Pitting Washington, D.C.’s K Street Transitway against free transit oversimplifies a more complex issue.

A proposal to provide free transit service in lieu of a new multimodal transitway in Washington, D.C. sparked heated debate among transit advocates, but now the District’s transit users may not get either one, writes George Kevin Jordan in Streetsblog USA.
“In late April, two members of the D.C. Council grabbed headlines when they proposed scrapping the multimodal, $123-million K Street Transitway project — a long-fought road redesign which would prioritize bus service by featuring two separated bus lanes between 12th Street NW to 21st Street NW, among other multimodal improvements — and re-allocate its funding towards an initiative called Metro for D.C., allowing people to board a bus within District limits for free, no matter the final destination.”
Now, a request from Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) board Chair Paul Smedberg to delay the free transit program prompts questions as to whether any transit improvements will be made at all. Jordan points out that the service-vs.-free fares debate misses the point, pointing out that it isn’t a question of a simple tradeoff.
Rather, each initiative comes with its own set of challenges and associated opportunities: “Under the surface of the debate are budgetary concerns for both the city and the WMATA, design concerns about the Transitway that some say would undermine its multimodal goals,” while the legislation that would fund the free fares program would also increase transit service. For now, “With D.C.’s budget still to be voted on, the future of both K-Street and Metro for D.C. seem to be up in the air.”
FULL STORY: D.C.’s ‘Free Fares Vs. Good Service’ Debate Isn’t What You Think

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

Chicago’s Ghost Rails
Just beneath the surface of the modern city lie the remnants of its expansive early 20th-century streetcar system.

Amtrak Cutting Jobs, Funding to High-Speed Rail
The agency plans to cut 10 percent of its workforce and has confirmed it will not fund new high-speed rail projects.

Ohio Forces Data Centers to Prepay for Power
Utilities are calling on states to hold data center operators responsible for new energy demands to prevent leaving consumers on the hook for their bills.

MARTA CEO Steps Down Amid Citizenship Concerns
MARTA’s board announced Thursday that its chief, who is from Canada, is resigning due to questions about his immigration status.

Silicon Valley ‘Bike Superhighway’ Awarded $14M State Grant
A Caltrans grant brings the 10-mile Central Bikeway project connecting Santa Clara and East San Jose closer to fruition.
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.
Caltrans
City of Fort Worth
Mpact (founded as Rail~Volution)
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
City of Portland
City of Laramie