United States

Americans Are Ready for Tax Reform; But at the Cost of the Mortgage Interest Deduction?
Kenneth R. Harney reports on the possibility that lawmakers in Washington, D.C. could target the mortgage interest deduction as part of a Republican tax reform plan.

Road to Infrastructure Bill May Run Through Freedom Caucus
Much talked about Trump infrastructure bill has yet to be written, but the president's failure to pass a health care bill in the House has drawn Congress watchers' attention to the Freedom Caucus and the impact they may have an infrastructure bill.

More Evidence for a Link Between Transit and Home Values
Judging from a statistical analysis by Redfin, there is in fact a positive correlation between home values and transit access. But that only applies in areas where transit and walking are already common modes.

Is Payless ShoeSource Bankruptcy a Sign of the Coming 'Retail Apocalypse'?
The latest Chapter 11 in a familiar story.

Ten Ways to Frame Constructive Housing Messages
There are lots of arguments available for people that want to oppose new housing projects, but what are a few guiding principles for framing a supportive and constructive housing conversation?

The Case for Dam Removal
Where aging infrastructure is concerned, most of us don't immediately think of old dams. But there are a lot of them. Environmental advocates want to see them go, and in recent years de-damming has picked up speed.

Friday Fun: An Interactive Tool That Explains Floor Area Ratio
The Center for Urban Pedagogy's latest tool provides an easy and fun way to explain a difficult but critical concept: floor area ratio.
New York City's Highest Profile Transit Projects at Risk Despite Trump Assurances
Planning and construction for the new Amtrak Gateway tunnels unders the Hudson River and the next phase of the Second Avenue Subway could grind to a halt under President Trump's proposed budget that substantially cuts capital grants programs.

Lessons From Savannah
Savannah, Georgia is an elegant southern belle of a city. Susan Henderson looks at some of its lessons, along with ideas for future study.

Why So Early? School Start Times and Suburban Sprawl
The advent of sprawl coincided with a move toward earlier school start times, prompted by a need to coordinate complicated bussing. If students could walk to school, the problem might disappear.

Nation's School Districts Struggling to Attract Enough Bus Drivers
As the economy has improved, fewer people are looking for employment as school bus drivers. When fewer buses are available, more students drive to school, brining unwanted environmental risks along for the ride.

A First Look at Proposed Border Wall Designs
The Wall Street Journal received lots of press packages from firms bidding to build the proposed wall between the border of the United States and Mexico. A gallery of renderings—sent in earnest, in protest, or in a crass marketing ploy—follows.

Historic Community Reinvestment Act Review: Wells Fargo Receives 'Double Downgrade'
Wells Fargo received an historic "double downgrade" from the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) as a result of its Community Reinvestment Act (CRA) examination.

Population Flight in New York Metro Region and Decline in New York State
New data from the U.S. Census and Empire Center shows that for the first time in a decade, the Empire State lost population. Furthermore, last year only two upstate counties had more residents arrive from other states than leave.

Debating the Local-Federal Transit Funding Mix
Devolution—or the end of federal funding for local or regional transit projects—is back on the table, thanks to the Trump Administration. Articles in two prominent media outlets debate the idea.

How About Walkable 'Small Town-ism?'
With the high cost of land and housing in most major cities, why don't we just make the hundreds of "walkable" small towns in the United States more desirable places to live for average earners?

Sent A Strong Message, Los Angeles Leaders Respond With Planning Reforms
In the aftermath of the Measure S vote, members of the Los Angeles City Council have responded by pushing for expediting community plan updates and finding a sustainable source of funding for updating the region's plans.

Breaking News: Supreme Court Rebukes Trump on Clean Water Rule
One of those Obama-era regulations that President Trump promised to ease is the Clean Water Rule, currently tied up in federal appeals court. The Department of Justice had asked the Supreme Court to discontinue the litigation.

The First U.S. 'Noise Map' Could Help Reduce Unsafe Exposure
A new tool from the Department of Transportation maps all the noise created by traffic nationwide.

Study: Housing Costs, TOD Trigger Displacement in New York Metropolitan Area
The report recommends making displacement prevention a more central component of land-use policy.
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