United States

Wes Marshall and Norman Garrick, after a study of data from 130,000 car crashes in California, have determined that cities built since since 1950 have more dangerous roads than those built before 1950.

January 30, 2009 - New Urban News

Urban development needs to be re-considered as urban redevelopment, according to this column from MinnPost.

January 29, 2009 - MinnPost

Global warming has slipped precipitously in the public's mind as a top concern, as the nation's recession took the number one slot in a Pew Research Center telephone poll. In fact, it ranked last in a list of 20 issues, yet 'energy' was #6.

January 29, 2009 - The New York Times

A little-known USDA program offers Rural Development Guaranteed Loans, which would allow low-income residents to buy homes in "rural" areas--places with fewer than 25,000 people. Under this guideline, many suburbs in Phoenix qualify.

January 29, 2009 - NPR

The American Society of Civil Engineers has released their 2009 report card on America's infrastructure. Its GPA is equivalent to a D.

January 29, 2009 - Report Card for America's Infrastructure

The Internet is a trove of great ideas about improving cities. Filling blogs and personal websites, the vast majority of ideas out there are little more than that: ideas. New York City's Streetsblog -- now a growing nationwide force -- is transforming the conversation into action.

January 29, 2009 - Mike Lydon

It's not Blue vs. Red, but Green vs. Brown when it comes to energy policy debates on Capitol Hill.

January 28, 2009 - The New York Times

According to sources in Europe, the Obama Administration has sought advice from European Union officials about emulating the EU's infrastructure bank.

January 28, 2009 - The Independent

Many commuters still find buses, trains, and subways to be more cost-effective than driving. However, mass transit funds are drying up, and increased fees and decreased service may deter riders from sticking to mass transit.

January 28, 2009 - Los Angeles Times

The telecommunications industry is pressuring Congress to add language to upcoming bill that would preempt local zoning authority if they 'take too long' to approve cell phone towers or sites.

January 27, 2009 - Anvil Partners blog

Too important to fail? Victorville and Norco, CA have approved loans to local car dealers to keep them afloat.

January 27, 2009 - The Wall St. Journal

In a move that will disappoint auto manufacturers and labor but was met with great applause by the environmental community, Obama has taken the first step to granting CA's request for a waiver so it can set its own, stricter emission standards.

January 27, 2009 - CNN Politics

Peter Katz and Jay Walljasper pick ten notable suburbs that are breaking the mold and creating new, vibrant communities.

January 26, 2009 - Utne Reader

America is not just overspent, it is over-malled, and the next wave of foreclosures will hit retail and other commercial real estate.

January 26, 2009 - AlterNet

Underwhelmed by government, communities, organizations (like ACORN) and ad-hoc citizen's groups are coming together to fight back against foreclosures.

January 26, 2009 - The Nation

This piece from Bloomberg architecture critic James Russell calls for a unified approach to building the nation's transportation infrastructure.

January 25, 2009 - Bloomberg

An obscure new rule pushed through the Federal Highway Administration requires public toll roads to collect 'fair market value' from drivers, rather than to serve the public interest.

January 24, 2009 - On The Commons

In a new twist of "managed lanes", this comic looks at ways to accommodate cell phone users so as not to affect those not using their cells.

January 23, 2009 - Go Comics

The long-term planning principles that have made the National Mall a successful and adaptable public space were in the spotlight during the Inauguration. Cities should take a lesson, argues Christopher Hawthorne.

January 23, 2009 - Los Angeles Times

As the Federal government prepares to pour massive amounts of funding into road infrastructure, James Russell sends up a warning that the 'shovel-ready' projects may just be more bridges to nowhere.

January 23, 2009 - Bloomberg.com