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.
Santa Monica to Plan for a Freeway Cap Where the I-10 Meets the Pacific Coast
The terminus of the I-10 freeway is a 7,000-foot concrete trench across the heart of Santa Monica. The city's new downtown plan calls for a cap, and a new master plan will hammer out specifics.
Friday Fun: These Boots Are Made for Transit
Ok, they're sneakers, not boots, but a new shoes available in small numbers in Berlin will double as transit fare for most of 2018.
Twin Cities-to-Milwaukee High-Speed Rail Hits Another Snag
The plug has been pulled on an ongoing study into the feasibility of higher speed rail service between the Twin Cities in Minnesota and Milwaukee in Wisconsin. Wisconsin wasn't supporting the project; now Minnesota isn't either.
Calls for a Sea Wall in Boston After Freezing Water Floods the Streets
After streets in Boston flooded last week, leaving cars frozen in the floodwaters, local leaders are renewing a call for a $10 billion sea wall.
Mapping All the Transit Corridors Targeted for Upzoning Under California's SB 827
SB 827, announced last week by California State Senator Scott Wiener, would revoke density maximums, parking minimums, and set permissive height limits along transit corridors all over the state.