Columnist Neal Peirce throws his weight behind the Obama Infrastructure Bank proposal.
"While the world races down the infrastructure expansion track, we're constantly shortchanging decaying bridges, aging interstates, antiquated water systems, or high speed rail serious enough to one day rival Europe, Japan or China.
A serious infrastructure bank could start weaning us away from congressional pork-barrel spending and our 'silo' pattern ideas of funding infrastructure - roads and transit, airports, waterways and railways, in separate 'buckets.'"
Peirce highlights that the infrastructure bank proposal would be able to span borders, both city and state, which would enable the sort of vast regional infrastructure projects that emerging megacities and megaregions require.
FULL STORY: Infrastructure Bank Proposal: Ignore At Our Peril
The Rise of the Megaregion
A new book outlines the benefits of public investment at the regional scale.
Pressing Pause on Development in the Shadow of Austin's Growth
The Dripping Springs City Council points to inadequate wastewater infrastructure and the need to update its comprehensive plan as reasons for the city's development moratorium.
Study: Indiana Regional Planning Project Pays Off
The Regional Cities Initiative funded economic development projects and capacity building to help local agencies collaborate more effectively to promote growth.
Alabama: Trump Terminates Settlements for Black Communities Harmed By Raw Sewage
Trump deemed the landmark civil rights agreement “illegal DEI and environmental justice policy.”
Study: Maui’s Plan to Convert Vacation Rentals to Long-Term Housing Could Cause Nearly $1 Billion Economic Loss
The plan would reduce visitor accommodation by 25% resulting in 1,900 jobs lost.
Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.
Waymo Gets Permission to Map SF’s Market Street
If allowed to operate on the traffic-restricted street, Waymo’s autonomous taxis would have a leg up over ride-hailing competitors — and counter the city’s efforts to grow bike and pedestrian on the thoroughfare.
Parklet Symposium Highlights the Success of Shared Spaces
Parklets got a boost during the Covid-19 pandemic, when the concept was translated to outdoor dining programs that offered restaurants a lifeline during the shutdown.
Federal Homelessness Agency Places Entire Staff on Leave
The U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness is the only federal agency dedicated to preventing and ending homelessness.
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.
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Harvard GSD Executive Education
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NYU Wagner Graduate School of Public Service