Government / Politics

Seattle City Council

Breaking Down the Seattle City Council's 'War on Density'

Recent legislation considered (with some approved) by the Seattle City Council Planning, Land Use, and Sustainability Committee takes anti-development politics to a new level in a city reacting to years of growth.

June 19, 2015 - Publicola

With Planning Approval Comes New Value: How Can Communities Gain Too?

A post by CityMetric uses examples from the United Kingdom to make the case for new approaches to value capture.

June 19, 2015 - Citymetric

Paterson: A Postindustrial Portrait

Once a major industrial hub, Paterson, NJ has experienced urban decline since the end of World War II. But the city is rich with history and opportunities for revival. The article chronicles how the city can avail these opportunities through design.

June 18, 2015 - Doggerel

Vintage Taxi

Uber Vehicles are Not Taxis, Even When They Want To Be

A June 16 vote by the San Francisco MTA to improve safety will allow taxis, along with bicycles and Muni buses, but not ride-hailing services to make turns onto the downtown's main thoroughfare, Market Street, has upset San Francisco-based Uber.

June 18, 2015 - San Francisco Chronicle

Legislation to Decimate the Federal Gas Tax Resurfaces

Sen. Mike Lee (R-Utah) has reintroduced a bill to cut the federal gas tax by 80 percent and give transportation authority to states, known as devolution. Also, House Transportation Chair Bill Shuster is promoting repatriation as a funding source.

June 16, 2015 - The Hill

Mo' Money, Mo' Problems: Community Edition

Do we ever reach a point as a community wherein our problems are behind us? Sorry, but no. If anything, it gets more complicated.

June 15, 2015 - PlaceShakers

Governing Profiles Charles Marohn's Message on Transportation Funding

An article for Governing profiles the method and message of Charles Marohn, known to Planetizen readers as the name behind the Strong Towns blog.

June 15, 2015 - Governing

Michigan House Road Funding Plan B Would Rob Peter to Pay Paul

Now that voters have decisively rejected a sales tax measure that would have also hiked the gas tax, House representatives have proposed eliminating the state's Earned Income Tax Credit that benefits the working poor to help pay for roads.

June 15, 2015 - Record-Eagle

Increase Gas Tax—Fund Highway Expansions

While some states are cutting back on transportation expenditures as funds run short, Iowa is not one of them, having passed a 10-cent gas tax increase that took effect March 1. New highway expansions are funded in addition to "fix it first."

June 14, 2015 - The Gazette

Toronto

Toronto City Council Decides to Rebuild Gardiner East Expressway

Coulda, woulda, shoulda. The Toronto City Council sided with Mayor John Tory this week to rebuild an elevated freeway in downtown rather than tearing it down.

June 12, 2015 - Toronto Star

Prop. 13 Under the Microscope Again in California

Long considered a roadblock to raising the revenues necessary to run California, Prop. 13 is one of the country's most notorious political third rails. Two state senators, however, would roll back Prop 13 protections for commercial properties.

June 12, 2015 - Los Angeles Times

What's in a Name? Bill Would Officially Rename Tallest Mountain in the U.S.

It looks like the pieces are in place in Congress to change the name of Mount McKinley to Mount Denali. Though the mountain is located in Alaska, Ohioans are expected to put up the biggest fight over the name change.

June 11, 2015 - The Hill

Report: How Did Reagan More than Double the Gas Tax in 1982?

A new report by the Eno Center for Transportation looks at the landmark five cent gas tax increase of 1982, more than doubling the existing tax, and explores its relevance to today's federal transportation funding crisis.

June 11, 2015 - Eno Center for Transportation

New York City Construction

U.S. Opposition to New Development

New data from the 2015 Saint Index shows what projects provoke the most opposition in the United States when proposed "In your community."

June 10, 2015 - The 2015 Saint Index

New Faces on the Denver City Council Brings New Skepticism Toward Development

Denver has a reputation for building new residential units to accommodate its rapid growth. But the incoming class of new city councilmembers brings strong anti-development politics.

June 9, 2015 - The Denver Post

Questions About Operations of Cincinnati's Streetcar Still Need to Be Answered

The Southwest Ohio Regional Transit Authority (SORTA) has been busy negotiating with bidders regarding the potential operations of the forthcoming Cincinnati streetcar.

June 8, 2015 - Cincinnati Business Courier

The Partisan Transit Divide

It's not quite as simple as Republicans opposing transit and Democrats supporting it. It depends what level of government is discussing it. On the local level, demand for better transit can transcend partisan divides.

June 8, 2015 - Roll Call

House Approves Cuts to Census and American Community Survey—Senate Up Next

The American Planning Association is keeping tabs on a bill making its way through Congress that would cut funding for the U.S. Census Bureau.

June 7, 2015 - APA Policy News

Transportation Reauthorization Showdown Likely on Capitol Hill

With the current two-month transportation patch set to expire July 31, Democrat leaders are hankering for a showdown to secure a six-year reauthorization bill. A confrontation may occur with Republicans who prefer another patch.

June 5, 2015 - Politico

Québec Institutionalizes Its 'Fight Against Climate Change'

For Québec, climate action is a top priority that transcends party agendas—so the province is partnering with other sub-national entities to bypass national politics in building a cap-and-trade market.

June 5, 2015 - VerdeXchange News

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.