After Texas relinquished control of state highways to cities in an effort to save money on maintenance costs, San Antonio planned an ambitious makeover of Broadway to accommodate pedestrian and bike improvements. The state won't approve it.

Texas Governor Greg Abbott has rejected the City of San Antonio's ambitious plan to transform Broadway from an undervalued thoroughfare into a thriving urban destination "flanked as it is by museums, parks, high-design new office buildings and thousands of popular new apartment units." As Robert Rivard writes, Abbott denied the city's plan to reduce the number of lanes to make way for bike and pedestrian infrastructure.
"What city leaders want is in essence to take the six-lane street down to four lanes, converting the recovered space into wider sidewalks, bike lanes and shade-producing trees. The purpose is to continue providing an efficient corridor to Alamo Heights and points north while better serving the thousands of residents and visitors attracted to what is fast becoming San Antonio’s most ambitiously urban neighborhood."
The fight over the street's future stems from a 2013 decision by the Texas Transportation Commission to transfer responsibility for some state routes to cities "to get them off the state maintenance rolls." While the city is eager to implement its plan, the state says it never officially made the transfer. Rivard contends that "Abbott’s move is a minor skirmish in what has become the Texas Republican war on cities and local governments." According to Rivard, "The dynamic is simple: The cities are Democratic, so the traditional conservative theory that power should be placed with the government closest to the people is obsolete."
FULL STORY: Give my regards to SL 368? Why Abbott killed San Antonio’s Broadway plan

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