Infrastructure

Union Opposition Puts Brakes on 'Record-Cheap' Solar Installation
Under a proposed 25-year solar contact, the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power would pay record-cheap prices for 400 megawatts of power. But the utility declined to approve the deal after a utility workers' union raised concerns.

Op-Ed: Street Safety Is a Matter of Race
What do traffic safety and gun violence have in common? A lot, as it turns out. In both cases, hard-hit neighborhoods tend to have suffered from historical disinvestment along racial lines.

Green Building Improvements Have a Friend in PACE
An under-reported loan model called Property Assessed Clean Energy, or PACE, financed $660 million of sustainable building improvements from 2016 through 2018.

L.A. Times Editorial Supports Redevelopment 2.0
California's redevelopment program was killed during the budget fallout of the Great Recession. Now more state politicians see how tax increment devoted to development investments could be one tool int he state's affordable housing crisis.

New Ideas in Urban Research 2019
Research questions and findings from Penn IUR's emerging scholars.

When Microtransit Works as Public Transit, Explained
How to make Microtransit work. Hint: it's about coverage, not ridership.

How Transportation Technology Determines the Footprint of Cities
The Marchetti Constant, the willingness of people to travel for about a half an hour to get to and from work, explains the size of cities in history, and the metropolitan areas of today.

Nevada to Embark on 7-Year Program to Record Mileage of Motorists
Nevada is one of 15 states in the Western Road Usage Charge Consortium that are considering a transition from funding their transportation budgets largely by taxing the gallons of fuel that vehicles burn to charging drivers for miles driven.

$225 Million in Federal Funding for Rural Bridge and Highway Projects Announced
The U.S. Department of Transportation this week announced the recipients of $225 million in project funding under the Competitive Highway Bridge Program. The program is reserved for projects located in mostly rural states.

Gender Bias in Urban Systems
A list of all the ways cities and infrastructure are designed for men, and at the expense of women.

New Energy Rating System for Chicago Buildings
The city will evaluate all buildings over 50,000 square feet and make the energy performance ratings and information easily accessible.

Report: Trump Willing to Break the Rules to Build Border Wall
Transit agencies, affordable housing developers, and many others might be envious of the kind of leeway sources say President Trump is willing to grant in the name of project delivery.

A Car-Free Street Dream in Northern Virginia
The city of Alexandria has begun to explore the idea of transforming sections of King Street into a car-free pedestrian zone.

Reports: Full Environmental Review Likely for Portland Freeway Widening Project
An initial environmental assessment for a project to widen I-5 in Portland claimed the project would improve air quality, congestion, and traffic safety. Critics of the project weren't convinced.

Light Rail Plans Survive Election Challenge in Phoenix
An election to decide the fate of public transit planning in the city of Phoenix captured national attention as a bellwether for public opinion. Unofficial results have public transit winning with plenty of votes to spare.

Potential Routes for New Bridge Across the Chesapeake Winnowed From 14 to 3
The Maryland Transportation Authority has been studying the potential of a new bridge across the Chesapeake Bay, connecting Annapolis to Queen Anne's County to the East.

Chicago Dockless Scooters Used Across the City, New Study Shows
Data from the city's e-scooter pilot program show that they might be filling in the first-mile/last-mile gap for riders at all income levels.

The Colorado River in an 'Era of Limits'
New agreements and the first cutbacks in water usage signal the start of concerted efforts keep the river and reservoirs from dropping to dangerous levels.

New Questions Around Portland-Area Light Rail Project
A proposed rail line would run from downtown Portland, Oregon, to the suburbs. The budget has increased significantly, and many funding and project scope questions remain.

Virginia Intercity Buses Exceed Ridership Estimates By 200 Percent
The Virginia Breeze intercity bus service has vastly exceeded original ridership estimates since its launch in late 2017. Two more lines are slated to launch in the spring or summer of next year.
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