Government / Politics

Parking Meter Fail

Making the Leap From Smart Projects to Smart Cities

Most "smart city" projects to-date are somewhat isolated and are not part of a more comprehensive network.

November 28, 2017 - Scientific American

MTA Bus

Report: NYC Bus System in Crisis

A new report cites decreased ridership and dismal service despite a growing need for more and better routes.

November 28, 2017 - The New York Times

Cross-Laminated Timber

Timber Industry 'Bracing' for Soaring Demand

Building with wood is back in fashion, but lumber producers have to reckon with thorny politics and new timber-based materials that have yet to be truly defined.

November 28, 2017 - The Architect's Newspaper

Who Opposes New York's BQX Streetcar? Not Who You Think

Brooklyn and Queens need better transit, but activists say this waterfront "luxury trolley" is not the way to get it.

November 28, 2017 - Technical.ly Brooklyn

California Aqueduct

$13 Billion in Water Bonds Headed for the California Ballot in 2018

The legislature placed a $4.1 billion water bond on the ballot in June while a privately funded initiative hopes to qualify an $8.9 billion water bond for the November ballot. The state measure would also fund parks and trails.

November 27, 2017 - San Francisco Chronicle

Ambulance

How the U.S. Compares to Other Nations in Road Safety

It's not just death from gun violence where the U.S. is an outlier. The New York Times compiled traffic fatality data showing that other developed nations have greatly lower traffic death rates, which wasn't historically the case.

November 27, 2017 - The New York Times

Pittsburgh

The Young History of Open Data Leadership in Pittsburgh

The city of Pittsburgh's Open Data project recently released a progress report to commemorate its first two years in operation.

November 27, 2017 - Data-Smart City Solutions

Bike Commuter

Senate GOP Tax Cutters Target Bike Commuter Tax Benefit

To help pay for their massive tax cut bill, Senate Republicans have proposed elimination of a small tax benefit that can save bike commuters $240 annually. Unlike the House tax bill, they don't touch parking and transit benefits.

November 27, 2017 - Bicycling

Detroit Streetcar

Detroit's Rebirth: Beyond the Headlines

John Gallagher takes a look at some of the civic factors and organizations that have worked behind the scenes to pull Detroit through.

November 26, 2017 - Detroit Free Press

Seattle Mixed Use Development

Editorial: Congress Should Extend, Not End, Tax Exempt Bonds for Affordable Housing

The Seattle Times says there could be no worse time than right now to repeal tax exempt bonds that help finance affordable housing.

November 24, 2017 - The Seattle Times

Roosevelt Arch

11 States Launch Resistance to National Park Fee Changes

Eleven attorneys general have sent a letter, and a warning, to the Trump Administration: we'll battle new entrance fees in court if we have to.

November 23, 2017 - The Sacramento Bee

Chicago Commute

Chicago's Innovative Ride-Hailing Tax Approved

The Chicago City Council has approved a new budget that includes a new transit funding mechanism that could level the playing field for transit.

November 22, 2017 - Streetsblog Chicago

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

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.