The Bi-State Development Agency received roughly $7.4 million for efforts to expand the city’s MetroLink train system.

“About $7.4 million in federal pandemic aid allotted to the Bi-State Development Agency will pay for the next round of planning for a potential expansion of MetroLink” in St. Louis, according to an article by Mark Schlinkmann in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. “Taulby Roach, the agency’s CEO, said the next phase would include seeking public opinion on the possible stations along the revised route for the line, which would run along Jefferson Avenue from Chippewa Street to the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency headquarters.”
The estimated cost for the project is $850 million. “Information developed in the next phase of planning will be used to base an application to the federal government for 60% of the project cost,” Schlinkmann writes. “Meanwhile, St. Louis County and AECOM are researching a potential extension of the city’s northside-southside line into North County. Four alternative routes were announced last month.”
FULL STORY: Federal pandemic aid to pay for next round of planning for MetroLink expansion

The Slow Death of Ride Sharing
From the beginning, TNCs like Lyft and Uber touted shared rides as their key product. Now, Lyft is ending the practice.

Cool Walkability Planning
Shadeways (covered sidewalks) and pedways (enclosed, climate controlled walkways) can provide comfortable walkability in hot climates. The Cool Walkshed Index can help plan these facilities.

Congestion Pricing Could Be Coming to L.A.
The infamously car-centric city is weighing a proposed congestion pricing pilot program to reduce traffic and encourage public transit use.

Who Benefits Most from Land Conservation Efforts?
A new study estimates that recent land conservation generated $9.8 billion in wealth nationally through the housing market and that wealthier and White households benefited disproportionately.

Richmond Repeals Parking Minimums, Encourages Off-Street Parking and Transit
The Virginia city is replete with underused off-street parking lots, which city councilors hope to make available for parking at more times while encouraging transit use.

Lack of Multi-Family Zones Contributes to Nashville’s High Housing Costs, Study Says
Nashville and surrounding communities allow for a relatively small amount of multi-family housing, according to a new zoning atlas of Middle Tennessee. A regionally focused nonprofit is using the atlas to push for zoning reforms.
San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency
City of Orange
City of Charlotte - Charlotte Area Transit
Chaddick Institute at DePaul University
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
Montrose County
Wichita-Sedgwick County Metropolitan Area Planning Department
City of Lomita
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.