Government / Politics
Seattle to Eliminate Downtown Ride Free Area
A recent "political compromise" forces Metro to phase out the City's highly popular free bus service that serves over 10 million riders per year.
Berlin Wall Site Now a Hot Neighborhood
The Berlin Wall was constructed 50 years ago by Communist East Germany. Parts of the wall remain as a remembrance, but much of the area has been transformed into hip neighborhoods and parks.
Amman May Nix Bus Rapid Transit
The Greater Amman Municipality (GAM) may no longer be pursuing a bus rapid transit (BRT) system because of opposition from within government circles.
A $1.5-Billion Forward Pass by L.A. City Council
Unanimous approval of the five-year outline to build a 72,000-seat football stadium in Downtown L.A. goes to show that the City Council is all game for a politically radioactive project.
Political Hurdle For VMT Fees Proves Too High For The Netherlands And Oregon
Two years ago a Dutch city embarked on a trial for distance-based pricing that placed a meter on the dashboard showing the price of the trip. The plan was scratched due to an election. In OR, VMT fee legislation for electric vehicles has stalled.
Philadelphia Tries to Crack Down on Youth Mobs
In the face of recent violence committed by roaming groups of teenagers, officials in Philadelphia are imposing stricter curfews for youth.
Goats Clearing Brush and Luring Crowds in L.A.
Goats being used to clear brush on a hillside in downtown Los Angeles are a cost-effective and environmentally-friendly way to deal with overgrowth -- and they're attracting fans.
Modeling The Urban System of Portland
A new program is being implemented in Portland, Oregon, to try to quantify and model the behavior of the city.
Experts Say Detroit's Transit Disagreements Can Be Resolved
Despite a lack of cooperation on regional transit issues, Detroit area transportation agencies can find a way to fix the region's broken system, according to a panel of officials and experts.
Mica To Obama: No Compromise On Transportation Bill
The WSJ report indicates that the debate that led to the FAA ticket tax suspension was just a prelude as to what to expect on Sept. 30 when the federal gas tax expires.
Section 8 Renters Encounter Resistance
Lancaster, California has experienced a surge of Section 8 renters, and they are facing discrimination from residents and city officials, Jennifer Medina reports for The New York Times.
Cities, Riots and Facial Recognition Technology
As riots engulf London, the role of technology in cities and crime-fighting comes into the spotlight. Some wonder whether this could usher in the age of facial recognition in cities.
The Small Town Impact of Post Office Closures
The U.S. Postal Services is considering a plan to close more than 3,600 of its 32,000 post offices. This piece from New Urban News looks at the impact of those closures on the small towns likely to be affected.
County Could Railroad Atlanta Region Transit Tax
Voters in the Atlanta region will vote on a 1-cent sales tax for new transit projects. But one major county could stand in the way if its own project is not included.
Philadelphia's Stormwater Solution
Philadelphia is embarking on a $2 billion, 25-year project to improve the way it absorbs and processes stormwater.
Turning Foreclosures into Rentals
As the Federal Housing Administration looks for new ways of dealing with the nation's foreclosed homes, more voices are calling for those homes to be repurposed as rentals.
Britain's Riots: Architects Respond
Five architects dissect the role the built environment plays in the riots. Joseph Rykwert says cities incite riots, while Robert Tavernor says that the riots are "a sobering reminder that cities are for people, that people make cities."
Huge Dam Moves Forward on the Nile
Ethiopia is planning to construct a large hydroelectric dam on the Nile River to supply power for itself and neighboring countries.
Making Money in Public Transit
Public transit is expensive, and most transit agencies don't make money. But Hong Kong's MTR is different.
FAA Impasse Is Omen For Rural America
Four thousand FAA workers furloughed and 70,000 contractors were laid off as a result of a congressional disagreement on subsidies to rural airports and a labor provision.
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
