United States

Federal Shutdown Threatens Rental Assistance Program
The ongoing shutdown of the federal government could begin to have terrible consequences for some of the nation's most vulnerable populations.
Tolls, Not Gas and Sales Taxes, Will Fund I-81 Improvements in Virginia
Democratic Gov. Ralph Northam announced he is backing Republican legislation to toll all lanes of Interstate 81 to fund $2.2 billion in improvements along the 325-mile corridor, heavily used by trucks, from West Virginia to Tennessee.
On Demand Shuttle Operator to Cease Operations in Nine Cities
San Francisco-based shuttle operator Chariot, acquired by Ford Motor Company in 2016, will end its operations by March in the San Francisco Bay Area, Los Angeles, Seattle, Austin, New York, Columbus, Detroit, Denver, and London.

Wanted: A More Proactive Approach to Stormwater Investment
As hurricane seasons get more destructive, a less reactionary approach to stormwater infrastructure investment may be needed.

Mileage Fee or Annual Fee for Electric Vehicles?
What's the best way to ensure that electric vehicle drivers pay to maintain the roads they drive on, considering they don't pay fuel taxes? A new report from the UC Davis Institute of Transportation Studies was sent to the California legislature.

Bike Commuting Down: American Community Survey Data
Bike commuters are increasing in some cities, but overall, fewer Americans are biking to work.

Watch a Self-Driving Car Take Out an Autonomous Robot
Is this the future we've been waiting for?

U.S. Carbon Emissions Increased Last Year After a Three-Year Decline
The sobering news comes from the Rhodium Group, a research firm that tracks CO2 emissions. The preliminary estimate is the third in two months to show an increase in 2018, attributing it to an improved economy and Trump's regulation rollbacks.

Frequent Rider Miles for Buses
In Minneapolis and San Francisco, public transit agencies are considering loyalty programs to boost ridership.

What to Expect From Transit Construction in 2019
Mixed results and high costs are to be expected among the 89 public transit construction projects underway in 2019.

Experiences Designed Into Suburban Developments
Live music, skating rinks, and artificial beaches are now part of developments that want to go beyond just simple shopping and dining.

More 'Car-Rich' Households Mean More Car Ownership
More people are buying cars, even while more people are choosing to go without cars.

Sources: Trump Administration Considering an Attack on Disparate Impact
The Supreme Court upheld the disparate impact doctrine at the heart of fair housing rules, along with many other anti-discrimination policies, in 2015. Still, the Trump administration is looking for ways to undermine disparate impact.

Census Bureau Finally Has a New Director
The U.S. Census Bureau had been without an approved director since May 2017. The Senate unanimously approved Steven Dillingham to the position with about a year to spare before the 2020 Census begins.

Opinion: Close National Parks During the Shutdown
The consequences of allowing the public free access to national parks without any supervision or maintenance operations are to great a risk, according to a former director of the National Park Service.

Fighting Climate Change With an Income Tax
There's been a lot of talk about the Green New Deal, but not that much is known about it. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.), who is promoting it, explained the program on 60 Minutes on January 6.

Birds of Passage: Quantifying Jacobs's Gloom
While the debate continues unabated on the influence of the physical and land use characteristics of a city on crime, a critical aspect is left out: resident transience. Jacobs took notice and feared its negative influence. Was she right?

D.C. Metro Allows Bikes At All Hours
The agency hopes that allowing more bikes on trains will boost ridership for both.

Democratic Presidential Contenders May Elevate Housing Policy
Housing measures fared well in the 2018 election, and it's likely that Democratic contenders for the presidency in 2020 have taken notice and will boost those issues in their campaigns.

Assessing Feasibility Studies for Inclusionary Zoning
Cities use the studies to inform decisions about inclusionary housing programs. But a closer look shows that there is great variation in the methods and metrics, with no one correct approach for every situation.
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