Republicans
Transportation Spending and Taxing Considered by Key Senate Committee
When Congress returns from the July 4 recess, they will have less than four weeks to pass and fund a transportation bill—be it for six years, as desired by transportation advocates, or less, as Senate Finance Committee Chair Orrin Hatch prefers.
House Republicans Slash Amtrak's Budget Hours After Seven Die in Derailment
The timeliness of the debate on Amtrak's budget could not have been worse for House Republicans who appeared insensitive at best in approving almost a 20 percent cut in funding after the fatal Philadelphia derailment that sent 200 to hospitals.
Appropriations Committee Would Cut Half of D.C. Metro's Funding
A Republican spending bill would slash funding for the D.C. Metro by half. Local Democrats have called the proposal shortsighted and ill timed.
'Hooray' for a Six Cents Gas Tax Bill in Missouri
This St. Louis Patch-Dispatch editorial analyzes the legislature as well as the bill to raise gas taxes two-cent a year for three years, taking aim at Republican House members who will be "automatic no votes." Illinois may also increase its gas tax.
Op-Ed: Where GOP Is Strong, Cities Receive Less
When it comes to federal appropriations, urban areas in states dominated by rural Republicans are at a distinct disadvantage. In search of lobbying power, metros in affected states are banding together.
Georgia to Increase Gas Tax Through Conversion to Excise Tax
Gov. Nathan Deal will sign legislation to increase gas taxes through a state sales tax conversion to an excise tax. With new weight-based truck fees, motel fees, and electric vehicle fees, it will add $1 billion in new transportation funding.
Senate Passes Keystone XL Authorization Bill: What's Next?
The new Republican-controlled Senate achieved its first major legislative victory on Thursday (Jan. 29) by passing S.1 to authorize construction of the Keystone XL pipeline. Five more votes are needed to override a potential presidential veto.
So Much for an Easy Keystone Victory for Senate Republicans
With the turnover of leadership in the Senate to Republicans in January, the only Keystone question was whether advocates had enough votes to override a promised presidential veto. Turned out they were unable to overcome the first filibuster of 2015.
State Political Winds Turn Against Renewable Energy
Last fall's Republican victories might mean that state legislatures will turn back the clock on laws requiring renewable energy.
South Dakota Governor Proposes Perpetual Gas Tax Increase
Gov. Dennis Daugaard, who pledged not to raise taxes during his first term, proposed in his state of the state to increase the state gas tax two cents on July 1, and then two cents a year thereafter, to fund state and local roads and bridge repairs.
Nebraska Supreme Court OKs Keystone XL; U.S. Senate has the Next Move
The House voted for the tenth time to approve the pipeline, and a split decision by the Nebraska Supreme Court removes a key objection of President Barack Obama to ruling on Keystone XL. The Senate begins debate Monday.
Republican Co-Sponsors Rep. Earl Blumenauer's 15-cent Gas Tax Bill
The good news is that a House Republican now supports raising the gas tax to balance the ailing Highway Trust Fund. The bad news is that come Jan. 3, Rep. Tom Petri (R-Wis.), a 36-year member, will be a former congressman—he is retiring on Dec. 26
California High Speed Rail: Federal Aid Not Required
That was the message from Gov. Jerry Brown after a state appeals court unlocked a lower court's hold on $9.95 billion of state bond funds for the $68 billion project. He exchanged words with HSR opponent House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy.
Did Republicans Orchestrate a National High-Speed Derailment?
Was the demise of plans for high-speed rail in several states run by Republican governors the result of fiscal prudence or a case of political collusion? A new report in the Tampa Tribune suggests the latter.
Republicans Back Urgent Climate Action
Four former EPA heads in Republican administrations, from Richard Nixon to George W. Bush, have penned an op-ed in The Times calling on members of all parties to support President Obama's recent climate initiatives and do more to curtail warming.
Obama's Grand Rail Plans: What Went Wrong?
Four years after a historic down payment was made on Pres. Obama's plan to connect 80 percent of Americans to fast trains, "the prospects for a national high-speed rail system seem bleak." Politics and funding challenges have derailed the plan.
The Politics of Sidewalks
In the aftermath of the presidential election, an observation by the star statistician Nate Silver about the connection between sidewalks and voting patterns has been getting a lot of play. Robert Steuteville tries to depoliticize walkability.
Why the Politics of Climate Change Matter
Suzy Khimm reports on a new study that demonstrates politicians affect the way that Americans view the issue of climate change more than almost anything else, including news, weather, or science.
Friday Funny: A New Direction for Transportation Policy?
James Sinclair points out that the cover of the Republicans' newly announced transportation reauthorization proposal, picturing an empty freeway overpass, makes the title - "A New Direction" - pretty ironic.
NY Republicans Hop On Board the Anti-HSR Bandwagon
Rep. Ann Marie Buerkle and Rep. Tom Reed of New York are leading an effort to stop New York from receiving any federal funding for high-speed rail projects.
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.
City of Albany
UCLA Lewis Center for Regional Policy Studies
Mpact (formerly Rail~Volution)
Chaddick Institute at DePaul University
City of Piedmont, CA
Great Falls Development Authority, Inc.
HUDs Office of Policy Development and Research
