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.

St. Louis Residents Choosing Golf Carts Instead of Cars
Residents of the neighborhood of Soulard started a trend at the beginning of the decade that has changed the face of the neighborhood, and started to catch on in other parts of the city of St. Louis as well.

Traffic Fatalities Compel New Standards for Road Diets
In the Twin Cities, traffic engineers are reconsidering traffic congestion on four-lane arterials in the face of unrelenting tragedy on these car-centric corridors. Road diets, designed for safety, are now a more tenable proposition.

Report: Urban Planning and Design Neglecting the Needs of Seniors
Many cities aren't planning and designing for their aging residents, despite a world full of examples to model from, according to a new report from the Milliken Institute.

It's Time to Map and Share Data on Underground Infrastructure
A call for cities like New York to accurately map, model, and share information on underground water and utility infrastructure for public benefit.

Indianapolis Going Big on Transit Planning
The IndyGo transit system is wrapping up a period of free fares for its new Red Line bus rapid transit line before another big launch scheduled for spring 2020.