Government / Politics

Arlington Transit Bus

Virginia Proposal for No-Cost and Reduced-Fare Transit

The program would allow transit agencies throughout the state to eliminate or reduce fares.

February 18, 2020 - Greater Greater Washington

San Francisco city

A New Planning Director in San Francisco

Outgoing San Francisco Planning Director John Rahaim announced his departure in September. Rich Hillis will be the next to have the job.

February 18, 2020 - San Francisco Chronicle

Electric Bike

L.A. Wins Round One in Battle With Uber Over Privacy and Data

Los Angeles and Uber bike-share subsidiary Jump are in a protracted legal battle over the city's data sharing requirements.

February 17, 2020 - Los Angeles Times

Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta

Opinion: California State Water Department Needs to Step Up in the Fight on Climate Change

California's water resources are under threat from climate change, and the state's water agency must take action to face the challenges.

February 16, 2020 - The Sacramento Bee

Angry Public Meeting

The State of Public Meetings

Dating back to a tradition begun in the 1630s, public meetings are an essential part of the political systems, and planning processes, of U.S. cities. Public meetings are also broken, according to this article.

February 13, 2020 - Curbed

State capital building

Top Planning Issues for State Legislatures

The American Planning Association identifies three issues that will define the year in state legislatures around the country.

February 12, 2020 - American Planning Association

Washington D.C. - Federal Reserve

Debating Improvements to the Community Reinvestment Act

The Community Reinvestment Act of 1977 was the final of a suite of federal laws aimed at fighting racial segregation in housing. Congress is beginning to consider how best to modernize the act to meet the challenges of contemporary times.

February 11, 2020 - Washington Center for Equitable Growth

President Donald Trump

Trump's State of the Union: More on Infrastructure in Democrats' Response

The president spoke briefly about infrastructure in his third State of the Union address last Tuesday, urging Congress to pass the bipartisan America’s Transportation Infrastructure Act of 2019. Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer had a lot more to say.

February 10, 2020 - Transport Topics

Miami, Florida

Presidential Candidates Discuss the California Housing Crisis

Many of the Democratic candidates have offered housing policy plans as a key plank in their election platforms, but here a prominent YIMBY politician confronts them directly on the housing crisis in California.

February 10, 2020 - Palm Springs Desert Sun

Atlanta

The Winners and Losers of Atlanta’s Transformation

The city has reinvented itself in many ways, but its residents are not reaping those benefits equally.

February 9, 2020 - Atlanta

North Carolina Coast

Southern States Lagging in Addressing Climate Change

Cities in the South are facing a multitude of climate change impacts, but many have been slow to respond to the growing threats.

February 6, 2020 - The State

Williamsburg Brooklyn

Opinion: N.Y.C. Neighborhood Rezoning Displaces Vulnerable Residents

Rezoning has resulted in the loss of affordable housing in areas like the South Bronx, and any proposals need to consider the long-term racial equity impacts, according to a recent report by Churches United for Fair Housing.

February 5, 2020 - City Limits

Interstate Freeway System

Sound Transit's Stride BRT to Bring Additional Time Savings

An expansion of Interstate 405 in the Seattle region will include bus rapid transit stations that will allow vehicles to travel even faster along the new transit corridor.

February 4, 2020 - The Urbanist

Olympia, Washington

Tax on High Earners Proposed to Fund Homeless Services in Seattle's King County

The Washington State Legislature is proposing a type of tax that the city of Seattle tried, and failed, to implement a few years go.

February 3, 2020 - KUOW

Indiana

Bike-Friendly City in Indiana is Known for Plentiful Roundabouts

Indiana's fifth-largest city, of just under 100,000, residents has 120 roundabouts, more than any city in the U.S., and only 14 traffic lights. The average traffic fatality rate is 83 percent lower than the national average.

February 2, 2020 - Smart Cities Dive

Electric vehicle

GM's Electric Vehicle Future Arrives Early in Detroit-Hamtramck

GM's first non-internal combustion engine vehicle assembly plant will be in the form of 35-year-old plant straddling the Detroit-Hamtramck border thanks in part to a $2.27 billion state tax credit. Electric pickups, SUVs, and AVs will be produced.

January 30, 2020 - Detroit Free Press

Student activists with the Sunrise Movement occupy Nancy Pelosi's office

Democrats Reveal a $760 Billion Transportation Framework

Congressional Democrats hope transportation infrastructure can be a winning political point during a campaign year following the impeachment of President Donald Trump.

January 30, 2020 - The Hill

Brooklyn

Opinion: Wealthy Residents Are Opposing Brooklyn Development to Protect Their Own Interests

Residents are arguing that a Williamsburg development would negatively affect the neighborhood. But it’s a grassroots effort to protect the status quo in a neighborhood where gentrification benefited them.

January 30, 2020 - New York Post

Seattle Transit

Charting a Better Transportation Future for Washington State

The state gas tax cannot provide the funding that Washington needs for its transportation system, according to a recent opinion piece published by the Seattle Times. But state legislators can look to bold, progressive revenue options for the future.

January 28, 2020 - The Seattle Times

Mountain resort

Increased Property Taxes for Short-Term Rentals Under Consideration in Colorado

The idea of taxing rental homes at a commercial rate is likely to be a hot button in Colorado.

January 28, 2020 - The Denver Post

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.

Top Books

An annual review of books related to planning.

Top Schools

The definitive ranking of graduate planning programs.

100 Most Influential Urbanists

The who's who of urbanism, according to Planetizen readers.

Urban Planning Creators You Should Know

A short list of voices on social, video, and podcasting platforms.