An independent review panel of experts has challenged the transportation aims of the San Diego Association of Governments, saying it has focused too much on auto-oriented development and is essentially promoting sprawl.
SANDAG's growth is not the smartest, according to an independent review panel. The panel criticized the regional planning and transportation agency for placing too much emphasis on highway projects. One of the major problems the panel identified is SANDAG's long-term mobility plans that hinge on "managed lanes" that are shared by carpools and transit. The panel claims that public transportation has taken a back seat to auto-oriented development.
" 'The very success of your highway-building program may undermine your ability to do an effective transit program,' said David Mieger, director of Westside planning for the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority. Mieger is one the six experts on the panel."
"The panel of experts on transit and smart growth was asked to assess the transit element of SANDAG's Regional Transportation Plan, which is being updated for 2007, and its relationship to a separate plan for local land use adopted in 2004. Five experts are from across the United States, and one is Canadian."
FULL STORY: SANDAG transit strategy is flagged

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
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Cal Fire Chatbot Fails to Answer Basic Questions
An AI chatbot designed to provide information about wildfires can’t answer questions about evacuation orders, among other problems.

What Happens if Trump Kills Section 8?
The Trump admin aims to slash federal rental aid by nearly half and shift distribution to states. Experts warn this could spike homelessness and destabilize communities nationwide.

Sean Duffy Targets Rainbow Crosswalks in Road Safety Efforts
Despite evidence that colorful crosswalks actually improve intersection safety — and the lack of almost any crosswalks at all on the nation’s most dangerous arterial roads — U.S. Transportation Secretary Duffy is calling on states to remove them.
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Gallatin County Department of Planning & Community Development
Heyer Gruel & Associates PA
Mpact (founded as Rail~Volution)
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
City of Portland
City of Laramie