Government / Politics
Does Obama's Office of Urban Affairs Make Sense?
With the departure of department head Adolpho Carrion, the role of the new Office of Urban Affairs is in question. With a small budget and a staff of four, can Urban Affairs make an impact?
Report Looks at Adapting to Climate Change in New York
A new report about how New York City should react and adapt to climate change raises ideas and questions about what other large cities should do to prepare themselves for a changing climate.
World Cup's Impact on Transit in South Africa
This post from The City Fix looks at some of the new public transit systems that have been built in South Africa ahead of this year's World Cup.
Countering Car-Orientation
Cities around the world are trying to undo decades of car-oriented planning. Lester Brown takes a look at the trend and finds some models for other global cities to follow.
Land Use Issue Brings Down Japanese Premier
After backing down on a campaign promise to remove a U.S. military installation from the prefecture of Okinawa, Japanese Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama has been forced to resign.
Is A Mass Transit Bailout the Right Move?
National Journal asks its panel of transportation experts whether mass transit agencies really deserve $2 billion in emergency operating aid.
San Francisco Considers Demand-Based Parking Prices
San Francisco's transportation agency has proposed the installation of parking meters in a handful of neighborhoods that dynamically change their prices according to the time of day and the related demand.
Federal Fortresses: How Much Building Security is Too Much?
Maureen McAvey, Executive Vice President with the Urban Land Institute, spoke recently to a congressional committee on the growing problem of federal buildings that are designed with myopic attention to security and ignore urban growth strategies.
Google Sued When Map Leads Pedestrian Into Busy Intersection
A pedestrian in Park City, UT followed her downloaded Google map onto a four-lane road sans sidewalks. She was hit by a motorist before reaching the median. Lauren Rosenberg is seeking $100,000 in a federal lawsuit.
Carpoolers Lose Free Ride On All Bay Area Bridges
In Jan., the Bay Area Toll Authority approved a new toll schedule that charges carpoolers $2.50, half the regular toll, effective July 1 to cross the seven state owned Bay Area bridges. On May 28, the Golden Gate Dist. approved a $3 carpool rate.
Seeking Quality Not Quantity for Toronto's Bike Network
The head of Toronto's Cycling Committee is calling on the city to shift its focus from the quantity of bike lanes it creates to the quality of connections their planned infrastructure will create in the city's existing bike network.
Beijing to Build 21 New Rail Lines by 2020
Officials in Beijing are planning to build 21 more rail and subways lines by the year 2020.
States Forced to Close Parks
Facing tight budgets, many states are closing or limiting access to their parks and natural resources.
Amid a Slow Recovery, Frustration Grows in Haiti
Frustration and anger are rampant in Port-au-Prince, where recovery from the earthquake that thrashed the city in January has been slow and, by some local accounts, corrupt.
Shrinking and Aging Population Poses Problems for Germany
Emigration is up and the birth rate is dropping in Germany, where people are starting to worry about what a shrinking and aging population will mean for the country's future.
The Uncomfortable Relationship Between Race and Public Transit in L.A.
As part of his series about walking across Los Angeles, writer Ryan Bradley delves into the complicated and controversial relationship between race and transit in the city.
No U.S. Cities in Top 25 Best Cities of the World
London-based consulting company Mercer released their yearly rankings of the 25 most liveable cities, and no American cities make the grade. Vienna is number one, and Vancouver takes fourth.
FRA Grants Electrification Waiver For Commuter Rail Line - A First
The Federal Railroad Administration does not allow for the mixing of train types for safety reasons, which proved a key obstacle for Caltrain's plan for electrification. As a pilot project,they are allowing the line to utilize electric multiple units
Tiger II Grants Announced
The U.S. Department of Transportation today announced the availability of $600 million in new funding for surface transportation projects.
The Bright Lights of Nairobi: Brought to You By Colgate
A private company, working with the City Council of Nairobi, sells advertising space to fund streetlights in the city. Smart public/private partnership, or intrusion of advertising on public spaces?
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.
Smith Gee Studio
City of Charlotte
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
Transportation Research & Education Center (TREC) at Portland State University
US High Speed Rail Association
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
Municipality of Princeton (NJ)
