The Federal Transit Administration announced a new round of Rail Vehicle Replacement grants.
To help modernize U.S. passenger rail systems, the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) announced $197 million in grants for the replacement of passenger rail cars or locomotives. As Dan Zukowski explains in Smart Cities Dive, “Grants may cover up to 50% of the cost for replacement vehicles but can be combined with other FTA grants to cover additional costs.”
“Funded projects must comply with buy-American provisions under the FTA and the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, which sets minimum domestic content and final assembly requirements for rail cars and locomotives.”
The agency awarded more than $700 million for the same Rail Vehicle Replacement program in fiscal year 2023.
Read the full story: FTA offers $197M to replace aging public transit rail vehicles
Planning Trends for 2026: States and Cities Take Initiative, Passenger Rail Gains Steam, and the Costs of AI Revealed
With federal funding for everything from transportation projects to housing assistance under threat, city and state governments are poised to take a stronger role in building strong, resilient local economies and public services.
Federal Grants for Passenger Rail Top $8 Billion
The Federal Railroad Administration announced the grants to dozens of projects for expanding or building new rail corridors.
Miami-Dade budget proposes draining rail fund, bus service cuts
The county mayor says the diversion of rail funds is necessary to prevent deeper service cuts.
Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.
California plans to bury El Niño’s downpour
If the state plays its cards right, it may be able to store a billion acre-feet of El Niño’s water in aquifers.
Desperate measures: Advocates weigh draining Lake Powell to fill Colorado River
Draining the reservoir could reduce evaporation losses by a couple hundred thousand acre-feet.
US buildings threatened, destroyed by fires set to triple by 2060
Researchers found a high fire risk for socioeconomically vulnerable neighborhoods in the American West.
LA residents may be allowed to paint their own crosswalks
Councilwoman Katy Yaroslavsky put out a motion instructing the Los Angeles Department of Public Transportation to study the feasibility of allowing volunteers to paint crosswalks.
Dallas moves to overhaul its zoning code
The city's zoning reform will allow more multi-family and mixed-use developments.
FREE Course: Walkable City 1: Why Walkability?
After describing his path towards focusing on walkability as the essence of good planning, Jeff Speck marches through his five principal reasons for making more walkable places.
Reinventing Malls: Planning Alchemy—Turning Gray Fields Into Gold
The course focuses on the opportunities and imperatives that shape reinvention of mall sites.
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Rutgers University, Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy
One Hundred Miles
Hunter College, City University of New York (CUNY)
The Architects Foundation
University of Cincinnati Online
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Montrose County
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