An attempt by the Biden administration to control new infrastructure dollars has been foiled by the Congressional Review Act.
The Government Accountability Office (GAO) has delt a setback to the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) as part of the Congressional Review Act.
The GAO determined that a December 2021 memo from the Federal Highway Administration, intended to guide states in IIJA funding programs, went too far in establishing policy, rather than just listing legal requirements.
“Senate Environment and Public Works Committee ranking member Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), who requested the GAO analysis in February, said GAO's ruling means she will introduce a CRA resolution of disapproval of the memo, which has long been a source of angst for Republicans,” according to a paywalled article by Alex Duagherty that has been republished on the Senator Capito’s website. Capito is expected to take additional steps to solidify the Republican party’s intentions for the IIJA.
The GAO’s decision, published on December 15, is available online in addition to the December 2021 FHWA memo.
FULL STORY: GAO calls FHWA infrastructure law memo a rule Congress can review
Research Links Urban Design and Human Happiness
An emerging field of ‘neuroarchitectural’ research is revealing how building facades and urban design impact the human brain and body.
Reimagining Your Street
How to use free online tools to redesign your local streetscape.
Research: Sprawl Linked to Poverty
Low-income families living in high-sprawl neighborhoods are limited in their access to education, jobs, and other amenities, often trapping them in a cycle of poverty.
Washington Lawmakers Eye Rent Stabilization
Democrats are pushing for a statewide rent stabilization bill that would give renters some protections while offering more flexibility for landlords than blanket rent control policies.
Wildfires Devastate LA Outdoor Education Spaces and Schools
The current Los Angeles wildfires have destroyed schools and outdoor education spaces like Eaton Canyon, displacing families and disrupting vital learning and community resources while highlighting the region’s vulnerability to natural disasters.
Research Affirms Safety of ‘Idaho Stop’
Allowing cyclists to treat stop signs as yield signs does not negatively impact safety and can help people on bikes more effectively navigate roadways.
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.
Northeast Ohio Areawide Coordinating Agency (NOACA)
Ada County Highway District
Charles County Government
Chaddick Institute at DePaul University
HUDs Office of Policy Development and Research
HUDs Office of Policy Development and Research
NYU Wagner Graduate School of Public Service
City of Cambridge, Maryland