It was to be expected. After the first lawsuit was dismissed, the plaintiff's attorney warned that the revised environmental document was inadequate. Menlo Park and Atherton were joined by Palo Alto as well as some non-profits.
The first lawsuit forced the High Speed Rail authority to decertify the Program Environmental Impact Report. It was revised, meeting the court-ordered revisions, and certified on Sept. 2. The nearby cities of Burlingame, Belmont, and Redwood City had considered joining the lawsuit but chose not to 'at this time'.
"The suit is the second legal challenge Peninsula cities have brought against the project. In 2008, Menlo Park, Atherton and four environmental groups filed a similar suit over the authority's decision to bring trains through the Pacheco Pass. Palo Alto later filed a brief supporting that suit.
A judge dismissed that suit, but not before ordering the rail authority to revisit the proposed route between San Jose and San Francisco and adjust its report."
From Palo Alto OnLine: Palo Alto, Menlo Park, Atherton sue rail authority:
"The new lawsuit argues that because the broad program EIR violates state law, any project EIR based on it would also be illegal and "will result in irreparable harm" unless invalidated by the court."
Thanks to MTC Library
FULL STORY: Peninsula cities sue to derail high-speed rail project
Maui's Vacation Rental Debate Turns Ugly
Verbal attacks, misinformation campaigns and fistfights plague a high-stakes debate to convert thousands of vacation rentals into long-term housing.
Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.
In Urban Planning, AI Prompting Could be the New Design Thinking
Creativity has long been key to great urban design. What if we see AI as our new creative partner?
Making Shared Micromobility More Inclusive
Cities and shared mobility system operators can do more to include people with disabilities in planning and operations, per a new report.
Car Designs Make it Harder to See Pedestrians
Blind spots created by thicker pillars built to withstand rollover crashes are creating dangerous conditions for people outside vehicles.
Cal Fire Chatbot Fails to Answer Basic Questions
An AI chatbot designed to provide information about wildfires can’t answer questions about evacuation orders, among other problems.
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.
Appalachian Highlands Housing Partners
Gallatin County Department of Planning & Community Development
Heyer Gruel & Associates PA
Mpact (founded as Rail~Volution)
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
City of Portland
City of Laramie