The State of Sprawl in America
All the city news you can use.
![Sprawl. Photo by David Shankbone (David Shankbone) [GFDL (http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html) or CC-BY-SA-3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/)], via Wikimedia Commons [ https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File%3ASuburbia_by_David_Shankbone.jpg ]](https://urbanmilwaukee.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/1024px-Suburbia_by_David_Shankbone.jpg)
Sprawl. Photo by David Shankbone (David Shankbone) (GFDL) or (CC-BY-SA-3.0), via Wikimedia Commons
In sprawl we trust: Since sociologist Lewis Mumford used sprawl to describe the endless growth of low density places, the phenomenon has exploded in the United States. But the origins of sprawl and suburban growth and their potential solutions seem far away. Today, Allison Lirish Dean argues, the debate is dominated by two more libertarian leaning factions, market urbanists and suburbanists who she believes miss the ultimate point about urban planning which is a focus on people not capital. (Allison Lirish Dean | Current Affairs)
Plans for Amtrak: A new Federal Railroad Administration study looks at 15 potential new long distance routes for Amtrak that would serve 39 million more Americans. The report which relied on over 50,000 comments from local advocates and officials was delivered to congress recently as a requirement of the infrastructure bill (IIJA). The program would be funded by states and the feds but it’s not clear how it will be seen within the incoming administration. (Kristin Toussaint | Fast Company)
No right turn on red: Research from the Mineta Transportation Institute shares that allowing right turns at red traffic lights creates great danger for pedestrians. Drivers often roll through lights and don’t come to a complete stop while looking the other way. Cities should have the ability to limit right on red to reduce collisions the report’s authors suggest. (Dan Zukowski | Smart Cities Dive)
Capital gains creating housing issues?: A 1997 capital gains tax set limits on the total exclusion from capital gains on value appreciation owners had to pay on a home sale. But the total exclusion of $500K for a couple and $250K for an individual could lead many people including older adults to decide not to sell a home as home values have surged and interest rates remain high. (Glen Luke Flanagan | Fortune Magazine)
Solving America’s trash problem: The US produces more trash than most countries and dealing with the problem usually includes two bad options; burning or burying it. As Miami considers whether to replace an incinerator that caught fire and burned in 2023, a zero waste plan is stymied by state rules and the Mayor is getting pushback from residents in the areas that sprawled around the previous incinerator site. Shipping it out of the area seems the only alternative. (Nicolás Rivero | Washington Post)
Bonus item: With some planning, Doctors in Hyderabad India were able to transfer a heart from one hospital to another 13km away in just 13 minutes using the city’s subway. (Metro Report International)
Quote of the Week
Libraries & Well-Being is an innovative study in how it applies positive psychology frameworks to the library world, to show for the first time that library usage positively contributes to externally validated measures of well-being. Our research found that patrons experience refuge, joy, connection, purpose, and expansion through their library use.
–Daphna Blatt, the NYPL’s Senior Director of Strategy & Public Impact, in Book Riot discussing a new study showing the benefits of visiting libraries.
This week on the Talking Headways podcast, we’re joined by Austin Gibble, currently of Stantec but formerly of the City of Indianapolis and IndyGo to talk about BRT, the Cultural Trail, and how relationships matter.
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