Once a small seaside city most Americans know only from its namesake movie, Casablanca is now Morocco's biggest city and a sprawling metropolis.
Now a sprawling metropolis of about four million people, Casablanca retains in its center both the original citadel and the art deco buildings constructed by the colonists. But it is also Morocco's biggest city and an African economic center whose traffic-clogged streets attract immigrants from across the continent seeking a better life. This usually means sneaking into Europe.
...Until last year, for example, Casablanca's mass-transit system consisted of fewer than 40 working municipal buses. There is no metro.
The resulting transportation crunch prompted the development of a cooperative taxi culture in which passengers pile into a cab that carries them to separate destinations, using a meter that can calculate up to three separate fares at a time.
Such short-term fixes may help people get around, but a failure to address the underlying problems of Casablanca has national and international consequences, according to Ahmed Bencheikh, a former professor of urban planning who is working with the United Nations Development Project on urban planning and poverty issues."
FULL STORY: Casablanca: A pragmatist's fresh take

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

USGS Water Science Centers Targeted for Closure
If their work is suspended, states could lose a valuable resource for monitoring, understanding, and managing water resources.

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The U.S. has much higher traffic fatality rates than peer countries due to automobile dependency and sprawl. Better planning can reduce these human sacrifices.

Seattle Transit Asked to Clarify Pet Policy
A major dog park near a new light rail stop is prompting calls to update and clarify rules for bringing pets on Seattle-area transit systems.

Oregon Bill Would End Bans on Manufactured Housing
The bill would prevent new developments from prohibiting mobile homes and modular housing.

Nashville Doesn’t Renew Bike Share Contract, Citing Lost Federal Funding
The city’s bike share system, operated by BCycle, could stop operating if the city doesn’t find a new source of funding.
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