Improved connectivity and reliability in the region's public transit could stimulate growth and help build a more vibrant local economy.

In a piece in Michigan Advance lamenting the "sorry state of public transportation in metro Detroit," Rick Haglund argues that the lack of regional connectivity in southeast Michigan is causing major economic damage to the area. "Amazon, for example, cited the lack of a regional transit system as one reason why it rejected Detroit in 2018 as a site for its $5 billion second headquarters, which might have brought thousands of six-figure salaried jobs to the area."
Widely regarded as one of the nation's worst public transit systems, Detroit relies on "two unconnected and inadequate bus systems" that serve more than 4 million residents. "Local metro Detroit leaders have been trying for more than 50 years to build a comprehensive transit system," but efforts have been stymied by opposition to new taxes.
But "[d]espite a lack of funding, there have been a variety of improvements to public transit in southeast Michigan," and the region "is expected to receive about $300 million from various COVID relief programs" that will backfill lost revenue. Ned Staebler, vice president for economic development at Wayne State University in Detroit and Washtenaw County representative on the Regional Transit Authority of Southeast Michigan (RTA) board of directors, "said the RTA will begin an extensive public engagement process this summer as part of an effort to create a new transit master plan." The agency has "hired GUD Marketing in Lansing to conduct a community engagement process, which will include involvement of a variety of business, citizen, nonprofit, political, faith-based and senior groups."
FULL STORY: Absence of viable regional transportation continues to hurt SE Michigan

How Sharrows Became Cycling’s Most Hated Symbol
Originally designed as a low-cost way to encourage safer road sharing between bikes and cars, the sharrow has become a symbol of the lack of commitment to protected bike infrastructure in many cities.

Keanu Reeves Set to Play Daniel Burnham in ‘The Devil in the White City’
Planning is going to get a new level of star power as a limited series adaptation of The Devil in the White City gets ready for television screens in 2024.

Marrying Urban Identity and Economic Prosperity
A new book posits that truly successful communities have a strong economic base and a firmly rooted sense of place.

Sports Stadiums Bring Few Economic Benefits
While their developers often tout jobs and local economic development as benefits of major stadium projects, research shows these venues often make little impact on local economies.

A How-To for ‘Freeway Fighters’
Ten recommendations for effective freeway removal advocacy.

Miami Rapid Transit Project Moves Forward
The county completed the draft environmental impact study for a monorail and people mover planned as part of its rapid transit system.
McKenna
Economic & Planning Systems, Inc.
Kinexus Group
Cohousing Association of the US
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
Rail~Volution
Sun City Center Community Association, Inc
City of Mesa
Town of Gilbert, Arizona
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.
Hand Drawing Master Plans
This course aims to provide an introduction into Urban Design Sketching focused on how to hand draw master plans using a mix of colored markers.