Planners envision transit villages in the Bay Area connected by trains, ferries, buses, and light rail.
"[Hercules,] a 23,000-strong western Contra Costa County community [will] over the next decade morph from a former explosives hub into one of the Bay Area's busiest transportation terminals -- in part due to a new Amtrak station that is already half funded.
This is a starkly different vision for the hamlet given its industrial past, but it's one that planners hope can be replicated around the region....Hercules hopes to cash in on a trifecta of trains, ferries and buses -- with more options to come, such as a light-rail BART link. In the burgeoning era of transit village development, Hercules could emerge as a Bay Area leader."
FULL STORY: Sights set on 'transit village'

Maui's Vacation Rental Debate Turns Ugly
Verbal attacks, misinformation campaigns and fistfights plague a high-stakes debate to convert thousands of vacation rentals into long-term housing.

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

In Urban Planning, AI Prompting Could be the New Design Thinking
Creativity has long been key to great urban design. What if we see AI as our new creative partner?

King County Supportive Housing Program Offers Hope for Unhoused Residents
The county is taking a ‘Housing First’ approach that prioritizes getting people into housing, then offering wraparound supportive services.

Researchers Use AI to Get Clearer Picture of US Housing
Analysts are using artificial intelligence to supercharge their research by allowing them to comb through data faster. Though these AI tools can be error prone, they save time and housing researchers are optimistic about the future.

Making Shared Micromobility More Inclusive
Cities and shared mobility system operators can do more to include people with disabilities in planning and operations, per a new report.
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