The agency awarded $1.32 billion in funds to transportation infrastructure projects aimed at road safety and mobility.

The U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) awarded $1.32 billion in Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity (RAISE) grants, reports Liz Carey for Transportation Today.
The grants were awarded to 109 projects aimed at repairing and rebuilding “critical infrastructure in areas of local or regional significance.”
According to Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, the projects will “make roads safer, help mitigate the impact of climate change, and ensure that people in communities of all sizes can get where they need to go safely and efficiently.” Recipient projects include multimodal improvements and rail line repairs.
According to USDOT, “Funding is split equally between urban and rural areas, and a large percentage of grants, selected in this first round of FY 2025, support urban and rural regions defined as historically disadvantaged or areas of persistent poverty.”
The department also announced $635 million in grants for electric vehicle charging infrastructure around the country that will expand community charging networks and fast-charging projects along key corridors.
FULL STORY: U.S. Department of Transportation announces $1.32B in RAISE grants

Legendary Parking Guru Donald Shoup Dies at 86
Urbanists are mourning the loss of a dynamic voice for parking reform and walkable cities.

Analysis: Cybertruck Fatality Rate Far Exceeds That of Ford Pinto
The Tesla Cybertruck was recalled seven times last year.

Federal EV Charging Program Suspended
The National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure program planned to fund the construction of hundreds of EV charging stations across the country.

A Monument to Resilience: Native Hawaiian Art Installation Honors History and Healing
The towering ʻUmeke Lāʻau installation by Native Hawaiian artist Meleanna Aluli Meyer, unveiled at Honolulu's city hall, is a powerful symbol of cultural resilience and healing.

Rethinking Fire-Resistant Landscaping: Which Trees Should We Plant?
Fire experts emphasize the need to replace highly flammable trees like Mexican fan palms and eucalyptus with fire-resistant species such as oak, sycamore, and toyon, while also strengthening home fire defenses to reduce wildfire risks in California.

Fremont, California Criminalizes Homelessness, “Abetting” Encampments
Non-profits worry the ordinance, which does not explicitly exempt service providers, will have a chilling effect on unhoused residents and those who offer resources.
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.
EMC Planning Group, Inc.
City of Bakersfield
Standridge Inc.
Chaddick Institute at DePaul University
Harvard GSD Executive Education
Chaddick Institute at DePaul University
Great Falls Development Authority, Inc.
HUDs Office of Policy Development and Research
NYU Wagner Graduate School of Public Service