Infrastructure

Trump Budget's Devastating Effect on the EPA and Two of America's Greatest Water Resources
President Trump's budget for 2018 has the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency take the steepest hit—31 percent. Funding for two vital programs, the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative and Chesapeake Bay Program, will have their funds eliminated.

More States Cracking Down on Slow Drivers in the Passing Lane
Some people just can't help but help themselves to the fast lane.
Brooklyn Program a Leader in 'Microgrid' Electricity Generation
About 50 property owners in the trendiest of New York boroughs have launched a fledgling solar microgrid—sometimes called distributed or peer-to-peer generation. Someday, such arrangements could put a huge dent in the utility industry.

Las Vegas Light Rail Plans Take a Big Step Forward
The Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada has proven its seriousness about an ambitious proposal to build a light rail connection between McCarran International Airport and the Las Vegas Strip.

Trump Administration Lawyering Up for Eminent Domain at the U.S.-Mexico Border
One of the nuggets of significance in the Trump Administration's budget draft indicates the president's seriousness about building a wall on the border between the United States and Mexico.

Trump's Draft Budget: Very Bad News for Transit Planners
Transit advocates should be concerned about the cuts proposed by the Trump Administration's early budget draft.

Portland Anarchists Illegally Repair Potholes
Saying that they believe in direct action and suspecting the motives of the State, a group of Portland anarchists are taking to the streets to fix potholes.
President Trump's Other Infrastructure Plan—Defunding Grant Programs
The showman captured America's attention with a promise to "make America great again" with a $1 trillion infrastructure plan. Receiving scant attention are the infrastructure grant programs he'll cut in order to fund massive defense spending.

The Upside of Flooding
Stormwater and cities don't mix. Stormwater and nature, however, are well suited for each other.

Oroville Dam Repair Costs Still a Confusing Secret
The Mercury News issues a pointed critique of the public relations efforts at the California Department of Water Resources in the shadow of this winter’s Oroville Dam crisis.

Miami's Giant Pop Up Recreates Downtown Street
Temporary installation is the first attempt to showcase possible improvements that could transform Biscayne Boulevard in Downtown Miami into street rivaling the Embarcadero in San Francisco

Transit Agencies Struggling to Predict Ridership, Even as They Raise Fares
At transit agencies like D.C, Metro, bad ridership projections beget bad fare scheduling which begets bad budgets. And so on.

Local Opposition Prevails in Battle Over Subway Emergency Ventilation Plant in New York
Neighborhood opposition kills an infrastructure pipe dream in New York City.

The Wisdom of Engaging Nervous Cyclists
It was clear to the City of Toronto that engaging less confident cyclists that make up 60% of the population, yet seldom come to community meetings, might be the key to dramatic mode shifts in the city. Here's how it happened.

Light Rail Opening Next Year, More Lines Proposed—Transit Debates Keep Finding Charlotte
An extension of the Lynx Blue Line is schedule to open to the public on March 31, 2018. Controversy regarding sales taxes have traditionally followed transit projects in the region.

In Omaha, 'Reclaiming' Potholed Streets Means Unpaving Them
The euphemism refers to a cost-saving measure that's happening even in central districts, to the chagrin of residents. This reversion to gravel roads is one manifestation of a looming local infrastructure deficit.
Civil Engineers Release U.S. Infrastructure Scorecard: D+
Every four years the American Society of Civil Engineers issues a report on the state of America's infrastructure, extensively cited by the media. This year's report, released March 9, shows no improvement over 2013's, but do check the subcategories

Los Angeles' Iconic Angels Flight Railway To Utilize P3 Model
After appearing in the film La La Land, the world-renowned, iconic, 116-year-old Angels Flight will reopen to the public after a three-year modernization process.

Tax Credits to Encourage Urban Agriculture
Montgomery County, Maryland is the latest municipality to approve an agricultural tax credit to to create incentives for agricultural uses in urban areas.

7 Ideas to Improve Transportation in the Pittsburgh Region
The Regional Transportation Alliance released its "Imagine Transportation 2.0" report this week.
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