While there are many reasons to break away from automobile dominance, the RAISE grant program is the only federal effort fully reflecting a public transit and active transportation priorities.

Laura Bliss reports for Bloomberg CityLab on the potential of the first round of RAISE grant program funding, announced on November 19 by the U.S. Department of Transportation, to make substantive changes to the pro-automobile priorities established by its predecessor program, the Trump administration's BUILD grant program, and over a century of U.S. transportation planning.
According to Bliss, the nearly $1 billion allotted by the RAISE grant program is much more focused on alternative transportation modes (i.e., not road expansion projects). "[O]nly about 5% of RAISE funds will support new roads, and 10% will go to projects that increase road capacity," according to Bliss. "The rest will flow to a mix of projects such as a freeway cap in Atlanta, a greenway project in Cincinnati, transit planning in Omaha, Missoula and Charlotte, and pedestrian and bike safety improvements in Denver, Oakland and Wilmington."
Bliss notes that the financial equation differs greatly from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), which despite spending a record amount on alternative transportation projects also includes record amounts for road building (without the previously planned guardrails that would have made it more challenging for state departments of transportation from spending federal funding on the transportation status quo).
The article includes more insight from transportation experts about how to track and evaluate the use of both RAISE and IIJA funds in the coming months and years.
FULL STORY: Car-Free Transportation Gets Boost from U.S. Grant Program

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?

King County Supportive Housing Program Offers Hope for Unhoused Residents
The county is taking a ‘Housing First’ approach that prioritizes getting people into housing, then offering wraparound supportive services.

Researchers Use AI to Get Clearer Picture of US Housing
Analysts are using artificial intelligence to supercharge their research by allowing them to comb through data faster. Though these AI tools can be error prone, they save time and housing researchers are optimistic about the future.

Making Shared Micromobility More Inclusive
Cities and shared mobility system operators can do more to include people with disabilities in planning and operations, per a new report.
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.
planning NEXT
Appalachian Highlands Housing Partners
Gallatin County Department of Planning & Community Development
Mpact (founded as Rail~Volution)
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
City of Portland
City of Laramie