The region will see expansions in air travel options, Amtrak improvements, and a redesigned bus system to better serve post-pandemic needs.

Federal transportation funding is spurring major projects around the country, including in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania. An article by Sydney Carruth in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette runs down what residents can expect in 2024.
In transit news, “Pittsburgh Regional Transit took the first steps toward a years-long Bus Line Redesign Project that will continue into the new year. “The department said many of its bus lines don’t reflect how riders travel post pandemic. The study will address areas of the county not currently served by bus lines and update existing routes to directly link more neighborhoods together, expanding service out of Downtown.”
PennDOT also received federal grant funding to improve Amtrak’s Pennsylvanian route and rail along the Keystone West Corridor.” However, a bus operator shortage could lead to service cuts on local bus lines.
Meanwhile, the Pittsburgh International Airport expanded its routes in 2023 and will continue to do so in 2024, while “PennDOT will receive $143.6 million in 2024 for rail improvements designed to allow Amtrak to add a second daily passenger train to the Pennsylvanian route.” Other rail projects will assess the feasibility of expanding rail lines to other Ohio cities and Chicago.
FULL STORY: What to expect in transportation news for 2024 — from additional Amtrak routes to new flight destinations

Maui's Vacation Rental Debate Turns Ugly
Verbal attacks, misinformation campaigns and fistfights plague a high-stakes debate to convert thousands of vacation rentals into long-term housing.

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

San Francisco Suspends Traffic Calming Amidst Record Deaths
Citing “a challenging fiscal landscape,” the city will cease the program on the heels of 42 traffic deaths, including 24 pedestrians.

Half of Post-Fire Altadena Home Sales Were to Corporations
Large investors are quietly buying up dozens of properties in Altadena, California, where a devastating wildfire destroyed more than 6,000 homes in January.

Opinion: What San Francisco’s Proposed ‘Family Zoning’ Could Really Mean
Mayor Lurie is using ‘family zoning’ to encourage denser development and upzoning — but could the concept actually foster community and more human-scale public spaces?

Jacksonville Launches First Autonomous Transit Shuttle in US
A fleet of 14 fully autonomous vehicles will serve a 3.5-mile downtown Jacksonville route with 12 stops.
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