United States

That ADU Would Make a Nice Airbnb
An Airbnb co-founder is jumping in the pre-fab backyard cottage game—but will too many ADUs become short-term rentals to make a difference for housing costs?

How Low Land Taxes Contribute to the Housing Shortage
The relatively low cost of holding on to vacant lots leads to underdevelopment in what are often prime residential areas.

How to Beat the Turkey Day Traffic
The best and worst times to undertake your Thanksgiving drive.

Rails-to-Trails Conservancy Issues 2022 Grants
The organization awarded 25 grants for projects that promote outdoor recreation and access to trail facilities for underserved communities.

America’s Housing Shortage Is More Dire Than We Thought
How much housing does America need to reduce soaring prices? Potentially more than anyone has estimated.

Feds Award $13 Million for Transit Oriented Development
The Federal Transit Administration selected 19 projects aimed at boosting development, affordable housing, and connectivity to transit.

Where Car-Free Streets Won Out
While some open streets experiments have met with backlash from community members, others were so successful they led to permanent changes.

Office Conversions More Popular Than Ever
The adaptive reuse of non-residential buildings has soared in recent years as demand for office space drops and the housing shortage deepens.

Microtransit Gains Momentum With Public Transportation Agencies
On-demand van services are competing with ride-hailing and filling some crucial gaps in public transit networks.

Colorado River Compact Needs 21st Century Update
While the historic agreement set a new precedent for water rights, its inherent flaws, growing demand, and the threat of climate change make much of it obsolete for today’s needs.

Detailed 2020 Census Data Coming in 2023
The data release was delayed in part so that the agency could implement a new privacy policy aimed at protecting the identities of respondents.

Proposed Legislation Sounds Alarm on Mississippi River Drought
Without concerted restoration efforts, the river’s historically low levels could dramatically impact shipping activities and economic development throughout the region.

How Utilities Can Prepare for Vehicle Electrification
As more electric cars and trucks hit U.S. roads, large charging stations could require as much power as a small town.

Why Accessible Sidewalks Fall by the Wayside
Despite the passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act more than 30 years ago, most U.S. cities delay making accessibility improvements to sidewalks until activists bring them to court.

Opinion: Regulation Must Precede the Mass Rollout of Autonomous Cars
The time to craft a comprehensive set of regulations governing safety, privacy, accessibility, and equity is now.

Elizabeth Warren Points to Development as a Path for Electoral Success
An op-ed written by Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-Massachusetts) details Democrats’ recent track record of large-scale capital investments and calls for more.

Scooter-Share Company Tosses Financial Reports
Bird was counting money in customers’ digital “wallets” as revenue, and has admitted that financial statements from 2020 and 2021 “should no longer be relied upon.”

Seeking a Post-Pandemic Comeback, WeWork to Close More Offices
WeWork isn’t dead yet, hoping to ride post-pandemic interest in flexible workspace to a comeback story for the ages. There are still cuts to be made, however.

Putting Pedestrians First
Improving road safety starts with considering the safety of people outside cars early and often.

The United Nations Calls on U.S. Planners to Break Land Use, Transportation Status Quo
“We are on a highway to climate hell with our foot on the accelerator.”
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