United States

The latter half of the twentieth century saw the slow decline of train travel and the deterioration of America's grand railroad stations. Amid growing rail readership, the country is embarking on a new era of station construction.

July 24, 2013 - Urban Land

Cars kill us and drive us crazy; while walking and biking improve our mental and physical health. So why do we design our cities for cars, asks Jeffrey Tumlin.

July 23, 2013 - Good

A new study by researchers at Children's and the University of Pennsylvania concludes that, contrary to popular perception, cities are safer than rural or suburban areas. Higher rates of fatal car accidents outside cities are largely to blame.

July 23, 2013 - philly.com

A new study presents the 'most detailed portrait yet' of the places in America where opportunities for, and obstacles to, upward mobility abound. The Southeast and industrial Midwest are the most difficult places to rise out of poverty.

July 22, 2013 - The New York Times

Urban Land looks at the reinvention of America's inner-ring suburbs. The authors explore the challenges of mixing uses, integrating cars and attaining authenticity as planners and developers seek the right recipe for the next big wave of development.

July 20, 2013 - Urban Land

Why is Amtrak spending $500 million on new locomotives for the Northeast Corridor that are "fat, expensive and slow"? Americans have the the Federal Railroad Administration's "globally-unique crash safety standards" to thank.

July 19, 2013 - The New York Observer

While cities are growing, it's comparatively easy to keep a healthy balance sheet. But for cities like Charlotte, managing the transition from a growth economy to economic sustainability is a treacherous one. Aaron Renn delivers a cautionary tale.

July 19, 2013 - Governing

Gina McCarthy's confirmation has been stalled by Senate Republicans who claimed she hadn't answered the 1,000 questions they gave her. Her confirmation vote, 59-40 on Thursday, results from a filibuster compromise that the Senate reached on Tuesday.

July 19, 2013 - Los Angeles Times

Is your city's transit agency caught in a cycle of rising fares, declining service, and chronic financial problems? Mark Aesch has used an innovative approach to turn around the bus systems in Rochester and Detroit. Could it work in your city?

July 19, 2013 - The Atlantic Cities

The number of single households has grown three-fold since the 1950s. More sustainable and more likely to live in cities than married households, singles experience a major problem: metro areas are not planned for them but for nuclear families.

July 18, 2013 - The Atlantic Cities

The CIA, in partnership with other U.S. government agencies, is funding a $630,000 scientific study into the plausibility and potential effects of climate engineering to reduce global warming. Let the conspiracy theories begin.

July 18, 2013 - Grist

In the U.S., were used to comparing our life expectancies with other countries, says Emily Badger, but in many cities one only needs to travel a mile to see decades of difference in average life spans. Stark new maps make these discrepancies clear.

July 17, 2013 - The Atlantic Cities

A recent book examines the causes and effects of the 'persistent and long standing problem of concentrated poverty in the inner city' and offers recommendations for breaking the cycle. Do we have the commitment to fix the problem?

July 16, 2013 - Rooflines

Inspired by the food truck movement, book-publisher Penguin Group (USA) has rolled out two new book-buying venues: the Penguin Book Truck, and the Penguin Book Pushcart.

July 16, 2013 - The Detroit News

The low-income housing and new-markets tax credits are two of the most effective tools for stimulating affordable housing creation and the revitalization of low-income neighborhoods. Don't let them fall victim to tax reform, argues Michael Rubinger.

July 16, 2013 - The New York Times

The U.S. is in need of new approaches to managing stormwater. Though the EPA has been slow to provide guidance, there's plenty that can be done now. Parking reform provides a handy model for solving seemingly intractable entitlement problems.

July 15, 2013 - Lisa Nisenson

Tight housing inventories, rising prices, and conservative mortgage lenders are preventing many would-be homeowners from buying their piece of the 'American Dream'. Michelle Higgins explains why this may actually be a good thing.

July 15, 2013 - The New York Times

Keith Laing, with help from Josh Schank of the Eno Center for Transportation, describes the reality facing the new Secretary of the Department of Transportation. With gas tax revenue dwindling and MAP-21 expiring next year, securing funds is crucial.

July 15, 2013 - The Hill

In the first in a series of articles exploring 'infrastructure solutions for the next generation', Cynthia Barnett examines the creative ways that communities are solving the problems caused by old and overtaxed water systems.

July 14, 2013 - Orion Magazine

John M. Broder writes about a new U.S. Department of Energy report released July 11th that details the vulnerability of the nation's entire energy system to climate change effects - from droughts, intense storms, rising seas, lower river levels...

July 13, 2013 - The New York Times - U.S.