Next American City's Jeffrey Hill reads through the federal stimulus bill to find good news for cities.
"Take it from someone who has braved all 1,200-plus pages of HR-1: the economic stimulus package contains an abundance of funding figures that should make urban enthusiasts very happy."
"The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act is set to provide:
$7.22 billion for projects and programs administered by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to promote green jobs.
$6 billion to the Clean Water and Drinking Water Fund, $4 billion of which will be used help communities with water quality and waste-water infrastructure needs and $2 billion of which will be spent on drinking water infrastructure needs. $1.2 billion, or 20 percent, must be used for green infrastructure.
$100 million for competitive grants to evaluate and clean up former industrial and commercial brownfields. (Note- This portion of the bill was modified by an unnamed U.S. senator to put "brownfields" in quotes.)"
Read the full story: What the Stimulus Bill Really Means for Cities
Recovery or Rerun?
A new government-sponsored watchdog website will allow citizens to track stimulus-funded projects. It's an effort to insure accountability. Neal Pierce wonders if that accountability will translate into smarter patterns of development.
15 US cities and their global namesakes
Hundreds of cities around the United States are named after other places. We tour a few of them.
New study visualizes how city shapes impact mobility
Whether circular or linear, the shape and layout of cities affects how their residents get around.
Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.
Amtrak, CN end decades-long dispute with eight-year agreement
The new operating agreement establishes an updated framework for the companies to work together, including processes to resolve disputes.
Judges permit Denver to divert 77,000 acre feet from the Colorado River for reservoir expansion
Overuse and climate change have caused the Colorado River’s water levels to plummet.
NYC DOT wants faster, more permanent street upgrades
The city is examining ways to build more concrete infrastructure without getting entangled in 'decades-long' projects.
'Something we’ve never seen before:' rising utility rates could strain city finances nationwide
Data centers, climate change and other factors have caused utility rates in the United States to increase by 38% since 2020.
Trump to overrule local leaders, lease millions of acres of America’s Pacific Island territories’ seafloors to mining companies
International law says that the Indigenous people of America’s territories have a right to prior and informed consent regarding projects that impact their countries.
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.
KFH Group Inc.
Greater Baltimore Committee
Eagle County Government
The Architects Foundation
University of Cincinnati Online
The Pocatello Development Authority
The Urban Renewal Agency of the City of Pocatello