D.C. Metro recently announced its intentions to buy anywhere from 256 to 800 new 8000 series railcars to replace the oldest cars in the system.

"Metro announced on Tuesday, September 4 that the agency is looking to buy anywhere from 256 to 800 new '8000-series' railcars to replace the oldest cars in the current fleet," reports Stephen Repetski.
Repetski's take on the new order of railcars, announced in a Request for Proposals (RFP) and a press release, is that the new 8000 series cars won't advance much beyond the system's newest cars—7000 series cars that have been plagued with technical issues.
The new 8000s, "won’t have major new features like increasing the number of doors per side or include open gangways, which would increase space for passengers and allow them to walk through cars," according to Repetski. Instead, 8000s will have "small tweaks and 'popular features'," like digital advertising screens, digital system maps, power outlets, additional handholds, and lighting and ADA improvements.
Another key point to consider from the RFP is the wide spectrum of potential cars that Metro intends to buy, anywhere from 256 to 800. The flexibility allowed by that spectrum could allow Metro to buy cars for years, replacing 40-year-old 2000/3000-series railcars and 20-year-old 6000-series railcars. The new railcars will also create new problems elsewhere in the system that will need to be addressed by system planners and engineers.
FULL STORY: Metro Reasons: Metro’s newest railcar order begins to take shape

Maui's Vacation Rental Debate Turns Ugly
Verbal attacks, misinformation campaigns and fistfights plague a high-stakes debate to convert thousands of vacation rentals into long-term housing.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

In Urban Planning, AI Prompting Could be the New Design Thinking
Creativity has long been key to great urban design. What if we see AI as our new creative partner?

How Trump's HUD Budget Proposal Would Harm Homelessness Response
Experts say the change to the HUD budget would make it more difficult to identify people who are homeless and connect them with services, and to prevent homelessness.

The Vast Potential of the Right-of-Way
One writer argues that the space between two building faces is the most important element of the built environment.

Florida Seniors Face Rising Homelessness Risk
High housing costs are pushing more seniors, many of them on a fixed income, into homelessness.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
Gallatin County Department of Planning & Community Development
Heyer Gruel & Associates PA
JM Goldson LLC
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
Transportation Research & Education Center (TREC) at Portland State University
Jefferson Parish Government
Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Claremont