After 67 years since its formation, the Boston Planning and Development Agency is no more.

According to local nonprofit news station WBUR, the Boston City Council voted last week to shift planning authority away from the Boston Planning and Development Agency (BPDA), “a body that’s reshaped much of the city in the 20th century,” to the newly minted Boston Planning Department. “The move allows Mayor Michelle Wu to deliver on a promise to reshape the way Boston does urban planning,” writes WBUR reporter Simón Rios.
The BPDA has long faced criticism for lack of oversight and transparency, and for prioritizing developers over neighborhoods and community residents. The new Boston Planning department will take over many of the staff and responsibilities of the BPDA, including oversight of large developments, but under the new structure, planning officials will now work for the city, allowing them to be called to testify in front of the city council, which the mayor’s office says will create greater oversight. Critics call the move a power grab by the mayor.
FULL STORY: In a win for Wu, city council approves a new planning department for Boston

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.
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