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."

December 10, 2014 - The Planning Report

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?

December 10, 2014 - The Atlantic

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.

December 9, 2014 - Los Angeles Times

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.

December 9, 2014 - The Architect's Newspaper

Hotel Lobby With Cute Sleeping Child

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?

December 8, 2014 - Maayan Dembo

Library

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.

December 8, 2014 - James Brasuell

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.

December 8, 2014 - San Diego Union-Tribune

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

December 8, 2014 - The Huffington Post

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.

December 8, 2014 - Los Angeles Times

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.

December 6, 2014 - CityLab

Will Los Angeles Legalize Street Vending?

The $500 million underground street vending economy in Los Angeles took a step closer toward legalization on Tuesday.

December 5, 2014 - Los Angeles Times

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.

December 2, 2014 - Vox

Hackensack RIver

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.

December 2, 2014 - AP via The Washington Post

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.

December 1, 2014 - San Francisco Chronicle

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.

December 1, 2014 - Satellite Magazine

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.

December 1, 2014 - The Washington Post

City Hall Philadelphia

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.

November 30, 2014 - Fast Co.Exist

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.

November 27, 2014 - The Wall Street Journal

Crumbling concrete bridge

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.

November 25, 2014 - CBS News: 60 Minutes

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.

November 24, 2014 - The New York Times N.Y. / Region

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.