James Brasuell, AICP is the former editorial director of Planetizen and is now a senior public affairs specialist at the Southern California Association of Governments. James managed all editorial content and direction for Planetizen from 2014 to 2023, and was promoted from manging editor to editorial director in 2021. After a first career as a class five white water river guide in Trinity County in Northern California, James started his career in Los Angeles as a volunteer at a risk reduction center in Skid Row. Prior to joining Planetizen, James worked at the Cal Poly Pomona College of Environmental Design, as an editor at Curbed LA, as editor of The Planning Report, and as a freelance contributor for The Architect’s Newspaper, the Urban Land Institute – Los Angeles Chapter, FORM, KCET, and the California Planning & Development Report.

Brightline, Florida's High-Speed Rail Company, Goes All in on Vegas
Shocking news from the high-speed rail industry, as Brightline announced its purchase of XpressWest, which is underway with plans to link Las Vegas to Victorville, California and eventually to Los Angeles.

New Google Search Engines Opens Open Data
Finding the right data in an ocean of open data takes some Googling.

New Orleans RTA Buses Taking a New, Regional Approach
New Orleans transit planners are working to extend the bus network deeper into the surrounding region, as was always intended.

Study Reveals the Futility of Building Out of Congestion
Even if widening highways enough to relieve all congestion were possible, it would only benefit a very small number of commuters, according to new research.

Editorial: Save Space for Parks in Chicago's Next Big Mega-Development
The 760-acre North Branch Industrial Corridor could be a game changer for the North Side, but the Chicago Tribune wants to make sure that quality of life is considered along visions of economic development.