Government / Politics

Senate Committee Hearing Signals Possible Shift in Federal Transit Funding
Transit advocates were pleasantly surprised to hear senators address specific questions about the 80/20 split in transportation funding, transit operations, and rural transit needs.

Northeast Ohio Agency Set to Reject Three Highway Proposals
The agency's recommendations are based on a new method of cost-benefit analysis that includes equity and environmental sustainability as key measures.

Pandemic Still Surging in Parts of the U.S.
Bloomberg News' 'Evening Briefing' on April 29 looked at the global pandemic, noting the horrific scenes in India, Brazil's rising death toll, and added, "Coronavirus mutations are also wreaking havoc in America." Oregon is their focus.

Florida Highway Project Faces Opposition From All Sides
Critics worry the proposed 330-mile corridor would encourage sprawl, harm wildlife, and saddle the state with decades of debt.

Pandemic Street to Outlast Pandemic in California (By 2.5 Months)
Gov. Newsom's unexpected announcement that the pandemic would end on June 15 led one city to consider reopening its al fresco street and parklets to motor vehicles. After hearing from the public, the city council sided with diners over drivers.

Your Not-So-Friendly Neighborhood Oil Well
Much of California's oil and gas extraction takes place in residential neighborhoods, posing significant health risks to entire communities.

Vancouver Considers Easing Rezoning for Social Housing
The proposal would let non-profits build housing developments of up to six stories without a public rezoning process in mid-rise neighborhoods.

Special Permits Could Be Required for Hotel Development in New York City
Mayor Bill de Blasio is pushing ahead with a controversial approval step for hotel development, despite the warnings of city budget office staff about the long-term consequences of the move.

How Easy Is it to Repurpose Offices into Apartments?
Adaptive reuse is a hot concept, but regulatory and financial hurdles have made it slow to catch on in practice.

New York City Battles a Garbage Crisis
Last year's budget cuts have led to mounting complaints as the city's sanitation department falls behind on collections and rodent complaints surge.

3 Takeaways From 2020 Census Apportionment Data
The U.S. Census Bureau yesterday released its first set of apportionment population and resident population counts for the nation and each state.

Why the Federal Government Should Fund Transit Service
Although federal transit funding is traditionally reserved for capital improvement and infrastructure projects, advocates argue that funding improved service could have transformative impacts on transit-dependent communities.

Housing Vouchers Prove an Effective Tool Against Homelessness
The Biden administration plans to expand the federal housing voucher program, which currently provides rental assistance to 2.3 million U.S. households.

Exxon Wants 'Financial Incentive' for $100 Billion Carbon Capture Hub
The company's proposed $100 billion carbon capture project would require a "large-scale" public-private partnership and could capture up to 100 million tons of carbon per year.

Brooklyn Bridge Bike Path Could Be Wider, Safer
Advocates want to see a safer plan for the proposed two-way path on one of the country's busiest commuter corridors.

Prepping for Today's Big 2020 Census Release
Setting the table as the nation awaits the first results from the 2020 Census.

Houston Residents Want to Build Pocket Parks on City-Owned Lots
In a park-poor neighborhood, vacant lots provide an untapped opportunity for small-scale parks.

U.S. Cities Reexamine the Discriminatory Effects of Bike Helmet Laws
Data from cities across the country show that bike helmet laws are enforced more aggressively in communities of color.

Hong Kong Parking Plan Denounced as 'Wasteful'
Hong Kong's leaders want to build more parking for the growing number of private vehicles, but transportation experts suggest parking management could be a faster and more affordable solution.

Op-Ed: Now is the Time for Congestion Pricing in NYC
The city's plan to charge vehicles entering Manhattan's central business district could reduce traffic and raise $1 billion a year for the city's transportation infrastructure.
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