1990 levels: A report claims that carbon emissions have plummeted below 1990 levels due to the pandemic. Still, people driving are the top polluters.
Highway removal money: Congress could wind up considering $10 billion for highway removal projects.
Beg buttons: San Francisco advocates are urging the removal of “beg buttons” for pedestrians at intersections.
Delayed no more: A judge has cleared the way for new bus lanes in Flushing, Queens.
Expensive habit: Average car prices have increased to $40,000 for the first time.
The Champs: Bloomberg CityLab covers the Champs-Élysées transformation in more detail.
Expanding immigration: President-elect Joe Biden plans to put forward a bill offering a path to citizenship and permanent residence to 11 million undocumented people ($) living in America.
Guaranteed income: Compton is planning to offer a two-year pilot program of a guaranteed income.
Yang’s NYC tour: Despite his four-borough transit tour, New York City mayoral candidate Andrew Yang made some odd comments about pedestrians.
Farmer Gates: Bill Gates apparently has the largest private farmland holdings in America across 18 states.
Linear city: Saudi Arabia looks to a 105-mile linear city concept.
WFH West boom: With so many people working from home, there seems to be a shift going on in the American West.
River plan update: Los Angeles is master planning revitalization of the Los Angeles River.
Police reform uncharted: Police reform is taking shape in the state capitol, but what will come of it?
Apartment ban: Fort Worth is looking at a temporary apartment ban ($).
Environmental terrorist: In a parting shot, Trump is opening up more than three million acres of land in the Pacific Northwest to timber harvesting ($) that could threaten the spotted owl.
Hidden cost: Lack of safety leads to nearly $15 billion in impacts from car crashes per year in Washington.
Affordable housing investment: Investors are pledging $100 million to fund affordable housing near Atlanta’s subway stations.
Covid crisis: A new variant of the Covid virus could result in large case spikes and by extension deaths ($). Meanwhile, vaccination hopes ($) have been dashed in Washington as the federal government revealed there are no reserves to ramp up speed ($). Fortunately, President-elect Joe Biden has comprehensive plan for Covid vaccination production, distribution, and administration.
Electoral reform: Sightline argues that Americans should focus on electoral reforms to guard democracy and what Congress and Biden should do with Democratic power in this regard.
Thomas Street Overpass: The approach to the pedestrian and bike Thomas Street Overpass in Uptown is poised to be improved.
New national park: Tucked into the latest Covid bill was the creation of a new national park in West Virginia.
No new roads: Fifth Ward residents in Houston have come out against more highway expansion downtown.
Car-free PDX: Portland’s transportation head wants more car-free streets in the city center.
Must plan for housing: Pasadena has lost its fight to block more housing required by the regional housing needs assessment and state law.
Safer roads: How much would it cost Washington to make roads safe for everyone, including people walking, biking, and rolling?
Stephen is a professional urban planner in Puget Sound with a passion for sustainable, livable, and diverse cities. He is especially interested in how policies, regulations, and programs can promote positive outcomes for communities. With stints in great cities like Bellingham and Cork, Stephen currently lives in Seattle. He primarily covers land use and transportation issues and has been with The Urbanist since 2014.