Cautiously at first, grant program steps toward big investment shift to "Cool Cities."
Michigan Governor Jennifer M. Granholm is attempting through her new Cool City Pilot Program to do the same thing in Michigan that Maryland Governor Parris Glendening did in 1997 when he passed the state Smart Growth Act. The Maryland planning and public investment law redirected much of the states budget for roads, schools, public works and buildings, housing, and other new construction back toward urban centers. Mr. Glendenings program helped Maryland achieve one of the highest levels of economic growth of any state in the nation while conserving thousands of acres of farmland and forest and strengthening economic development in Baltimore. Mr. Glendening, by the way, easily won a second term.
Thanks to Keith Schneider
FULL STORY: Granholm's Urban Therapy

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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