Increasing costs mean local agencies need to dig in their heels if they expect to receive funding from the federal government.
"Hennepin County commissioners on Thursday authorized an additional $204 million for the Southwest Corridor light-rail project," reports Janet Moore.
"The funding infusion was required after Southwest’s budget recently surged to just over $2 billion due to the increased costs of labor, steel, fuel and other unanticipated cash outlays," adds Moore. The decision to increase the funding was made despite concerns about the cost increases.
"All told, Hennepin County is expected to contribute $801 million for Southwest, a portion of which will be paid with a half-cent transit sales tax. While the board approved the expenditure in theory on Thursday, members will consider funding the full amount after several key milestones are achieved this summer." One remaining question mark is $929 million in funding expected from the Federal Transit Administration.
FULL STORY: Hennepin County Board approves Southwest light-rail cash infusion — in theory
Contractors in Limbo While Southwest LRT Waits for Federal Funding Promise
More evidence that the Federal Transit Administration under the Trump Administration isn't interested in capital investments.
Portland Transit Vote Kills SW Transit Corridor Light Rail Project
In a pair of articles, Jonathan Maus reports on the final moments of the SW Corridor Light Rail Project, as project supporters deals with a loss at the ballot box.
State and Local Votes Reveal Widespread Support for Public Transit
There's a narrative to be built from the results of state and local elections on issues of public transit funding: voters continue to support more funding for public transit projects and programs.
The state-sanctioned urbicide of Austin
People don’t kill cities. Freeways do.
US to reduce Colorado River water deliveries to Mexico
A new Colorado Treaty amendment reduces Mexico’s Colorado River water allocation by 250,000 acre feet.
New Jersey’s second-largest city bans standalone data centers
Jersey City will continue to allow co-location facilities, such as those meant for research institutions that store their own data.
Amtrak not solely to blame for New Jersey commuter rail's unreliability, report finds
A new study from the Garden State Initiative found that NJ Transit’s budget grew 20% across a 4 year period, but reliability declined significantly over the same period.
EPA erases limits on planet-warming pollution from power plants
Under Monday’s plan, power plants would still have some limits on how much mercury, arsenic and other contaminants they can emit.
Phoenix announces new on-demand transit service, more frequent RAPID buses
Both new services will launch in October, and are part of Phoenix's Project Effective Access Solutions for Easing Congestion.
FREE Course: Walkable City 1: Why Walkability?
After describing his path towards focusing on walkability as the essence of good planning, Jeff Speck marches through his five principal reasons for making more walkable places.
Reinventing Malls: Planning Alchemy—Turning Gray Fields Into Gold
The course focuses on the opportunities and imperatives that shape reinvention of mall sites.
Eagle County Government
Harvard University Graduate School of Design
Nashville Planning Department
The Architects Foundation
University of Cincinnati Online
The Pocatello Development Authority
The Urban Renewal Agency of the City of Pocatello
Journal of the American Planning Association