The city’s newly approved Strategic Mobility Plan highlights the need for better options when it comes to walking, biking, and public transit, setting a goal to reduce driving to half of total trips.

Charlotte, North Carolina’s city council has approved a Strategic Mobility Plan that seeks to improve public transit options, reduce driving, eliminate traffic deaths, and increase economic mobility for public transit users. According to an article in Smart Cities Dive by Austyn Gaffney, “That effort follows a 2014 study out of Harvard and the University of California, Berkeley that ranked Charlotte last out of the nation’s 50 largest commuting zones for intergenerational, or economically upward, mobility.”
“[At-large city council member Braxton Winston] said the next step for community input would be identifying and prioritizing individual projects that address the plan’s goals.” Meanwhile, the city needs support at the state level to levy a new tax to support the plan, which does not yet have dedicated funding sources.
Alvaro Villagran, director of federal programs for the Shared-Use Mobility Center, “said the Charlotte program follows a general trend of cities moving away from a highway-oriented or street management perspective on transportation to an integration of shared mobility options like public transit, electric vehicles, cycling and pedestrian use.” The plan includes a goal of shifting to a 50-50 mode share, where half of trips or fewer are taken by single-occupancy vehicle. According to Villagran, “Instead of just disincentivizing cars, he said, communities need to make alternative modes of mobility realistic options for residents.”
FULL STORY: Charlotte mobility plan aims to slash car use, transform access to lower-emission options

Trump Administration Could Effectively End Housing Voucher Program
Federal officials are eyeing major cuts to the Section 8 program that helps millions of low-income households pay rent.

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

Ken Jennings Launches Transit Web Series
The Jeopardy champ wants you to ride public transit.

Washington Legislature Passes Rent Increase Cap
A bill that caps rent increases at 7 percent plus inflation is headed to the governor’s desk.

From Planning to Action: How LA County Is Rethinking Climate Resilience
Chief Sustainability Officer Rita Kampalath outlines the County’s shift from planning to implementation in its climate resilience efforts, emphasizing cross-departmental coordination, updated recovery strategies, and the need for flexible funding.

New Mexico Aging Department Commits to Helping Seniors Age ‘In Place’ and ‘Autonomously’ in New Draft Plan
As New Mexico’s population of seniors continues to grow, the state’s aging department is proposing expanded initiatives to help seniors maintain their autonomy while also supporting family caregivers.
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