A Congressional subcommittee heard testimony from rural transportation officials, transit providers, and lawmakers.
At a House subcommittee meeting on March 21, rural transportation officials and transit operators explained their unique challenges to Congress.
As Dan Zukowski explains in Smart Cities Dive, bus operators expressed concern about road conditions, safety, and the shift to electric vehicles that feels out of reach for some smaller communities that lack adequate infrastructure for electric vehicle charging or funding for electric bus purchases.
Lawmakers from Arkansas and Missouri, among others, introduced a resolution to strike down a new FHWA rule that calls for emissions cuts, saying that the technology for some rural services, like motorcoaches, can’t effectively serve rural areas yet and that rural grids can’t yet handle new demand for electricity.
FULL STORY: ‘Rural states have unique needs’: Transportation providers spotlight challenges at House hearing
Public Transit Isn't Just for Big Cities
Funding cuts and uneven investment in rural areas have left millions of Americans trapped without adequate transportation.
NRDC Releases State Transportation Scorecard
The Getting Transportation Right report highlights which states are making the most progress on reducing transportation emissions and improving access to clean transportation options.
The Importance of Rural Transit
On Transit Equity Day, reminding policymakers that rural communities need access to transit too.
Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.
Congressman Proposes Bill to Rename DC Metro “Trump Train”
The Make Autorail Great Again Act would withhold federal funding to the system until the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA), rebrands as the Washington Metropolitan Authority for Greater Access (WMAGA).
The Simple Legislative Tool Transforming Vacant Downtowns
In California, Michigan and Georgia, an easy win is bringing dollars — and delight — back to city centers.
In These Cities, Most New Housing is Under 441 Square Feet
With loosened restrictions on “micro-housing,” tiny units now make up as much as 66% of newly constructed housing.
Albuquerque’s Microtransit: A Planner’s Answer to Food Access Gaps
New microtransit vans in Albuquerque aim to close food access gaps by linking low-income areas to grocery stores, cutting travel times by 30 percent and offering planners a scalable model for equity-focused transit.
This City Will Pay You to Meet Your Neighbors
A North Kansas City grant program offers up to $400 for residents to throw neighborhood block parties.
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.
Smith Gee Studio
City of Charlotte
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
Transportation Research & Education Center (TREC) at Portland State University
US High Speed Rail Association
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
Municipality of Princeton (NJ)