United States

The subject of recent politically charged threats, the rail carrier surpassed its record for annual passengers for the ninth time in ten years. Ridership has grown a total of 49 percent since 2000.

October 10, 2012 - Transportation Nation

The Wall Street Journal invites Mark Muro, with the Brookings Institution, and David Kreutzer, with the Heritage Foundation, to debate the merits of government subsidies for the development of wind and solar power in the United States.

October 10, 2012 - The Wall Street Journal

Should the tolls you pay to traverse a bridge or highway go directly to the upkeep of that roadway, or should they go to fund transportation projects, such as public transit? Five experts debate this question in the New York Times Opinion Pages.

October 9, 2012 - The New York Times

With three-quarters of smartphone owners accessing real-time location-based information, the biggest names in technology - from Apple to Google - are working to mine the value of location-based data. Can local governments do the same?

October 9, 2012 - Governing

John M. Broder looks at the obstacles that stand in the way of Mitt Romney's campaign pledge to “take a weed whacker” to a variety of federal pollution and public health rules.

October 9, 2012 - The New York Times

Amtrak announced this week that they will train 8,000 employees across the nation on how to identify and report potential victims of human trafficking.

October 9, 2012 - USA Today

A new report from the League of American Bicyclists highlights studies from across the U.S. showing the economic benefits of biking.

October 8, 2012 - Co.Exist

Author Kevin Baker offers a historical perspective of the Republican Party's shift to the "anti-urban party".

October 8, 2012 - The New York Times

At one time in the 1900s, a third of cars in major cities were powered by electric motors. Today, only about 1% of cars are fully electric. Why did we end up with gasoline-powered cars?

October 8, 2012 - The New York Times

Participants from a conference called the Inner City Economic Summit offer a variety of themes on "What Works" for meeting the needs of inner cities economies.

October 7, 2012 - EngagingCities

Writer David Lepeska offers a great summary of innovative civic technologies and mobile apps being used across the country, and speculates about which city will be the first to use Twitter as a very public suggestion box.

October 6, 2012 - Next American City

A new suite of tools to help you design, plan, and manage your plot is looking for investors on Kickstarter.

October 5, 2012 - Inhabitat

A new report documents the rise of payments in lieu of taxes (PILOTs) made by non-profits to cities desperate for new revenue. Although they've gained notice by cash-strapped cities, the report indicates PILOTs typically generate little revenue.

October 4, 2012 - At Lincoln House

Jeremy Rosenberg continues his fascinating series on the laws that shaped Los Angeles with a look at the local, and national, impact of the 1934 National Housing Act on residential development patterns.

October 4, 2012 - KCET Departures

Conflicting opinions have arisen over the use of red-light cameras. But, new evidence may finally put an end to arguments over whether they actually improve safety, or are only effective in increasing revenues.

October 4, 2012 - The Atlantic Cities

Study suggests that light-colored roofs may reduce regional rainfall.

October 4, 2012 - Climatewire

Conservative news outlets are recirculating a controversial speech made by President Obama in 2007, highlighting his remark that "We don’t need to build more highways out in the suburbs." Brad Plumer looks at the policy implications of his statement.

October 4, 2012 - The Washington Post

The American Planning Association has released its annual list of the country's 10 great neighborhoods, 10 great streets, and 10 great public spaces.

October 3, 2012 - APA

After six consecutive years of decline, traffic deaths are rising dramatically across America, reports Ashley Halsey III.

October 3, 2012 - The Washington Post

While we're sure the ever-popular "Best City" lists serve some nebulous purpose, a new metric seeks to identify and evaluate America's metro areas by a more comprehensive understanding of how well they're achieving "complete communities."

October 2, 2012 - The Atlantic Cities