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.

Regional Transit Study Launched in New Orleans
A new spirit of cooperation will guide a new study about regional transit with the potential of leading to substantial changes for the New Orleans Regional Transit Authority and Jefferson Transit systems.

First City to Make Ride-Hailing Trip Data Public: Chicago
Data geeks in Chicago will get the first chance to crunch detailed data on transportation network company trips in their city.

Chicago Sets Goal for 100 Percent Clean Energy by 2040
A non-binding resolution is a small step in the direction of clean energy.

$1.36 Billion in Federal Transit Administration Grants Awarded
The Federal Transit Administration announced a new round of funding for the Capital Investment Grants program last week.

Searching for the Essence of Planning at the National Planning Conference
With so many applications and intersections, planning can be hard to define. Planetizen Managing Editor James Brasuell is in San Francisco searching for meaning.