For the first time in many years, Amtrak is focused on the business of running a railroad.
"Ask anyone who works at Amtrak and they will tell you: they live in perpetual crisis mode. The company exists year to year at the mercy of fickle politicians. Every autumn, Amtrak officials go up to Capitol Hill with hat in hand pleading for funding. And every year, Amtrak officials get just enough money to limp along for one more year... But one thing is different this year. The company is focused again. After years and decades of changing visions and deferred maintenance, bloated bureaucracies and a demoralized workforce, people here are feeling pretty good, relatively speaking. For the first time in a long time, Amtrak is doing what a railroad company is supposed to do. Workers are fixing track, rebuilding cars and moving more passengers than ever before. All of which is enough to make David Gunn smile."
Thanks to Chris Steins
FULL STORY: Amtrak reforms

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

Vehicle-related Deaths Drop 29% in Richmond, VA
The seventh year of the city's Vision Zero strategy also cut the number of people killed in alcohol-related crashes by half.

As Trump Phases Out FEMA, Is It Time to Flee the Floodplains?
With less federal funding available for disaster relief efforts, the need to relocate at-risk communities is more urgent than ever.

More Apartments Are Being Built in Less-Dense Areas
Rising housing costs in urban cores and a demand for rental housing is driving more multifamily development to exurbs and small metros.

Plastic Bag Bans Actually Worked
U.S. coastal areas with plastic bag bans or fees saw significant reductions in plastic bag pollution — but plastic waste as a whole is growing.

Improving Indoor Air Quality, One Block at a Time
A movement to switch to electric appliances at the neighborhood scale is taking off in California.
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.
Borough of Carlisle
Smith Gee Studio
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
Transportation Research & Education Center (TREC) at Portland State University
Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Claremont
Municipality of Princeton (NJ)