The city, which has been slow to implement complete streets initiatives during the pandemic, promises closer collaboration with community groups to advance equity in transportation.

In a year when many cities used the pandemic as an opportunity to rethink public space and implement ambitious initiatives to improve walking and biking infrastructure, writes Courtney Courtney Cobbs, Chicago's progress on similar projects has been disappointingly slow. However, Cobbs hopes that a renewed focus on mobility justice and equity in the Chicago Department of Transportation (CDOT)'s Complete Streets division shows promise for the future of transportation equity in the city.
Although the agency suspended their quarterly bicycle and pedestrian advisory council meetings last year, a notice sent out in September announced CDOT's plans for a Transportation Equity Network to "develop closer relationships with communities and long-term strategies for mobility justice." To make walking and biking safe and accessible for Chicago's most vulnerable communities, Cobbs argues, the agency has to "make a concerted effort to increase the representation of women, gender-nonconforming individuals, Black and Brown folks, people with disabilities, and other marginalized people whose mobility needs have not been centered in previous transportation decisions" as well as decrease the power that car owners and individual aldermen have over the city's land use and transportation decisions. "Part of ensuring [transportation equity] means making sure the community engagement process centers those who have been missing from the decision-making process."
The Transportation Equity Network is one of two significant equity plans to focus on transportation in recent months. The city also released an Equitable Transit-Oriented Development policy plan in September 2020.
FULL STORY: Will CDOT’s new strategic plan be a turning point for equitable transportation?

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?

Cal Fire Chatbot Fails to Answer Basic Questions
An AI chatbot designed to provide information about wildfires can’t answer questions about evacuation orders, among other problems.

What Happens if Trump Kills Section 8?
The Trump admin aims to slash federal rental aid by nearly half and shift distribution to states. Experts warn this could spike homelessness and destabilize communities nationwide.

Sean Duffy Targets Rainbow Crosswalks in Road Safety Efforts
Despite evidence that colorful crosswalks actually improve intersection safety — and the lack of almost any crosswalks at all on the nation’s most dangerous arterial roads — U.S. Transportation Secretary Duffy is calling on states to remove them.
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.
Appalachian Highlands Housing Partners
Gallatin County Department of Planning & Community Development
Heyer Gruel & Associates PA
Mpact (founded as Rail~Volution)
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
City of Portland
City of Laramie