Government / Politics
Veteran City Leader Offers Strategies for Creating Dynamic Streets and Spaces
Drawing on longtime efforts to promote livability at the neighborhood, city, and regional level, Los Angeles Deputy Mayor Rick Cole recently highlighted lessons learned about "urban revitalization."
Is There Ever a Good Time to Increase the Federal Gas Tax?
Oil prices are at a five-year low with gasoline prices averaging $2.67 a gallon, lowest since February 2010. Furthermore, they are expected to drop another 17 cents to $2.50 a gallon in time for Christmas, so why not raise the gas tax by a nickel?
Mileage Fee Worries in the Golden State
California's mileage fee pilot program legislation is now law. Dan Weikel of the Los Angeles Times raises two concerns drivers have regarding the switch to a mileage-based fee from a gas tax: privacy and fairness.
A Lesson in Weathering a Contentious Public Review Process
A column by Aaron Seward provides advice for architects and designers in weathering the public review process. Lesson one: watch how successful politicians do it.
Popular in 2014: Increasing Transient Occupancy Taxes
Fourteen California municipalities attempted to increase their Transient Occupancy Taxes (TOTs) through ballot measures this November. Why are cities around the state looking to TOTs to increase revenues?
Top 10 Books - 2015
Planetizen is pleased to release its list of the ten best books in urban planning, design, and development published in 2014.
A New Era in California for Evaluating Transportation Emissions
An appellate court's rejection of SANDAG's $200 billion sustainable communities plan holds far-reaching implications for how regional planners evaluate greenhouse gas emissions from transportation to meet SB 375 requirements to the year 2050.
Republican Co-Sponsors Rep. Earl Blumenauer's 15-cent Gas Tax Bill
The good news is that a House Republican now supports raising the gas tax to balance the ailing Highway Trust Fund. The bad news is that come Jan. 3, Rep. Tom Petri (R-Wis.), a 36-year member, will be a former congressman—he is retiring on Dec. 26
House Approves Defense Bill; Compromises on Protections of Public Lands
As part of a compromise, the most ambitious public lands package in years was approved earlier this week by the House of Representatives as an addendum to a must-pass defense bill.
Study Provides Lessons in Bike Lane Politics
Eric Jaffe examines the successful (on the third try) bike lane on the Burrard Street Bridge in Vancouver as a case study in pushing a difficult project through to completion.
Will Los Angeles Legalize Street Vending?
The $500 million underground street vending economy in Los Angeles took a step closer toward legalization on Tuesday.
Motorists have OPEC to Thank for Lowest Oil Prices in Five Years
American motorists are enjoying the lowest gasoline prices in five years because OPEC chose not to reduce oil output in the hopes that decreased oil prices will be lower than the cost needed to frack oil from shale.
Amtrak's Achilles Heel, Infrastructurally Speaking
Aging, obsolete, and deteriorating bridges affect both road and rail. The 104-year-old Portal Bridge, a swing bridge over the Hackensack River in New Jersey that frequently fails to close properly, tops Amtrak's list for replacement.
Legislation Proposed to Ban Sidewalk Tolls on Golden Gate Bridge
If two assembly members from San Francisco and Marin counties have their way, pedestrians and bikers on the Golden Gate Bridge will not be tolled as if they were in a motor vehicle.
To Understand New York's Needs, Think Beyond Manhattan
When most people think of New York City, says CUNY planning professor and activist Tom Angotti, they think of Manhattan. This excessive focus on a narrow slice of the greater New York metropolitan area needs to be reconsidered.
Congressional Inaction Will Trigger Virginia Gas Tax Increase
Virginia's new 3.5% wholesales sales tax on motor vehicle fuels is set to increase to 5.1% on Jan.1, not because Congress failed to raise the two-decades-old federal gas tax but for something entirely unrelated to transportation: online sales taxes.
Government in 2020
A new report by Deloitte looks at the way government could be re-structured by 2020 due to influences of business and technology.
Supreme Court to Review EPA's Mercury Standard
The top court's decision on Tuesday to review the first-ever regulation of mercury is a setback for Obama's environmental agenda, in part because it has implications for other EPA initiatives including Wednesday's proposal to tighten the ozone rule.
60 Minutes Examines America's Failing Infrastructure
Steve Kroft of 60 Minutes reviews road, rail, bridges, and ports to see how much investment is needed to improve the country's infrastructure, beginning in Pittsburgh and ending at a key Amtrak rail bridge in New Jersey.
Nation's Most Expensive Bridge Crossing Turns 50
Perhaps known more for high tolls than beauty, the Verrazano Narrows bridge turned 50 on November 21. Staten Islanders expected the high tolls to end when the bridge was paid for.
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.
Heyer Gruel & Associates PA
JM Goldson LLC
Custer County Colorado
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
Transportation Research & Education Center (TREC) at Portland State University
Jefferson Parish Government
Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Claremont
