Government / Politics

Detroit People Mover

Detroit Ballot Measure Puts Regional Transit in Reach

Involving four counties and $4.6 billion, the measure proposes a system that could put a million residents (and a million jobs) within a quarter mile of transit.

October 27, 2016 - Streetsblog USA

Study: Local Roads in California 'At Risk' Due to Lack of Funding

A coalition of local governmental agencies and advocates released their 2016 report on the condition of local streets and roads in California, and they found dire underinvestment. The legislature has yet to convene a special session on funding.

October 27, 2016 - Capitol Weekly

Tax

Behind the Popularity of Transportation Tax Increases

Transportation ballot measures are popular this November: over 70 populate ballots across the country. In California and elsewhere, they supplement declining federal and state funds for local infrastructure.

October 27, 2016 - San Gabriel Valley Tribune

Pope Francis

In the U.S., Climate Politics Trump the Pope's Message

The encyclical "Laudato si: On the Care of Our Common Home" might have scored public relations points among environmentalists last year, but according to a new study, it didn't score any points with Catholics or the broader U.S. population.

October 27, 2016 - The Philadelphia Inquirer

Bromo Seltzer Tower Baltimore

Baltimore's New Zoning Code Almost a Done Deal

The Baltimore City Council granted initial approval for the city's first zoning code overhaul in over 40 years.

October 27, 2016 - The Baltimore Sun

Dallas

DART Board Splits with Dallas Council on Subway Priority

The DART Board decided to move forward with a financial plan that funds both the Cotton Belt light rail line and the D2 subway.

October 26, 2016 - Dallas News

Louisville Bridge

The Critical Role of Down-Ballot Races in State Transportation Funding

The overwhelming majority of states that increased gas taxes last year were Republican-controlled. In states where the legislature is split, it's more difficult to approve transportation funding legislation. Down-ballot races may prove decisive.

October 26, 2016 - Governing

Albany

Are States Too Active or Not Active Enough? Yes.

State governments like to limit local taxing authority but not local zoning—maybe they should do the exact opposite.

October 26, 2016 - Michael Lewyn

Atlanta International Airport

Surprisingly Few People Make a Lot of Airport Noise Complaints

A new study has found that just a handful of people are responsible for the majority of noise complaints directed toward airports.

October 26, 2016 - Quartz

Joan Clos

'The World's Urban Planner': UN-Habitat's Joan Clos

The phrase "everything on the street" captures UN-Habitat head Joan Clos's approach to urbanization. In the wake of Habitat III, who is the man behind the conference's "New Urban Agenda"?

October 26, 2016 - Citiscope

A Transportation Benefit District That Also Benefits the Police Department

The city of Woodland, Washington, offers a case study in government funding. Voters there will consider a sales tax as part of its transportation benefit district, but the benefit could extend to the police department as well.

October 25, 2016 - The Columbian

High-Speed Rail

Good Political News for California High-Speed Rail

One of the major critics of the $64 billion project that would link Los Angeles and San Francisco just became a supporter, and that's really good news considering the project's major booster, Gov. Jerry Brown, will be leaving office in two years.

October 24, 2016 - The Associated Press

Homeless

Los Angeles Hires New 'Homelessness Coordinator'

The new position will keep the city on track in its comprehensive strategy to aid the nearly 40,000 homeless people in Los Angeles.

October 24, 2016 - LA Downtown News

Measuring Up to HUD's New Fair Housing Rules

After beefing up the 1968 Fair Housing Act, the feds are guiding cities to compliance.

October 24, 2016 - Next City

Power Plant

Getting it Right on U.S Energy Independence

During the second presidential debate Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton claimed that the "U.S. was energy independent." Some in the media, including Politifact, were quick to report that claim as "false." And the news just got worse.

October 23, 2016 - Planetizen

The Most Important Environmental Measure on the Ballot Next Month

If climate change is among the world's most pressing environmental issues, then Initiative 732 in Washington state should be watched by all concerned with the future of the planet. PBS NewsHour explores why the initiative is so controversial.

October 22, 2016 - PBS NewsHour

Pothole

Cities See the Light at the End of the Fiscal Tunnel

The "City Fiscal Conditions 2016" report by the National League of Cities is willing to allow new levels of optimism.

October 20, 2016 - Governing

St. Louis

Historic Missouri-Illinois Bridge Completes Rehabilitation Funded by Recovery Act

Remember President Obama's 2009 economic stimulus program? Add another completed project to the program's successes: the restoration of the multi-modal 1874 iconic Eads Bridge connecting St. Louis and East St. Louis, Ill. over the Mississippi River.

October 19, 2016 - AASHTO Journal

Pittsburgh

Pittsburgh Devotes New Department to Transportation Planning

The Department of Mobility and Infrastructure will be up and running by 2017.

October 19, 2016 - PGH City Paper

Sprawl

Gov. Jerry Brown Condemns State School Bond Measure for Promoting Sprawl

Ten newspapers have joined California Gov. Jerry Brown in opposing Proposition 51, a $9 billion bond ballot measure endorsed by both Democrats, including the lieutenant governor, and Republicans.

October 18, 2016 - Planetizen

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.

Associate/Senior Planner

Gallatin County Department of Planning & Community Development

Senior Planner

Heyer Gruel & Associates PA

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.