Government / Politics
Bridge Collapse May Clear Budget Roadblocks
A history of speedbumps have hindered transit funding in Minnesota, but after the Interstate 35W bridge collapse, the state's roads may finally get the maintenance money they need.
Tax Breaks Fueling Luxury Condo Development In Gulf
Investors are taking advantage of tax breaks offered for developing and buying property in hurricane-affected areas of the Gulf region, such as the hot condo market that has sprung up next to a college football stadium in Alabama.
Officials Vote No On 'Flawed' Incentive, Propose New System
Two Roanoke City Councilmembers explain why they voted against an $880,000 city grant to a local developer and propose a more objective approach to offering development incentives.
Budget Woes Cut Quality of Life In Toronto
More than $83 million will be slashed from Toronto's annual budget, and many, including the mayor, predict a sharp cut to services and the city's general quality of life.
How Tucson Can Learn From Portland
Civic leaders and city officials in Tucson recently traveled to Portland to get advice about how to improve their city while dealing with an expected population boom. The trip highlighted the big differences between the two cities.
Street Vendors Face Ousting In Mexico City
Half a million street vendors fill the squares of Mexico City to make their living. The mayor wants to wipe out the vendors, whose businesses contribute no taxes to the city. But the vendors have their own organization that opposes the city's plans.
Building Restrictions Pit Builders Against City
City officials in a Boston suburb are once again trying to approve building restrictions that would cut down the size of new houses in the city. Builders' groups are lobbying the city to find a compromise.
Measure 37's First Case Still Unsettled
Preparations are underway to take Oregon's land use legislation Measure 37 back to the ballot this November, but the property rights case that became the face issue still remains unsettled.
Advocates Upset Over Proposed Changes To Affordable Housing Policy
Housing advocates in Sacramento are up in arms over proposed changes to the city's housing policy that would shift responsibility for building affordable units from the developer to the city -- changes they say will limit the policy's effectiveness.
Bush Nixes Gas Tax Increase For Bridge Repair
The chair of the House Transportation Committee had barely released his call for an increase in the federal gas tax to fund bridge repair when President Bush stated he would oppose it, claiming not more money but better priorities is the answer.
L.A. Joins California Cities In Park Smoking Ban
Joining the ranks of Sacramento, San Francisco, and San Diego, the city of Los Angeles has approved a ban on smoking in public parks.
Federal Disaster Planning Shuts Out Local, State Officials
State and local officials are angered over being left out of disaster planning measures, after the Bush Administration adopted a unilateral approach that concentrates planning authority in the White House.
Chicago Transit Authority Plans For Possible Budget Shortfall
Facing the prospect of not receiving crucial state funding, the Chicago Transit Authority has released a "doomsday" plan to guide the system's reaction to the budget shortfall. Some services would have to be cut, but not as many as expected earlier.
Can The Corps Correct Its Mistakes?
Looking back over the two years since Hurricane Katrina devastated New Orleans, the Army Corps of Engineers' continuing work has been closely scrutinized. But will they be able to prepare New Orleans for an even bigger storm?
Annexation Called Unnecessary
The city of Jeffersonville, Indiana, has approved the annexation of more than 7,800 acres of nearby land -- a move that will increase the population by more than a third. Many of the people to be annexed are calling the move a land and money grab.
Veto Of Infrastructure Proposals May Be Right Choice
This article from Time looks at the shortcomings of the nearly 1,000 Army Corps of Engineers projects facing Senate approval and a Presidential veto, saying the proposals will harm an already broken infrastructure system.
Tax On Flights Could Fund Rail Projects
Politicians in England are proposing a tax on flights and freight haulers to help fund rail initiatives.
Planning And Financing A Comprehensive Transit System: The Denver Model
With its voter approved, tax-financed public works campaign called FasTracks, Denver is blazing a trail for regions that are serious about expanding transit options.
More Parking Or Transit?
Voters in San Francisco will have to choose between two ballot measures -- one increasing parking in the city, the other funding more transit -- during this fall's election.
Cleveland Region Focuses On Municipal Cooperation
Cleveland and its suburbs are trying to remove some of the regional competition between cities by sharing revenues and resources.
FREE Course: Walkable City 1: Why Walkability?
After describing his path towards focusing on walkability as the essence of good planning, Jeff Speck marches through his five principal reasons for making more walkable places.
Reinventing Malls: Planning Alchemy—Turning Gray Fields Into Gold
The course focuses on the opportunities and imperatives that shape reinvention of mall sites.
Harvard University Graduate School of Design
KFH Group Inc.
Greater Baltimore Committee
The Architects Foundation
University of Cincinnati Online
The Pocatello Development Authority
The Urban Renewal Agency of the City of Pocatello
