City and state governments, once ethusiastic purchasers of SUVs as extravagent perks for officials, are kicking the gaz-guzzling habit as face budget deficits.
"In Massachusetts, Gov. Mitt Romney has canceled the gas-guzzling habit as he deals with the state's $3 billion budget deficit. Romney has asked why the state should fund a fleet of SUVs when regular sedans, which sell for less than half the price of SUVs, and which are considerably cheaper to run, maintain and insure, would equally suffice...Philadelphia is believed to have one of the largest city fleets of SUVs in the nation...One example of unnecessary SUV activity was found at Philadelphia International Airport, where, until recently, a Hummer H2 was being used to scare birds off the runway...Pennsylvania state law designates SUVs as passenger vehicles rather than trucks. They are therefore not subject to laws prohibiting trucks from entering the park, despite being exempt from the stricter federal fuel consumption and emissions standards imposed on cars."
Thanks to Michael Dudley
FULL STORY: Guzzling Down
Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.
San Francisco's School District Spent $105M To Build Affordable Housing for Teachers — And That's Just the Beginning
SFUSD joins a growing list of school districts using their land holdings to address housing affordability challenges faced by their own employees.
Can We Please Give Communities the Design They Deserve?
Often an afterthought, graphic design impacts everything from how we navigate a city to how we feel about it. One designer argues: the people deserve better.
The EV “Charging Divide” Plaguing Rural America
With “the deck stacked” against rural areas, will the great electric American road trip ever be a reality?
Judge Halts Brooklyn Bike Lane Removal
Lawyers must prove the city was not acting “arbitrarily, capriciously, and illegally” in ordering the hasty removal.
Engineers Gave America's Roads an Almost Failing Grade — Why Aren't We Fixing Them?
With over a trillion dollars spent on roads that are still falling apart, advocates propose a new “fix it first” framework.
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.
Borough of Carlisle
Smith Gee Studio
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
Transportation Research & Education Center (TREC) at Portland State University
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
Municipality of Princeton (NJ)