low Income Housing Tax Credit

Missed among the coverage of the federal Omnibus Bill on Friday of last week: a long-awaited expansion of the Low Income Tax Credit.

March 27, 2018 - Globe St.

Main Street

National League of Cities to Study State Preemption of Local Laws

The mission of the National League of Cities is to advocate for cities—and the organization is now gathering evidence to push back on growing amount of state preemption of local control.

March 27, 2018 - CitiesSpeak

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.

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A short list of voices on social, video, and podcasting platforms.