Government / Politics

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

Global Agreement Reached to Limit 'Super Greenhouse Gas Emissions'

An historic agreement reached by 170 global leaders in Kigali, Rwanda on October 15 to limit hydrofluorocarbons could have more of an impact on reducing climate change than the carbon emission agreement reached in Paris ten days earlier.

October 17, 2016 - The New York Times

Austin

New Tool for Measuring Progress of Sustainability in Austin

Austin Office of Sustainability upgrades transparency with a new online resource.

October 17, 2016 - Next City

Leonardo DiCaprio

Why the Disconnect on Climate Change and Urban Density?

Actor Leonardo DiCaprio is also a committed climate change activist. His documentary on the topic airs Oct. 30 on the National Geographic channel. At the U.N., he asked leaders to take bold action. Yet, as an Angeleno, he opposes increased density.

October 17, 2016 - Curbed LA

NJ Transit

The Recent Decline of New Jersey Transit's Commuter Rail Operations

The New York Times looks into the decline of New Jersey Transit commuter railroad, rated as outstanding only nine years ago. Much of the decline can be traced to decisions by the Christie administration beginning in 2010.

October 17, 2016 - The New York Times

San Francisco Homeless

San Francisco's Anti-Homeless Camping Proposition Has Tech Billionaires' Backing

San Francisco's Proposition Q, up for vote this November, would place additional limits on homeless camping in the city.

October 14, 2016 - The Guardian

George Washington Bridge

Bridgegate Probe Widens to Include Gov. Chris Christie

While the U.S. District Attorney has stated that he would not target Christie, that hasn't stopped other courts from probing. The Bergen County Municipal Court has issued a summons for Christie relating to the closure of GW Bridge access lanes.

October 14, 2016 - The Huffington Post

New Jersey's 23-Cent Gas Tax Increase Clears Legislature

The historic gas hike agreement was unexpectedly rejected in its first attempt to pass the legislature. It was approved on Oct. 7 because only a majority vote was needed. Republican Gov. Chris Chris is expected to sign the legislation.

October 12, 2016 - The Record

Digital Billboard, Edmonton, Canada

New Jersey Town's Digital Billboard Ban Found Unconstitutional

Overruling an earlier appeals court decision, the New Jersey Supreme Court has found one township's prohibition on digital billboards to be unconstitutional.

October 12, 2016 - Rocky Mountain Sign Law

Housing

The Landlord vs. the Fair Housing Lawyer: Race and Planning in the 2016 Election

The 2016 election presents a contest between two campaigns with fundamentally different views of fair housing in the United States—at a time when fair housing is a growing challenge with deep ramifications for the nation.

October 12, 2016 - Jason Reece

New Capital, Cairo, Egypt

Egypt's New Capital City Development Gets Chinese Backing

Plans for the development of a new, unnamed capital city just east of Cairo has received the financial backing of Chinese investors.

October 11, 2016 - CNN

Frank Lloyd Wright Oak Park

In Chicago, Suburbs Becoming More Liberal

Chicago suburban residents were long more conservative than the average Illinois voter but, over the last two decades, that has changed.

October 9, 2016 - City Notes

Airport

Global Leaders Agree to Reduce and Offset Carbon Emissions from Plane Travel

The day after the number of signatories to the Paris Climate Accord met its threshold for implementation, the international community agreed to tackle growing emissions from aviation, which was not covered by the Paris agreement.

October 9, 2016 - The New York Times - Science

Ça c'est Paris

Paris Climate Accord Will Take Effect November 4

October 5 was an historic day, hailed President Obama, as nations responsible for emitting more than 55 percent of world carbon emissions have now signed the Paris climate agreement, the threshold needed for the accord to take effect in 30 days.

October 8, 2016 - Reuters

Freeway

Proposed Federal Rule Could Consolidate 140 Metropolitan Planning Organizations

The Federal Highway Administration and the Federal Transit Administration are considering reforms that would enact a sweeping reform of metropolitan planning organizations (MPOs).

October 7, 2016 - Eno Transportation Weekly

FREE Course: Walkable City 1: Why Walkability?

After describing his path towards focusing on walkability as the essence of good planning, Jeff Speck marches through his five principal reasons for making more walkable places.

Reinventing Malls: Planning Alchemy—Turning Gray Fields Into Gold

The course focuses on the opportunities and imperatives that shape reinvention of mall sites.

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.