Attorneys representing the state of New Jersey responded to the allegations of a class action lawsuit rising from the "bridge-gate" scandal.
Paul Berger digs into court documents filed Tuesday on behalf of a slew of defendants, including the state of New Jersey and the Port Authority," in response to a "class-action lawsuit filed on behalf of Bergen County commuters and taxi drivers who were stalled in traffic when two Fort Lee access lanes to the George Washington Bridge were closed without notice in September 2013."
The lawsuit has brought renewed focus on "Bridge-gate," with the back and forth between lawyers providing some perspective about the way the public thinks about traffic. "The class-action suit was filed at the beginning of 2014 on behalf of commuters and taxi drivers who say they used gas, lost time, and suffered emotional and economic damages because of delays caused by the closure of two of the three access lanes to the GWB in Fort Lee" according to Berger. In response, the defendants' case sums up like so: "You can’t sue for getting stuck in a traffic jam."
One class action lawsuit has already been tossed out of court. U.S. District Judge Jose Linares in June dismissed a case involving the same parties pack in August. The plaintiffs were, however, offered a chance to resubmit its case with additional facts to support its claims.
FULL STORY: Lawsuit over GWB lane closures assailed in court filings

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.

Why Should We Subsidize Public Transportation?
Many public transit agencies face financial stress due to rising costs, declining fare revenue, and declining subsidies. Transit advocates must provide a strong business case for increasing public transit funding.

Paris Bike Boom Leads to Steep Drop in Air Pollution
The French city’s air quality has improved dramatically in the past 20 years, coinciding with a growth in cycling.

Why Housing Costs More to Build in California Than in Texas
Hard costs like labor and materials combined with ‘soft’ costs such as permitting make building in the San Francisco Bay Area almost three times as costly as in Texas cities.

San Diego County Sees a Rise in Urban Coyotes
San Diego County experiences a rise in urban coyotes, as sightings become prevalent throughout its urban neighbourhoods and surrounding areas.
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.
Smith Gee Studio
Alamo Area Metropolitan Planning Organization
City of Santa Clarita
Institute for Housing and Urban Development Studies (IHS)
City of Grandview
Harvard GSD Executive Education
Toledo-Lucas County Plan Commissions
Salt Lake City
NYU Wagner Graduate School of Public Service