United States

Google has launched a new experimental effort to visualize much of the public data it now searches and displays.

March 15, 2010 - Los Angeles Times

March 15, 2010 - Victor Gruen

President Obama has proposed eliminating federal subsidies for fossil fuels in 2011, but for now they're still a $72 billion piece of the pie. Solar, wind and geothermal? $12.2 billion.

March 14, 2010 - ecopolitology

Laurence Gerckens brings us the ABCs of Planning. Today's letter is H, which stands for historic preservation. Gerckens brings us a brief, easy-to-understand history of the idea.

March 13, 2010 - Planning Commissioners Journal

This post on The Infrastructurist looks at the most expensive public transit projects of the last ten years in the United States.

March 12, 2010 - The Infrastructurist

The Center for Public Integrity continues its investigation into who is influencing transportation policy at the federal level. They found that lack of governmental focus has left the door open for developers to point the way.

March 11, 2010 - Center for Public Integrity

While it's typically states and the federal government that spend most of the money on marketing the decennial census, cities have been taking the lead in 2010.

March 11, 2010 - Governing

March 11, 2010 - Scott Doyon

Grist writer Lisa Selin Davis argues that now is the time to make public transit a priority in serving outer suburbs, because the rebounding economy will inevitably lead to increased demand.

March 10, 2010 - Grist

Carl Anthony suggests that emerging land use policies (such as high speed rail) could threaten to exacerbate trends towards racial segregation, unless there is broader participation from people of color in planning processes.

March 10, 2010 - Yes! Magazine

Harvard economics professor Edward L. Glaeser argues that the United States has a long, pervasive pattern of anti-urban behavior that needs to change.

March 9, 2010 - The Boston Globe

Train writer Christian Wolmar argues that the best application for high speed rail funds would be to upgrade the Washington D.C. to Boston, 150 mph Acela line to true, high speed rail status and used as a showcase for American rail technology.

March 9, 2010 - The New York Times - Opinion

A picture's worth a thousand plans - at least when it's a "photo-realistic visualization." Designer Steve Price's detailed 3D flash animations show towns what empty streetscapes and drab buildings could look like with a little bit of planning.

March 8, 2010 - Grist.org

$7 gas is necessary according to a new report if transportation emissions are to be reduced to EPA targets by 2020. What's more, providing tax credits for electric and hybrid vehicles would backfire. The report recommends steep gas tax increases.

March 8, 2010 - The New York Times - Science

Saul Kaplan says cities should be transformed into innovation centers to stay competitive and become the venue of a "new economic conversation".

March 8, 2010 - Business Week

Dr. Marc Schlossberg of the University of Oregon developed a series of tools for mobile GIS devices, and set community members loose to use the technology to collect data about their streets and improve their neighborhood livability.

March 8, 2010 - Dr. Marc Schlossberg

Tasked with managing millions of acres of public lands, the federal Bureau of Land Management has announced plans to perform detailed ecological studies of some of its most notable properties.

March 7, 2010 - San Jose Mercury News

When all business happens over the internet, does where your business still matter? Yes, says Business Insider, for all the same reasons as before.

March 6, 2010 - Business Insider

At a recent transportation conference, Dr. Leo Kroon of the Netherlands Railway says their strategy is not to force people to use the train but to 'seduce' them with the latest innovations.

March 4, 2010 - IBM's Smarter Cities blog

The federal government is rewriting the way it defines poverty. As a result, city poverty levels are expected to see major shifts.

March 4, 2010 - NPR