The Daily Source of Urban Planning News

Rahm Emanuel's Chicago Infrastructure Trust Expensive and Redundant?
The Infrastructure Trust was conceived of by Emanuel's administration to help gain private funds to restore the Uptown Theater. It hasn't done that, and some are questioning if it can serve any other useful purpose.

More Fallout on Affordable Housing from Tax Bill
While the low income housing tax credit was retained, banks will be much less willing to purchase them due to their reduced corporate tax rate. That's just one way H.R. 1 will exacerbate divisions between the rich and poor in America's cities.
California Grows by 301,000 to 39.5 Million
The 0.77 percent growth rate comes mostly from increased births, reports the California Department of Finance. The Census Bureau estimated the population increase at 20 percent less for the same time period: July 1, 2016 to July 1, 2017.

Cross-Border High-Speed Rail Studied for the Pacific Northwest
The state of Washington has taken a first, serious look at a high-speed rail project linking Vancouver in British Columbia to Seattle and Portland.

Has the Rental Market Peaked? If So, That's Good News for Low-Income Renters
A new Harvard study reports that the rental market began to decline this year, and may continue to drop as higher income renters become homeowners. However, the report was released a week before the GOP tax cuts bill was signed.

Pigeon Spikes…on Trees
A developer in Bristol installed pigeon spikes on trees to keep bird droppings off cars.

Financing of Hudson River Rail Tunnels in Peril
A funding agreement between New York, New Jersey, and the U.S. DOT for one of the most important rail projects in the nation is in danger of collapsing because of the way the two states are financing their share of the $12.9 billion cost.

Canada's New Housing Plan Treats Housing as a Human Right
With 1.7 million households in Canada currently living in "housing need," the ruling liberal government has decided to put its policies where its promises are.

How Baltimore Figures in to Washington D.C. Commuting Patterns
Despite significant and expected cross-county commuting within the Washington D.C. metro, relatively few people commute from Baltimore, despite good transportation connections and relatively less expensive housing.
Top European Court Declares Uber is a Taxi Service
The European Court of Justice (ECJ) decided Wednesday that Uber is indeed a taxi service, despite protests to the contrary, and must comply with national laws. The ruling has major implications for on-demand transport services across the EU.

Transportation in 2018: Three Predictions
Paul Lewis of the Eno Center gives his forecast of how next year will play out. Prospects for new technologies are good, but come with caveats.
Building Boom: Study Reveals Effects of California's 2016 Accessory Dwelling Units Law
Permits have shot up after California passed a landmark law in 2016 to make it easier to permit and construct accessory dwelling units (ADUs).

Details of the Massive Exodus at the U.S. EPA
The Trump Administration is working toward cutting 3,200 positions from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Already 700 employees, including 200 scientists, have left.

How About a Gondola Ride to the Hollywood Sign?
Project backers are calling the idea the "Sky Line."

Driverless Shuttle Buses Take to the Snowy Test Tracks of Minnesota
Details of the ongoing testing and experimentation of an autonomous shuttle bus called Minnie at a facility north of the Twin Cities.

Memphis Finds a Loophole to Rid Two Parks of Confederate Monuments
A victory for local control: Memphis city leaders found a way to rid their city of two racist monuments, over the objection of the State Legislature.
'Twas the Night Before Christmas and Here's a Reminder About the Meaning of Environmentalism
San Gabriel Valley Tribune reporter Steve Scauzillo turns the words of the poem "A Visit from St. Nicholas," by Clement Clarke Moore into an environmental message.

Funding Support Builds Momentum for a Community Land Trust in Denver
The newly formed and funded Elevation Community Land Trust will become the largest community land trust in Colorado.

Drilling in Arctic National Wildlife Refuge Allowed with Passage of GOP Tax Bill
When President Trump signs the tax-cutting bill, Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) will have achieved a family dream of opening up the pristine refuge, created 37 years ago, to drilling.
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