This report from National Public Radio discusses ideas for placing control of federally-funded Amtrak into the hands of a federal-state partnership. Many feel funding for rail should be de-nationalized and governed by regional bodies.
The Northeast Corridor between Boston and Washington D.C. is Amtrak's most successful route, carrying about 700,000 people daily. But the rails on this route are primarily traversed by local commuter trains. Riders feel that Amtrak's service does not respond quickly enough to demand when compared with private or locally-operated lines.
A report from Rutgers University suggests reforming the responsibilities of Amtrak to only operating trains, stripping the company of planning, investing and traffic control decisions.
Because the Northeast Corridor is Amtrak's most used line, if Amtrak were to lose controlling power over the route to a federal-state partnership, many of Amtrak's lesser-used lines would see funding plummet.
FULL STORY: Amtrak Urged to Bolster Service in Northeast

Alabama: Trump Terminates Settlements for Black Communities Harmed By Raw Sewage
Trump deemed the landmark civil rights agreement “illegal DEI and environmental justice policy.”

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

The 120 Year Old Tiny Home Villages That Sheltered San Francisco’s Earthquake Refugees
More than a century ago, San Francisco mobilized to house thousands of residents displaced by the 1906 earthquake. Could their strategy offer a model for the present?

In Both Crashes and Crime, Public Transportation is Far Safer than Driving
Contrary to popular assumptions, public transportation has far lower crash and crime rates than automobile travel. For safer communities, improve and encourage transit travel.

Report: Zoning Reforms Should Complement Nashville’s Ambitious Transit Plan
Without reform, restrictive zoning codes will limit the impact of the city’s planned transit expansion and could exclude some of the residents who depend on transit the most.

Judge Orders Release of Frozen IRA, IIJA Funding
The decision is a victory for environmental groups who charged that freezing funds for critical infrastructure and disaster response programs caused “real and irreparable harm” to communities.
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