The complicated process of redesigning the numerous bus systems operating in and around Washington, D.C. is expected to yield a draft plan in March of this year.

Max Smith reports that the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (Metro) is approaching the completion of a draft plan to redesign the bus systems operating in the D.C. region.
"The project is being run by Metro, but considers the other major bus services in the region — Fairfax Connector, RideOn, TheBus, CUE, DASH and ART," explains Smith.
The Bus Transformation Project’s Executive Steering Committee is expected to release its draft outline, the result of the second phase of the system redesign process, this March or April.
"Metro General Manager Paul Wiedefeld expects to include at least some of the changes proposed in the plan in the budget he will propose next fall, meaning those changes would actually begin July 1, 2020," according to Smith.
FULL STORY: Regionwide bus route overhaul to start next year

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.

San Francisco Suspends Traffic Calming Amidst Record Deaths
Citing “a challenging fiscal landscape,” the city will cease the program on the heels of 42 traffic deaths, including 24 pedestrians.

Half of Post-Fire Altadena Home Sales Were to Corporations
Large investors are quietly buying up dozens of properties in Altadena, California, where a devastating wildfire destroyed more than 6,000 homes in January.

Opinion: What San Francisco’s Proposed ‘Family Zoning’ Could Really Mean
Mayor Lurie is using ‘family zoning’ to encourage denser development and upzoning — but could the concept actually foster community and more human-scale public spaces?

Jacksonville Launches First Autonomous Transit Shuttle in US
A fleet of 14 fully autonomous vehicles will serve a 3.5-mile downtown Jacksonville route with 12 stops.
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