The Biden administration this week took ambitious steps toward a new era of automobile transportation in the United States.

"The Biden administration today released a road map for building out a national network of 500,000 electric vehicle charging stations as part of its plan to combat climate change," reports Arianna Skibell for E&E News.
The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, approved by Congress in November, enabled the charging station plan, according to Skibell. Two packages of money will fund the cause: $5 billion for state transportation departments to support the expansion and an "additional $2.5 billion is also available in grant opportunities to help connect rural and marginalized communities to electric vehicles," according to Ley.
At the federal level, a new electric vehicle office, shared between the U.S. Department of Transportation and U.S. Department of Energy, will coordinate the work. "Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm and Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg are expected to sign [December 14] an agreement authorizing their offices to leverage resources to expand EV infrastructure across the country," reports Ley.
Additional coverage of the electric vehicle charging bill is available from an article by Matthew Daly for the Associated Press.
FULL STORY: White House rolls out $7.5B electric vehicle charging plan

The Slow Death of Ride Sharing
From the beginning, TNCs like Lyft and Uber touted shared rides as their key product. Now, Lyft is ending the practice.

Cool Walkability Planning
Shadeways (covered sidewalks) and pedways (enclosed, climate controlled walkways) can provide comfortable walkability in hot climates. The Cool Walkshed Index can help plan these facilities.

Illinois Legislators Pass Controversial I-55 Road Expansion Legislation
Legislation to enable the addition of express toll lanes on Interstate 55 in the Southwest Side of Chicago, opposed by environmental justice advocates, cleared the Illinois General Assembly last month.

How San Diego Camping Ban Could Impact Neighborhoods
An ordinance supported by the city’s mayor would bar people from sleeping on the street near shelters or services, but critics say it will simply push people to other neighborhoods and put them farther away from the supportive services they need.

Expanding Access to Golf in South Los Angeles
L.A. County’s Maggie Hathaway Golf Course getting up to $15 Million from U.S. Open Community Legacy Project to expand access to the sport in South L.A.

Opinion: Failed Housing Bills Could Signal California-Style Housing Crisis in Texas
Legislators in a state that so often touts its policies as the opposite of California’s defeated several bills that would have made housing construction easier, leading to concerns that a constricted housing market may exacerbate the housing crisis.
Wichita-Sedgwick County Metropolitan Area Planning Department
City of Bangor
Park City Municipal Corporation
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
Chaddick Institute at DePaul University
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
Montrose County
Wichita-Sedgwick County Metropolitan Area Planning Department
City of Lomita
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.