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.

A New Resilience Strategy for Toronto
Toronto is preparing for the worst of climate change, but also the stresses of affordability, congestion, and aging infrastructure.

Patent Lawsuit Accuses Uber and Lyft of Stealing the Idea
A former engineering professor (i.e., not a planning professor) says he invented the transportation network company first, and that he has the patent to prove it.

The Gender Gap for Biking Is Larger in Seattle Than the National Average
People on bikes or men on bikes?

Amtrak Improving Tracks to Make Way for Faster Trains Between Baltimore and D.C.
Amtrak is in the process up updating its tracks to prepare for Acela Express trains that will travel at speeds up to 125 miles per hour between D.C. and Baltimore on the Northeast Corridor.

How a Freeway Widening Project Will Reshape Houston
The environmental impact report for the North Houston Highway Improvement Project is still underway, after 15 years of planning, but it's not too early to imagine the consequences of this massive project.