A bold proposal to overhaul the region’s bus system will require leaders and government officials who will commit to putting the needs of riders front and center.

The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority has released a proposal, NextGen, to revamp its bus system. The $1 billion plan would include upgrades for more frequent, fast, and accessible bus service and add bus-only lanes and other infrastructure improvements.
If the plan is approved, hard decisions will be on the horizon, and the needs of riders should stay at the forefront, argues the Los Angeles Times Editorial Board. In addition, officials will need to shift their transportation priorities away from big, expensive rail projects and instead focus on providing better bus service for a system that now is not adequately serving bus riders.
"The NextGen bus plan is a worthy start. To truly improve bus riders’ experience, Metro’s board — which is made up of local elected leaders — and city governments will have to put the interests of those riders first. That means giving buses priority over cars. It means paying for better bus service and not ignoring buses for flashier rail projects," says the Times Editorial Board.
FULL STORY: Editorial: Metro’s new bus plan is useless without the political will to see it through

Rethinking Redlining
For decades we have blamed 100-year-old maps for the patterns of spatial racial inequity that persist in American cities today. An esteemed researcher says: we’ve got it all wrong.

Montreal Mall to Become 6,000 Housing Units
Place Versailles will be transformed into a mixed-use complex over the next 25 years.

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

Seattle Safe Parking Site to Close, Relocate
A nonprofit leases lots during permitting stages to erect tiny homes and RV safe parking sites for unhoused residents. But the model means constant uncertainty and displacement.

LA ‘Mobility Wallet’ Increased Quality of Life for Participants
The city distributed a monthly $150 transportation subsidy to 1,000 low-income Angelenos. It dramatically improved their lives.

Texas, California Rail Projects Seek Out Private Funding
In the wake of Trump’s cuts to high-speed rail projects, rail authorities are looking to private-public partnerships to supplement their budgets.
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.
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
Transportation Research & Education Center (TREC) at Portland State University
Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada
Toledo-Lucas County Plan Commissions