Government / Politics

Capitol Hill

Transportation Reauthorization Advances in Congress—Transit Advocates Aren't Happy

The Senate Environment and Public Works Committee voted this week to advance the Surface Transportation Reauthorization Act of 2021, Congress's five-year reauthorization of the federal surface transportation bill.

May 27, 2021 - Transportation for America

Social Distancing

Returning to the Office: Will Vaccinations Be Required?

A survey by Kaiser Health News of 15 of America's largest companies found that none are considering vaccine mandates, but most offer employee incentives. Mandates may be more of consideration after the FDA approves the vaccines.

May 27, 2021 - Kaiser Health News

Maryland Transit Administration

New Tool Demystifies Regulations Around Maryland's Purple Line

The tool aims to help stakeholders "cut through regulatory complexity" and ensure equitable access to the light rail line's economic benefits.

May 27, 2021 - Greater Greater Washington

Bromo Seltzer Tower Baltimore

Proposed Bill Could Fund Redevelopment of Baltimore's 'Highway to Nowhere'

The Reconnecting Communities Act would provide funding for retrofitting highway infrastructure and reconnecting neighborhoods cut off by road projects.

May 27, 2021 - Baltimore Magazine

Bridgeport Rail

Opinion: Transportation Funding Priorities Are Outdated

Investing in technology and promoting innovation in the transportation sector can further the Biden administration's goals of reducing carbon emissions and improving public transit.

May 26, 2021 - Bloomberg CityLab

City Hall Philadelphia

Philadelphia Accelerator Fund Will Finance Black and Brown-Led Affordable Housing

The fund seeks to level the playing field by making it easier for Black and brown developers to gain access to capital.

May 26, 2021 - WHYY

Mass Vaccination

Vaccination Disparities Between Urban and Rural America

The pandemic has largely been measured by case incidence, down significantly in recent weeks in most states. A new metric, the vaccination rate, may determine where the virus strikes next. The urban-rural divide is a major factor, says the CDC.

May 25, 2021 - CNBC

Bay Bridge Toll

Funding Biden's Infrastructure Plan: Should Users or Corporations Pay?

After determining the size and scope of President Biden's infrastructure package, the next biggest challenge is determining how to pay for it. The partisan divide is steep, but Roll Call exposes division within the Democrats' ranks.

May 25, 2021 - Roll Call

Alstom Train

The High Cost of Adapting Commuter Rail for the Post-COVID Future

U.S. commuter rail systems, primarily designed to bring workers to and from central business districts, must adapt to serve a broader population as the traditional workday changes.

May 25, 2021 - Governing

Red transmilenio bus stopped at station in Bogota

Looking to the Future as TransMilenio Turns 20

The world's most famous, and influential, bus rapid transit system, which served 2.4 million riders a day in Bogotá in the days before the pandemic, offers lessons in transit planning and management as it enters its third decade.

May 25, 2021 - Reorientations

Detached backyard cottage in Oregon

San Diego Residents Challenge the City's ADU Regulations

Residents in some of the city's single-family neighborhoods worry about the potential impacts of ADU construction on local character and parking.

May 24, 2021 - San Diego Union-Tribune

Manhattan Construction

The Future of Central Business Districts

Urbanist Richard Florida assesses post-pandemic possibilities for neighborhoods that once relied on 9-to-5 workers.

May 24, 2021 - Bloomberg CityLab

Tesla

Decarbonizing Transportation at the Federal Level

A new report shows that long-term federal investments in electric vehicles could promote significant growth in the sector as the nation moves toward reducing GHG emissions.

May 24, 2021 - Rhodium Group

New York City Restaurant

Car-Free Streets Benefit Restaurants, Yelp Survey Shows

Restaurants in areas designated as "slow streets" during the pandemic saw a boost in consumer interest.

May 21, 2021 - Bloomberg CityLab

Pedestrians

NACTO Suggests Changes to MUTCD

The association's proposed changes to the manual include a focus on eliminating road deaths, improving pedestrian safety, and creating a more inclusive public process.

May 21, 2021 - NACTO

San Jose Arterial Street

Approaching Land Use and Transportation as Interconnected Issues

One researcher argues that the division between transportation and land use policymaking at the federal level has harmed communities of color and encouraged unchecked sprawl.

May 20, 2021 - Urban Wire

Chicago, Illinois

Chicago's Disappearing Multi-Unit Buildings

The city is seeing a rapid loss of its signature two-, three-, and four-flat residential buildings, which historically served as affordable housing for working-class families.

May 20, 2021 - Block Club Chicago

Washington State Electric Car Infrastructure

A Green Governor Vetoes Electric Vehicle Legislation

Washington Gov. Jay Insee distinguished himself in the 2020 presidential Democratic primary as the "climate candidate," yet he vetoed a section of a transportation electrification bill that set a goal of ending sales of gas-powered cars by 2030.

May 19, 2021 - Electrek

Old houses with large porch and colorful siding

Opinion: Freeze Property Taxes in Gentrifying Neighborhoods

A proposed bill in the Texas legislature would help prevent displacement of homeowners in areas experiencing reinvestment and redevelopment.

May 19, 2021 - Dallas Morning News

Chicago Bikers

Chicago to Install More Protected Bike Lanes

Chicago's transportation commissioner says the city's transportation department is exploring options for keeping cars out of bike lanes, such as raised curbs.

May 19, 2021 - Chicago Sun-Times

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Institute for Housing and Urban Development Studies (IHS)

Top Books

An annual review of books related to planning.

Top Schools

The definitive ranking of graduate planning programs.

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A short list of voices on social, video, and podcasting platforms.