The state of Indiana has announced plans to purchase more than 150 miles of abandoned railways, much of which is slated to become greenspace.
"Under the pact, owners of the former Penn Central Rail Line would sell 400 parcels of land in 39 counties to the state, which would then give the land to local communities for the development of trails."
"Ray Irvin, director of greenways and bikeways for the Indiana Department of Transportation, said the state would spend $1.5 million to buy the abandoned railroads. Daniels' office declined to disclose the price tag, saying that any amount at this point would be speculative until the deal is closed later this month."
"Other parts of Central Indiana stand to benefit from the deal to buy the old Penn Central rail lines."
"Communities in Boone, Hancock, Johnson, Madison, Morgan and Shelby counties would have the opportunity to take over the parcels from the state and develop them into greenways."
"With local budgets stretched and a proposed property-tax reform plan that could make money even tighter, Daniels acknowledged that building the trails likely would require contributions from businesses and nonprofit organizations."
Read the full story: Deal to buy rails puts Indiana on path to statewide trail system
Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.
California plans to bury El Niño’s downpour
If the state plays its cards right, it may be able to store a billion acre-feet of El Niño’s water in aquifers.
Desperate measures: Advocates weigh draining Lake Powell to fill Colorado River
Draining the reservoir could reduce evaporation losses by a couple hundred thousand acre-feet.
Voters choose public transit, approve $31 billion in funding
Approved projects include $101,000 for reduced-cost transit in a Michigan town and $14 billion for regional transit in the San Francisco Bay Area.
Study reveals best places in the U.S. for cycling, walking
New research from Streetlight Data examines bicycle and pedestrian miles per capita in the 100 largest U.S. cities by population.
Los Angeles just elected an urban planner as its mayor
Transportation analysts are optimistic that Raman will be more aggressive in addressing transit issues than Bass.
FREE Course: Walkable City 1: Why Walkability?
After describing his path towards focusing on walkability as the essence of good planning, Jeff Speck marches through his five principal reasons for making more walkable places.
Reinventing Malls: Planning Alchemy—Turning Gray Fields Into Gold
The course focuses on the opportunities and imperatives that shape reinvention of mall sites.
City of Rosemead
Rutgers University, Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy
One Hundred Miles
University of Michigan School for Environment and Sustainability (SEAS)
Hunter College, City University of New York (CUNY)
The Architects Foundation
City of Cambridge
Montrose County
The Pocatello Development Authority