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Election 2018 Results: Local and State Land Use, Transportation, Housing, and Infrastructure

Election results from every corner of the country.

November 7 - James Brasuell

Texas

San Antonio Branching Out its Tree Planting Efforts

The city of San Antonio has a lot of money to spend on trees but not a lot of places to plant them.

November 7 - San Antonio Express-News

Vancouver Skyline Bikes

New Vancouver Council Plotting to Rescind Recently Approved Zoning Changes

Local elections have consequences.

November 7 - Vancouver Courier

SIlver lake, Los Angeles

Preservation of Gas Station Won't Stand in the Way of New Housing

Preservationists had mobilized behind the cause of protecting a dilapidated gas station in the Silver Lake neighborhood of Los Angeles.

November 7 - Los Angeles Times

Los Angeles Little Tokyo

L.A. Decides to Keep Short-Term Rentals Out of Rent Controlled Apartments

A City Council decision on short-term rental regulations reverses the decision of the City Planning Commission.

November 7 - Los Angeles Times


Spokane, Washington

No West Coast Climate Bloc

Had election results proved favorable in Oregon and Washington, UC Berkley Law Climate Program Director Ethan Elkind suggested that the two states could join California to form a West Coast Climate Bloc. Oregon came through, but not Washington.

November 7 - Ethan Elkind

Bricks

Neighbors Demanded a Wall Around a Habitat for Humanity Development in Florida

Habitat for Humanity agreed to build a wall around 166 new affordable homes as a necessary compromise for approval.

November 7 - NBC 2


Bikeshare and murals

Columbus Shares its Smart City Playbook

The city of Columbus, Ohio is sharing some of what it has learned about becoming a smart city.

November 7 - Smart Cities Dive

Illinois

Post-Amazon Chicago: Mayor Seeks $1.7 Billion in Subsidies for Downtown Developments

Making the case that proposed developments won't come to fruition with support from tax increment financing, Mayor Rahm Emanuel is moving quickly to shore up development plans now that Amazon has moved on.

November 7 - Chicago Tribune

Toronto Streetcar

Survey Finds High Levels of 'Social Capital' in Toronto

The first comprehensive look at social capital in a Canadian city reveals lessons for planners and more about what connects citizens to their communities.

November 7 - The Star

Snow Removal

Minneapolis Considers Drastic Action to Clear Snow-Blocked Sidewalks

Minneapolis is stepping up enforcement of snow removal scofflaws and considering taking on the job of clearing sidewalks in the name of walkability.

November 6 - Star Tribune

Arlington to D.C.

Planned Long Bridge Replacement, From Virginia and D.C., Lacks Pedestrian and Bike Elements

In June, planners completed a draft environment impact statement for a replacement for the Long Bridge, which connects trains from Virginia to D.C. Local advocates see the lack of a pedestrian and bike trail as a missed opportunity.

November 6 - Arl Now

Chicago El Tracks

Are Chicago's Transit Oriented Developments Generating Enough Affordable Housing?

Chicago's Logan Square neighborhood is the scene for a very contemporary land use policy debate: how much affordable housing can cultivated from the development opportunities in proximity to transit lines?

November 6 - Chicago Tribune

Coal Mine

Global Coal Consumption Grows After Three Years of Decline

The rise is attributed to Asian nations, particularly India and China, where coal-power plants are newer than in the West. It shows a growing disconnect between energy and climate goals, warned the International Energy Agency.

November 6 - Financial Times

Subway in India

Delhi Metro Joins the 300 km Club

Only nine cities in the world—just one in the United States—have more than 300 kilometers of metro train tracks. Until recently that number was eight.

November 6 - Millennium Post

London Ride Hailing

Uber and Lyft Reveal Seattle-Area Trip Data

After a court battle, the two big transportation network companies finally released trip data, revealing rapid growth and a concentration of rides in the city's most congested areas.

November 6 - The Seattle Times

Bus Rapid Transit

10 Years of Bus Rapid Transit in the United States

The first examples of bus rapid transit built int he United States, all within the last ten years, are improving speeds and outperforming ridership projections, according to analysis by Streetsblog USA.

November 6 - Streetsblog USA

Subway Library

The Mysteries Of 'Social Infrastructure'

In his new book Palaces for the People, sociologist Eric Klinenberg explores the places—from libraries and schools to cafes and churches—where cities' social lives take place. It's a compelling idea but one that Klinenberg discusses clumsily.

November 6 - California Planning & Development Report

Atlanta Bus Parody

Atlanta Region Residents Support Transit, Taxes to Pay for Transit

The Atlanta Regional Commission recently released the results of its "Metro Atlanta Speaks" public opinion survey last week.

November 6 - Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Tappan Zee Bridge

Critiquing Gov. Cuomo's Attention to Roads and Highways

New York Governor Cuomo has taken heat for his neglect of New York City's subway system and for overspending on splashy projects like the Tappan Zee. His track record on the state's system of roads and highways is also now called into question.

November 6 - New York Post

Post News

Top Books

An annual review of books related to planning.

Top Schools

The definitive ranking of graduate planning programs.

100 Most Influential Urbanists

The who's who of urbanism, according to Planetizen readers.

Urban Planning Creators You Should Know

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

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.