Sochi, Russia, is set to host the 2014 Winter Olympics. But work on the site has hardly begun, according to this report from The Moscow Times.
"But inspectors from the International Olympic Committee might be in for a surprise when they visit Sochi on Wednesday for their second major evaluation of progress.
Piles of gravel, temporary roads and a brand-new fence around the perimeter of the Olympic construction site in Sochi's Imeretinskaya lowland are among the few visible signs that this vast area is a "huge construction site."
Mounds of garbage, including a rusted Zhiguli car covered with graffiti, are strewn across the area where a cargo port will be built to receive construction materials for Olympic venues. A rocky beach where the ships will dock remains untouched. A farm worker who was kicked off the land last year has returned to plant radishes.
A construction foreman at Olimpstroi's site, Igor Makushev, told The Moscow Times that he was not authorized to tell journalists what kind of work was under way and advised that questions be faxed to the Moscow office of Olimpstroi, the state corporation set up to handle construction of most venues."
Thanks to ArchNewsNow
FULL STORY: Radishes, Trash Await Olympic Panel

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

Chicago’s Ghost Rails
Just beneath the surface of the modern city lie the remnants of its expansive early 20th-century streetcar system.

Amtrak Cutting Jobs, Funding to High-Speed Rail
The agency plans to cut 10 percent of its workforce and has confirmed it will not fund new high-speed rail projects.

Ohio Forces Data Centers to Prepay for Power
Utilities are calling on states to hold data center operators responsible for new energy demands to prevent leaving consumers on the hook for their bills.

MARTA CEO Steps Down Amid Citizenship Concerns
MARTA’s board announced Thursday that its chief, who is from Canada, is resigning due to questions about his immigration status.

Silicon Valley ‘Bike Superhighway’ Awarded $14M State Grant
A Caltrans grant brings the 10-mile Central Bikeway project connecting Santa Clara and East San Jose closer to fruition.
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.
Caltrans
City of Fort Worth
Mpact (founded as Rail~Volution)
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
City of Portland
City of Laramie