Government / Politics

Fostering Global Tourism Without Destroying Cities
More people than ever are traveling, but cities around the world are struggling to keep up. A new declaration aims to balance the benefits and challenges of tourism.
Cobblestones vs. Bike and Pedestrian Improvements Controversy in Brooklyn
Improving streets in Sunset Park by removing cobblestones and aging train tracks has created a controversy between historic preservation and the need for safe bike and walking facilities and other streetscape improvements.

Affordable Single-Family Rental Housing Supply Needs a Boost
The supply gap is hitting lower-income families especially hard, a new study shows.
New York City to Reduce Truck Emissions by Investing in Freight Rail Infrastructure
The Big Apple may claim the nation's highest public transit ridership, but it ranks well below average in its use of freight rail. Two small short line railroads are at the center of a $100 million investment to reduce truck reliance.

Green New Deal Needs to Push for Better Transit Policies
The plan points to transit’s role in a cleaner and more sustainable future, but comprehensive changes in transportation policy are also needed.

Rather Than Banning Cars, Amsterdam Reduces On-Street Parking
Amsterdam will pursue the Oslo model of targeting parking spots, rather than driving bans, to make for a walk-and-bike friendly city. On-street parking spaces will gradually be replaced, starting July 1, with bike lanes, sidewalks, and trees.

Provincial Takeover of Subway Planning in Toronto Underway
Ontario Premier Doug Ford announced a new plan for subway expansion in Toronto today.

Bay Area Transportation Planners Breathing Easier After Court Ruling
A total of $4.5 billion in road and transit projects was at stake in a state taxpayer group's lawsuit against a regional ballot measure approved by voters in June 2018.

Kamala Harris Reintroduces 'Rent Relief Act'
The Rent Relief Act would provide a refundable tax credit for renters who pay more than 30% of their income on rent.

Preventing Homelessness Through Data Analysis
Predictive analytics can help identify vulnerable people early and deliver necessary services before they descend into homelessness.

Report: Modest Congestion Charge Would Produce Dramatic Results in Los Angeles
Applying a cordon toll as low as $4 in Los Angeles would result in a 20% reduction in traffic congestion and modest increases in transit ridership, walking, and biking, according to a new study from the Southern California Association of Governments.

Walking in Phoenix Can Mean Taking Your Life in Your Hands
Phoenix's roads are the most dangerous in the state for pedestrians, but the city is taking little action to make them safer.

Esri App Makes Data Visualization Easy
A wealth of pre-authored policy maps lets users access data to explore public policy issues.

Elizabeth Warren Makes Housing a Cornerstone of Presidential Bid
Senator and Democratic presidential candidate Elizabeth Warren has promised to make housing affordability the top priority of a potential administration.

Potholes Don’t Discriminate, but a Plan to Fix Oakland Streets Reveals Stark Divides in the City
The city has a plan to tackle its pothole problem that it says is equitable. But, some residents say it isn’t fair.

Turning an Atlanta Roadway Into a Shared Street
Atlanta might transform Peachtree Street into a very different kind of public space.

Will Manhattan's "Central Business District Tolling" Clear the Way for More Congestion Pricing?
Cordon pricing applied to Manhattan's Central Business District, approved by the state legislature on March 31 and signed into law by Gov. Andrew Cuomo on April 1, has the ability to be a game changer for other cities considering similar programs.

Mayoral Election Likely to Have Consequences for Chicago Mega-Development
The most recent citywide election in Chicago was considered a referendum on the old way of operating the city. The $6 billion Lincoln Yards project, on the brink of approval, could be included in that referendum.

One City Was Skeptical Enough About Opportunity Zones to Declare a Development Moratorium
Boulder declared a moratorium on development in a federally designated Opportunity Zone back in December. Here's how the decision has played out so far.

Gas Tax Increase Approved in Ohio
On July 1, motorists in Ohio will pay an additional 10.5 cents per gallon to fill up, while truckers will pay 19 cents per gallon more on diesel fuel sales. Accompanying the tax hikes are two controversial provisions that DeWine chose not to veto.
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Planetizen
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HUDs Office of Policy Development and Research
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