Government / Politics
The Option of Sensing the City
In his second Huffington Post article on "place-decoding," Chuck Wolfe argues for considered attention to enhancing people's abilities to discern the city around them.
Report Illuminates Weak Efforts to Reduce Carbon Intensity
According to the most recent PricewaterhouseCoopers "Low Carbon Economy Index," the planet's current carbon intensity will see a 7.2 degree Fahrenheit increase by 2050.
Philadelphia City Council Adopts Data-Driven Framework for Planning Decisions
Ashley Hahn reports on Philadelphia's "Community Sustainability Initiative," a data-driven process for evaluating public investments. Questions remain about how the new decision making framework will change planning operations in the city.
Largest TIFIA Loan to P3 Goes to Florida's 'I-4 Ultimate' Project
Transportation Secretary Foxx announced the largest TIFIA loan to be awarded to a public-private partnership will be used to widen 21 miles of Interstate 4 in Florida known as "I-4 Ultimate" by adding four express or toll lanes in the Orlando area.

Shouldn't Transit Managers Actually Ride Transit?
Eric Jaffe lays out the case for why individuals in charge of transit systems should ride transit, and what problems stem from them not doing so right now.
You’ve Got Lemons: What Now?
A timeless marker of community has emerged as a source of conflict: the lemonade stand is being called an "illegal business." Scott Doyon discusses how getting to know — and support! — your neighbor can be an issue of survival.
Keystone XL Update: Nebraska Supreme Court Case Begins
The Nebraska Supreme Court began hearing the case that will be considered before the Obama Administration will decide whether or not to authorize the controversial pipeline.

Are We Approaching Peak Land Use Control?
With an increasing reliance on development regulations and requirements on land owners to satisfy policy goals, are we approaching an unsustainable point in land use controls?
Nevada's $1.2 Billion Investment in Tesla Predicted to Have $100 Billion Impact
The generous incentives granted the electric car company for securing the $5 billion factory will yield disproportionate economic benefits, according to Gov. Brian Sandoval, for a state suffering high unemployment and a lack of economic diversity.
Prioritizing Resilience: Fraught with Challenges, But Worthwhile
In the face of climate change, making cities "resilient" before crises strike has become a pressing concern.
Learning to 'Place-Decode' the Elements of Urbanism
Chuck Wolfe champions the role of France's attachment to place as a laboratory for decoding the essential elements of urbanism.
Breaking News: $5 Billion Tesla Battery 'Gigafactory' Headed to Nevada
With competition from California, Arizona, New Mexico, and Texas, Elon Musk, the CEO of Bay Area-based Tesla Motors, chose the Silver State to build his much sought after $5 billion battery "giga factory."
How to Make the Sharing Economy Work for Governments
Gabe Klein discusses some of the merits and challenges of forging private-public partnerships between disruptive companies and government entities.
California High Speed Rail Construction and Litigation Update
Notwithstanding a favorable court ruling freeing state bond funds, construction is delayed on the 800-mile project, reports Ralph Vartabedian of the LA Times. Jessica Calefati of the Mercury News writes on opponents' appeal to the state Supreme Court
$102 Million Brings Chicago-St. Louis High Speed Rail a Step Closer
A $102 million investment by Illinois along with federal funds from the Recovery Act will pay for double-tracking and a new rail bridge to enable 109 mph service on a key section of Amtrak's Chicago to St. Louis high speed rail corridor.
Local Climate Change Response Prevailing Over Federal Action
With national action tackling climate change remaining weak, regional and local municipalities are taking substantive actions to address the oncoming severe affects of climate change.
Euro-Envy Reconsidered: Talkin' Time, Distance, and Change
Most North American urbanists turn to Europe for inspiration and direction. Some of that brilliance, Ben Brown reminds us, is due to time and distance.
Report: Fracking Doesn't Pose Danger to California Groundwater
The Bureau of Land Management will resume oil and gas leasing in California after a report by a scientific research organization established by the state legislature showed no correlation between fracking and groundwater pollution.
Fifty Years of the Wilderness Act
Fifty years ago, Lyndon B. Johnson signed into law The Wilderness Act, at the time protecting more than nine million acres of wild lands throughout the nation.

The Future of the Gayborhood
With the advancement of LGBT rights and equality, the traditionally LGBT neighborhood is changing to reflect the tastes and preferences of the new LGBT community within.
Pagination
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