The office amenities of yore are out. Quick, painless commutes are in.

What would get you back to the office? Employers all over the country want to know. Writing in Curbed, Kim Velsey provides the answer: “an easier commute.”
As Velsey explains, “Rock-climbing walls, Equinox-caliber gyms and rooftop bars are nice, but what workers really want, it seems, is an easier commute.” These trends, which were already fading pre-pandemic, lost their luster even more in the days of remote work. “When tenants get off work, how many of them really want to linger around their offices for a yoga class or drinks at the rooftop bar?”
Ultimately, data seems to show that “Coming off years of remote work, many people just want to get home, or at least to entertainments and companions of their choosing, after a full day at the office.” In New York City, younger companies that previously couldn’t afford office space can now rent offices in prime, transit-rich locations that let workers get to and from work quickly. Buildings around Manhattan’s Grand Central Station are seeing occupancy rates higher than the rest of the borough.
FULL STORY: What Really Brings People Back to the Office? The Easiest Commute.

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.

Driving Equity and Clean Air: California Invests in Greener School Transportation
California has awarded $500 million to fund 1,000 zero-emission school buses and chargers for educational agencies as part of its effort to reduce pollution, improve student health, and accelerate the transition to clean transportation.

Congress Moves to End Reconnecting Communities and Related Grants
The House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee moved to rescind funding for the Neighborhood Equity and Access program, which funds highway removals, freeway caps, transit projects, pedestrian infrastructure, and more.

From Throughway to Public Space: Taking Back the American Street
How the Covid-19 pandemic taught us new ways to reclaim city streets from cars.
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