New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg has announced plans to 'green' the city's yellow cabs by replacing the current fleet with fuel-efficient hybrids over five years.
"Every yellow cab in this city will be a fuel-efficient hybrid by 2012, and stricter emissions and gas-mileage standards for taxis will be phased in starting next year, Mayor Michael Bloomberg said Tuesday.
There are now 375 hybrid vehicles among the 13,000 taxis rolling on New York streets. Under Bloomberg's plan, that number will increase to 1,000 by October 2008 and will grow by about 20 percent each year until 2012."
"Hybrid vehicles run on a combination of gasoline and electricity, emitting less exhaust and achieving higher gas mileage per gallon. Hybrid models tested include the Toyota Prius, Toyota Highlander Hybrid, Lexus RX 400h and Ford Escape.
The standard yellow-cab vehicle, the Ford Crown Victoria, gets 14 mpg; in contrast, Ford Escape taxis get 36 mpg."
Read the full story: Yellow-cab fleet going green
Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.
The state-sanctioned urbicide of Austin
People don’t kill cities. Freeways do.
US to reduce Colorado River water deliveries to Mexico
A new Colorado Treaty amendment reduces Mexico’s Colorado River water allocation by 250,000 acre feet.
Nation's most wind-powered state turns to coal as data centers increase energy demand
For the first time in decades, Iowa has increased its generation of coal power.
NYC cools commuters with city's first rain garden above a bus stop
New York City officials say the plants in the rain garden can absorb 16 gallons of rainwater during heavy storms.
Brightline West’s future may rely on $6 billion federal loan
The company has until Nov. 2 to make a $400 million equity investment into its proposed high-speed rail line.
FREE Course: Walkable City 1: Why Walkability?
After describing his path towards focusing on walkability as the essence of good planning, Jeff Speck marches through his five principal reasons for making more walkable places.
Reinventing Malls: Planning Alchemy—Turning Gray Fields Into Gold
The course focuses on the opportunities and imperatives that shape reinvention of mall sites.
Greater Baltimore Committee
Eagle County Government
Harvard University Graduate School of Design
The Architects Foundation
University of Cincinnati Online
The Pocatello Development Authority
The Urban Renewal Agency of the City of Pocatello
Journal of the American Planning Association