Transportation Litigation
Utah Oil Shale Extraction Dealt Major Setback
The Surface Transportation Board's approval in 2021 of a proposed 85-mile Uinta Basin Railway in Utah that would have enabled increased extraction of the world's largest source of oil shale was partially vacated by a federal appeals court last month.
Judge Puts Washington's Transportation-Busting Initiative on Hold
Washington state voters expecting to see their vehicle registration fees drop to $30 on Thursday due to the passage of Initiative 976 on Nov. 5 might have to wait much longer after a King County Superior Court judge put the measure on hold.
Madison Common Council Narrowly Approves Unpopular $40 Wheel Tax
Despite major opposition by residents, the Madison Common Council approved a $40 motor vehicle registration fee (aka 'wheel tax') on an 11-8 vote on Oct. 29 to help fund the city's new East-West Bus Rapid Transit system.
Massachusetts Converts HOV Lane to General Purpose Lane
Road planners looking to increase capacity without adding lanes are focusing on managing existing lanes more effectively. Massachusetts has gone the opposite direction. The Conservation Law Foundation plans to hold them accountable.
Trails and Rails Battle in San Francisco Bay Shoreline Park
Can freight trains and a scenic shoreline park along San Francisco Bay coexist, or are they incompatible uses? The East Bay Regional Park District voted to remove old rail tracks that BNSF Railway wants to reactivate. A local court may decide.
Bay Area Transportation Planners Breathing Easier After Court Ruling
A total of $4.5 billion in road and transit projects was at stake in a state taxpayer group's lawsuit against a regional ballot measure approved by voters in June 2018.
Judge Rules Tolls Are Taxes to Dismiss Truckers' Lawsuit Against Rhode Island
The nation's sole truck-only tolling program survived its first lawsuit after a federal judge dismissed litigation brought by the American Trucking Associations, ruling that the proper venue was state court. ATA believes it is unconstitutional.
Density is Key to Fighting Climate Change, Rules Bay Area Judge
A group that coined the term, "stack and pack" to deride density and its role in reducing carbon emissions lost in court when the judge rejected their argument that only technological improvements in cars and fuels were necessary to reduce emissions.
Environmentalists Settle Lawsuit on Plan Bay Area
Two down, two to go. Rarely has a regional transportation/land use plan been sued by so many diverse groups. Environmentalists settled with Bay Area regional planning agencies with assurances that the 2017 plan will better account for GHG reductions.
Keystone XL Dealt a Setback in Court—But Not from the Usual Suspects
The lawsuit comes from three private landowners who successfully sued to prevent their properties from being seized so that TransCanada can lay their pipeline—turns out the state Legislature was in too much of a rush in 2012 to approve the project.
Legal Obstacles For CA's HSR Clear Up....Slightly
With $8 billion almost in hand (the $4.5 billion in state bonds still need to be sold), the most formidable immediate hurdles are dealing with five lawsuits facing the High Speed Rail Authority. Mike Rosenberg reports that progress has been made.
FL Gov Wins HSR Suit: Returns $2.4 Billion
The FL Supreme Court ruled March 4 against two state senators who sued to save the project despite Gov. Rick Scott's opposition. DOT Secretary LaHood contacted Scott a third time before announcing that $2.4 billion in HSR funds would be redirected.
Bay Area MPO Cleared Of Racial Bias Charges
A federal appeals court upheld a federal district court ruling that the Metropolitan Transportation Commission, the Bay Area's transportation planning and funding agency, does not discriminate against minorities in the way it funds buses and trains
HSR Opponents Vow To Continue Litigation
Contention over how California's high speed rail train from Los Angeles should access the Bay Area appears to be the dispute that won't go away. Having just lost their case in court only 2 weeks ago, approval of the Pacheco Pass may continue.
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.
Placer County
Skagit Transit
Berkeley County
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
