Government / Politics
Lacking a Budget—Illinois to Borrow $480 Million for Road and Transit Projects
Citing the critical economic need for road construction and transit improvements, Gov. Bruce Rauner will conduct a general obligation bond sale later this month.
Walkable Winter Cities: Feasibility While Freezing
"It's too cold to walk here" is often the response to the subject of livability in northern climes. Hazel Borys hails from the third coldest city of its size on earth and talks walkable winter cities.
State Gas Tax Changes, Up and Down, Took Effect January 1
In case you were wondering if any state gas taxes, other than Utah as previously posted, changed on New Years Day—eight others did, but only slightly, due to required, automatic adjustments. Most telling was that more went down than up.
Change of Leadership for Los Angeles' Planning Department
Mayor Eric Garcetti has nominated Vince Bertoni to lead the Los Angeles Department of City Planning. Bertoni is currently the planning director of the city of Pasadena.
Study: Local land Use Regulations Segregate Metropolitan Areas
A new study reveals new understanding about how restrictive land use regulations in urban areas affect economic segregation across metropolitan areas.
The Ideological War Against Urban Planning
The anti-planning debate may have quieted down, but it hasn't disappeared. Anti-Agenda 21 activists have merely spread out, into the politics of cities and counties planning for the future.
New Year's Gift for Washington and New York City Commuters
Commuters working in New York City and Washington, D.C. will now enjoy transit tickets and passes purchased using pre-tax income.
Will 2016 Be the Year California Finally Raises its 22-Year-Old Gas Tax?
Despite several attempts by Sen. Jim Beall (D-S.J.) and Gov. Jerry Brown, the Republicans have shown no willingness to lend their support to increasing the state gas tax, last raised in 1994, to repair roads and bridges.
'Bridge-Gate' Attorneys Make Their Case: You Can't Sue Over Traffic
Attorneys representing the state of New Jersey responded to the allegations of a class action lawsuit rising from the "bridge-gate" scandal.
Chicago Universities Commit to Bolstering Growth
Eight Chicago universities have agreed to engage with the city and local communities as they invest in their neighborhoods. The hope is to increase opportunities for employment and economic growth.
Craft Breweries Follow the Demographics
The spread of craft beer manufacturing around the United States has followed demographic patterns, along with friendly regulations.
Are YIMBYs a Silent Majority?
While NIMBYs make a lot of noise and a lot of news, could it be that support outweighs opposition when it comes to development? Some residents in Bethesda, Maryland think so.
Utah's New Years Day Surprise: Nickel Gas and Diesel Tax Increase
The fuel tax increases in the Beehive State by 4.9 cents on Friday. But don't count on gas prices increasing. Not only are prices dropping due to plummeting crude oil prices, but service station owners may be reluctant to pass on the increase.
Top Planning Trends of 2015
Pulling a few threads to unravel some of the biggest planning stories of the year.
Saudi Arabia Reducing Gasoline Subsidies to Cope with Budget Deficit
The world's third cheapest gasoline will increase by 40 percent in order to deal with a record budget deficit of $98 billion this year. Plummeting oil prices have forced the world's largest oil exporter, Saudi Arabia, to reduce energy subsidies.
As Oil Prices Fall, Alaska Considers an Income Tax
Not only might Alaskans have to pay a state income for the first time since 1980, three years after the Trans-Alaska Pipeline was completed, but Alaska Permanent Fund checks might drop 50 percent to cope with falling crude oil tax revenue.
Introducing 8 Newly Elected Mayors
There's no doubt that cities provide important leadership on countless issues—here are eight new elected mayors tasked with providing the political leadership to make it possible.
Air Pollution Forces Italian Cities to Enact Serious Driving Restrictions
Unusually mild and dry weather in much of Italy has worsened air quality so much that city governments are acting to reduce emissions from one of the chief sources of air pollution by enacting odd-even license restrictions on driving.
Rail Extensions Receive Sizable FTA Grants in Omnibus Spending Bill
Sound Transit, L.A. Metro, and Santa Clara VTA received sizable funding in FTA's New Starts/Small Starts program for their light and heavy rail extensions, thanks to Congressional representatives who included them in the omnibus bill,.
Funding Revitalization in the Post-Redevelopment Era
A Los Angeles City Councilmember discusses his instructive quest to cobble together funding for the revitalization of his district after the termination of community redevelopment agencies.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
EMC Planning Group, Inc.
Planetizen
Planetizen
Mpact (formerly Rail~Volution)
Great Falls Development Authority, Inc.
HUDs Office of Policy Development and Research
NYU Wagner Graduate School of Public Service
