The Crossrail train service being built in London will not only drastically decrease commuter travel times, it is also expected to catalyze the transformation of areas along its route, reports Graham Norwood.
London's Crossrail project has been in the works for several years now, but officials believe it will be worth the wait. The new rail line, slated to begin service in 2018, will "increase London's rail passenger capacity by 10 per cent, bringing another 1.5m people within a 45-minute commuting radius of central London and generating £42bn for the UK economy in its first 10 years of operation."
Norwood claims that the new rail service will not only bring additional revenue into already established neighborhoods like King's Cross and Soho, but will open wide the doors for new economic development in under-developed areas both within and outside the city proper. For example, in Farringdon, just north of the City, "There are many unused commercial buildings and sites that could be redeveloped. Before Crossrail there was little interest in exploiting this potential," says Andy Martin, senior partner at estate agent Strutt & Parker.
A Crossrail 2 is also in the works, which would connect Chelsea and Hackney, further expanding the definition of "prime central London."
FULL STORY: London sprawling

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.

San Francisco Suspends Traffic Calming Amidst Record Deaths
Citing “a challenging fiscal landscape,” the city will cease the program on the heels of 42 traffic deaths, including 24 pedestrians.

Adaptive Reuse Will Create Housing in a Suburban Texas Strip Mall
A developer is reimagining a strip mall property as a mixed-use complex with housing and retail.

Study: Anti-Homelessness Laws Don’t Work
Research shows that punitive measures that criminalized unhoused people don’t help reduce homelessness.

In U.S., Urban Gondolas Face Uphill Battle
Cities in Latin America and Europe have embraced aerial transitways — AKA gondolas — as sustainable, convenient urban transport, especially in tricky geographies. American cities have yet to catch up.
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.
Heyer Gruel & Associates PA
JM Goldson LLC
Custer County Colorado
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
Transportation Research & Education Center (TREC) at Portland State University
Jefferson Parish Government
Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Claremont