Much has been made recently about how U.S. municipal and state governments aren't waiting for the federal government to act on climate change. Now it appears that these efforts can't succeed without Washington.
"Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels has led the fight by U.S. cities to do something about climate change (while the federal government twiddles its thumbs). And while there has been tangible progress made by many cities...U.S. mayors are realizing they don't have the money to make the kind of impact that is necessary to truly buckle the knees of rising greenhouse-gas emissions."
"This is one area in which Canada has taken a more enlightened approach. The new rapid-transit system being built from Vancouver International Airport into the heart of the city, for instance, is a billion-dollar enterprise being massively financed by Ottawa and the B.C. government."
"While many U.S. cities are riding the wave of momentum that exists around global warming, others have done little more than announce vague goals that aren't supported by any kind of realistic plan to achieve them. Staff at city halls across the United States are stretched thin at the best of times. Many cities are finding they just don't have the resources to dedicate solely to the climate-change challenge."
"Ultimately, it is going to take action by Washington to force real change."
FULL STORY: Mayors alone can't fix climate, Washington needs to finance public transit

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.
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