Government / Politics
Fatalities Mount from Brightline, South Florida's New Higher-Speed Train Service
A 51-year-old bicyclist became the second fatality in the first week of revenue service. It was the fourth fatality since the summer for the diesel train, which operates from West Palm Beach to Fort Lauderdale.
Pushing Against HUD, Fair Housing Activists Look to Procedure
With the Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing Rule on the ropes, a legal strategy has emerged to challenge HUD's plan to delay enforcement.
Bloomberg's 'What Works Cities' Initiative Now Has 100 Participants
The What Works Cities initiative has grown quickly since it launched in 2015.
The 'Wide-Ranging Ecological Downside' of Road Salt
A study from the USGS using five decades of data shows salinity and alkalinity are up in waterways across the United States.
The Slow Transition from Gas Taxes to Mileage Fees
Oregon was the first to conduct a pilot program in 2006, followed by California and Colorado last year. With financial backing from the U.S. DOT, at least four more states are exploring charging by the mile driven rather than the fuel burned.
Largest Desalinated Water Reserve Ever Unveiled in Abu Dhabi
The UAE has created a storage facility under the desert that can provide up to 100 million liters per day in the event of an emergency.
Higher Cost Estimates Could Doom Fort Lauderdale Streetcar
While the 2.8 mile Wave Streetcar project has secured $195 million, proposals for design and construction are coming in higher than expected, which would leave Broward County and Fort Lauderdale responsible for half the extra cost.
In Final Days in Office, Virginia Governor Extends Express Lanes at No Cost to Taxpayers
The Australian toll road company, Transurban, will build two, 10-mile reversible express lanes for Virginia Department of Transportation and provide $277 million for a new bridge in the corridor. Free for carpools, others will pay a variable toll.
'An Adult Day Care on Every Corner:' Aging in the Rio Grande Valley
In a region where most people “age in place,” facilities offering services and socialization give primary caregivers a much-needed break.
Trial Over San Francisco Waterfront Development Height Limits Begins
The State Lands Commission filed suit shortly after San Francisco voters approved Prop. B in June 2014, requiring waterfront developments exceeding height limits to obtain voter approval rather than go through the Planning Commission process.
Oregon Proposed 'Cap and Invest' Bill, Explained
Oregon legislators are hard at work on two new "cap and invest" bills that would establish a "market-based, carrot-and-stick approach to reducing greenhouse gas pollution."
Ballot Measure to Hike Bay Area Bridge Tolls Headed for June Ballot
A modest toll increase, $3 over six years, took a major step forward with the approval of a key Bay Area Toll Authority committee. With the exception of the Bay Bridge, the round-trip toll on each of the region's seven state-owned bridges is $5.
A Change in Land Use Leadership in New York City
A new speaker of the New York City Council is expected to change the way development negotiations play out for local councilmembers.
50-Cent Gas Tax Increase Ruled-Out by GOP Congressional Leaders
News of the GOP's rejection of a gas tax increase comes from reports on two recent private meetings between Republican leaders and the Trump Administration.
Transit Funding in the Trump Era Still an Unsolved Mystery
2018 could finally reveal how the federal government will approach transit funding in the Trump era. Or the status quo could continue.
Regardless of Cost, New York Must Rehabilitate its Crown Jewel: the Subway
Depending on what's included, the cost to rebuild the ailing 665-mile system could be $111 billion, but the city's future depends on it. A feature-length New York Times Magazine piece looks at its history and suggests ways to finance rebuilding.
In New York's Next Penn Station, Function Does Not Always Follow Form
Some of the time and money invested in the visually spectacular Moynihan Station should have been spent looking at how well it actually works for commuters, writes Alon Levy.
Op-Ed: Only Political Cowardice Stands in the Way of Congestion Pricing in New York
It was former London mayor Richard Livingstone who accused leaders of cowardice for not supporting congestion pricing, notes a New York Times op-ed that warns that the New York City mayor and New York State governor may "bungle" the opportunity.
Private Garbage Collections a Deadly Business for Employees and Pedestrians
Tired drivers working long hours in damaged trucks makes private garbage collection a dangerous business.
Despite Bipartisan Opposition, Trump Administration Opens Offshore Oil and Gas Drilling
In a major blow to former President Obama's restrictions on offshore drilling in sensitive areas, Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke announced that he would open the Outer Continental Shelf in four regions: Pacific, Arctic, Atlantic, and the Gulf Coast.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
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Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
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Appalachian Highlands Housing Partners
Mpact (founded as Rail~Volution)
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
City of Portland
City of Laramie
