Government / Politics

Dakota Access Pipeline

Nebraska Commission Authorizes Keystone XL Pipeline, But With a Major Twist

TransCanada got its second wish. Last March, President Trump reversed President Obama's rejection of the 1,136-mile pipeline to carry Alberta oil sands crude. On Monday, the Nebraska Public Service Commission OK'd a route, but not the one it wanted.

November 21, 2017 - The Washington Post

Donald Trump

Host Nation Reveals Embarrassment as Climate Talks End

It's not so easy weaning itself from dirty coal power, one reason why Germany likely won't meet its 2020 greenhouse gas reduction targets. But they will have plenty of company, though all targets are voluntary.

November 21, 2017 - The New York Times - Climate

Seattle Brick Loft

Affordable Housing Near Transit: Seattle's REDI Makes Its First Loan

For a city in the middle of a rent crisis, the Tacoma Housing Authority project can't come too soon.

November 20, 2017 - Curbed Seattle

Mt. Hood and Traffic

Oregon's New Motor Vehicle Sales Tax Litigated

The half-cent sales tax will fund new rebate programs for zero and near zero-emissions vehicles and multimodal transportation. Opponents claim the privilege tax, as it is called, violates the state constitution because revenues aren't used for roads.

November 20, 2017 - The Bulletin (Oregon)

Public Comment

The Truth About Creating Policy: It Can't Be Evidence-Based

Research in cognitive sciences is dictating that we can no longer rely on the presentation of scientific facts when building policy.

November 19, 2017 - Steven Snell

Wind

Offshore Wind Lands on Lake Erie

By 2019, a multi-million dollar project developed by a former "big energy" guy might make Cleveland the new U.S. leader in renewable energy.

November 17, 2017 - Next City

U.S.-Mexico Border

Cards Against Humanity Vs. the Trump Administration

The game company has pledged to obstruct Trump's proposed border wall.

November 16, 2017 - The Washington Post

Garbage

Nuisance Laws Fine Victims

Nuisance laws in Ohio cities endanger and discriminate against the victims of abuse, domestic violence, and the mentally ill.

November 16, 2017 - Cleveland Scene

Houston Texas

Challenges in Rebuilding Houston Extend Beyond Development

Michael Kimmelman, architecture critic of The New York Times, looks beyond sprawl and development issues that challenge Houston in its rebuilding efforts. An anti-urban, anti-regulation bias from the statehouse isn't helping matters.

November 15, 2017 - The New York Times

Folsom Car Culture

New Poll Shows Californians Would Repeal 12-Cent Gas Tax Hike

On Nov. 1, fuel taxes increased for the first time in 23 years in California. Next November, Californians will likely decide whether to return those taxes to 1994 levels, as well as repeal other tax and fee hikes passed by the legislature in April.

November 15, 2017 - San Francisco Chronicle

City Hall

Advice for Repairing Relations Between Planners and the Public

Planners and the public must improve their relationship, according to this article.

November 15, 2017 - Strong Towns

Tenderloin District

Rent Control's Mixed Effects in San Francisco

As California debates the future of rent control in its municipalities, a group of Stanford economists have conducted research that connects San Francisco's existing policy with higher housing costs.

November 14, 2017 - The Mercury News

Ralph Northam

Gubernatorial Elections Have Environmental Consequences

A movement initiated by Gov. Terry McAuliffe (D-Va.) to join the East Coast carbon cap-and-trade program has accelerated with the election of his Democratic lieutenant governor, Ralph Northam, as governor. Similar news is expected from New Jersey.

November 13, 2017 - Washington Examiner

Coal Ash

And Then There Was One

Donald Trump ran on an "America First" platform for president. The latest news from the climate talks in Bonn, Germany, though, shows that it is now "America Alone" in terms of nations who haven't adopted the Paris climate agreement.

November 13, 2017 - The Washington Post

LEGO Land

Small New York Town Plans for Giant Legoland

Merlin Entertainments chooses the upstate New York hamlet of Goshen for its ninth Legoland theme park.

November 13, 2017 - The Architect's Newspaper

Downtown Houston

Rebuilding by Design, This Time in Houston

History shows that there's more than one way to control flooding, but the best ideas are also urban amenities.

November 11, 2017 - Houston Chronicle

Carpool Lane Sticker

Momentum Builds to Ban Sales of Gas and Diesel-Powered Cars in California

The Los Angeles Times editorialized in support of legislation that is expected to be introduced next year to ban sales of internal combustion engine passenger vehicles, though they didn't suggest a date when the ban should become effective.

November 10, 2017 - Los Angeles Times

Colorado Voters OK New Toll Lanes on Interstate 25 by Passing Two Measures

Colorado Springs and El Paso County voters agreed to add the highway widening to a list of projects that a regional transportation authority can fund. They passed an additional funding measure enabling county funds to be spent rather than refunded.

November 9, 2017 - The Gazette

Tulsa Arkansas River

How Tulsa Beat Flooding Without Saying 'Climate Change'

An oil town in a red state proves we don't have to talk about climate change to adapt to it.

November 9, 2017 - Governing

Freeway Construction

GOP Tax Plan Eliminates Critical Infrastructure-Funding Bond Program

The Tax Cut and Jobs Act would have a deleterious effect on major infrastructure proposed by the private sector. The loss of Private Activity Bonds would hike borrowing rates for road, transit, stadium, and even affordable housing projects.

November 9, 2017 - Greater Greater Washington

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.