While the Canadian provincial governments in British Columbia and Ontario have committed tens of billions of dollars to improving public transit, a corresponding federal investment in transit has yet to materialize.
"No longer can it be said that Canada's premiers lack ambition when it comes to public transit. Last year, leading up to his province's election, Ontario's Dalton McGuinty unveiled MoveOntario 2020, a $17.5-billion plan that promises 902 kilometres of new or improved rapid transit in the Greater Toronto Area and Hamilton. Now, taking into account his province's smaller size, British Columbia's Gordon Campbell has more than matched him. Last week he announced a $14-billion plan to add four new rapid-transit lines in Metro Vancouver, as well as an upgrade to "Rapidbuses" along major routes and the introduction of 1,500 new buses for municipalities across the province.
Like Mr. McGuinty's plan, Mr. Campbell's promises to do wonders in easing congestion and improving air quality. By 2020, the B.C. government suggests, it will double the province's public transit ridership, cutting transportation greenhouse-gas emissions by 4.7 million tonnes over that period. If so, it will help British Columbia meet its goal of reducing its carbon footprint by one third from 2007 levels. But, as in Ontario, all the ambition in the world won't be enough unless other levels of government share it.
[I]n both provinces, the big question mark is whether hopes of a public transit commitment from the federal government will be rewarded. [Canada's Feeral Infrastructure funding program] "Building Canada" is a grab bag of every imaginable infrastructure expenditure, including highways, railways, broadband access, tourism, waste management, culture and amateur sport. But upgraded public transit is not just one of these many "priorities." For urban centres battling congestion and struggling with air quality, it is a necessity. While the federal government has fiddled about with a pointless tax credit for transit users, Mr. McGuinty and Mr. Campbell have demonstrated that they understand real investment is needed. It is time for [Canadian Prime Minister Stephen] Harper to do likewise."
FULL STORY: B.C.'s transit vision

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.

San Francisco Suspends Traffic Calming Amidst Record Deaths
Citing “a challenging fiscal landscape,” the city will cease the program on the heels of 42 traffic deaths, including 24 pedestrians.

Adaptive Reuse Will Create Housing in a Suburban Texas Strip Mall
A developer is reimagining a strip mall property as a mixed-use complex with housing and retail.

Study: Anti-Homelessness Laws Don’t Work
Research shows that punitive measures that criminalized unhoused people don’t help reduce homelessness.

In U.S., Urban Gondolas Face Uphill Battle
Cities in Latin America and Europe have embraced aerial transitways — AKA gondolas — as sustainable, convenient urban transport, especially in tricky geographies. American cities have yet to catch up.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
Heyer Gruel & Associates PA
JM Goldson LLC
Custer County Colorado
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
Transportation Research & Education Center (TREC) at Portland State University
Jefferson Parish Government
Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Claremont