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.

The Latest Trend in Transportation Infrastructure: Un-Paving Roads
A recent study discovered that towns and cities around the country had removed the pavement on thousands of roads in the last five years.

New Report Targets the Sacred Cows of Transit Planning
Next City introduces the key concepts included in TransitCenter's "Who's on Board" report.

Supreme Court to Decide on Interpretations of Historic Preservation
A brief by the Cato Institute describes historic preservation laws as arbitrary and ambiguous. A case before the Supreme Court could decide on either side of the issue.

Plan Released for South Station Rail and Bus Terminal Expansion in Boston
A proposed expansion project is intended to expand passenger rail capacity around the Boston area.

20th Anniversary of the Birmingham Master Plan: City Planners Created an Industry Standard
It has been 20 years since the city of Birmingham, Michigan approved the Birmingham 2016 Master Plan. Robert J. Gibbs, one of the planners on a team that included Andrés Duany, describes the decisions and process that contributed to the plan.