The Los Angeles school district's public works project to build 80 new schools is more on par with a small nation than a school district.
There's little question that many Los Angeles residents are voting with their feet when it comes to choosing a school. Increasingly, residents are moving to smaller cities ringing Los Angeles rather than being forced to send a child into the much-maligned Los Angeles Unified School District. Will a new and innovative development team and community efforts like New Schools Better Neighborhoods be able to reverse the trend and transform Los Angeles' communities by building schools that revitalize communities? "New schools can do much to bring back those neighborhoods," says Jack Kyser, chief economist for the Los Angeles County Economic Development Corp. " 'There are a lot of areas in the urban core that have character and proximity to amenities, but they've slid. And that starts with the schools going downhill.'.. Phase 1, funded by the passage of Measure BB seven years ago, is plowing forward with a goal of 80 new schools by 2007 to relieve overcrowding and cut down on year-round schedules in the district's most densely populated areas. So far, 23 projects have been completed and nearly 100 others have broken ground... One reason is that resources have also been put toward athletic facilities, grass fields and play equipment. Outside of school hours, the district will maintain an open-door policy for the 240 acres of recreational space that will come with the new schools. Such spaces can be a big draw in parks-starved Los Angeles County."
Thanks to Chris Steins
FULL STORY: Factoring in schools

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.
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.
Caltrans
City of Fort Worth
Mpact (founded as Rail~Volution)
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
City of Portland
City of Laramie