Downtown Los Angeles is on the verge of a full-scale revitalization, and an ambitious new plan for 15 acres of parkland in the urban core could be the missing piece.
"The lack of an urban centerpiece like New York's Central Park or Washington's National Mall, although never a fatal flaw in a city of nomads and a culture wedded to the automobile, has nonetheless vexed generations of Angeleno politicians and planners... An ambitious $1.2-billion plan to drape Los Angeles' core with 15 acres of parkland and boost area nightlife with a bustling retail and entertainment complex is gathering political momentum, although financing for the project remains a mystery."
Thanks to Chris Steins
FULL STORY: Urban Core Plan Gains

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
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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
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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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