After over fifty years without public transportation, new support for transit from Detroit leaders.
A comprehensive public transportation system has been missing in Detroit since 1956. Since then, downtown and suburban authorities have been unable to agree on a system that would accommodate the metropolitan area, despite offers of assistance from the federal government in the 1970s. Longtime residents say that their leadership, fueled perhaps by racism, were responsible for the failure: "No one called me and asked me if I wanted to have mass transit, so I don't think you can blame it on the general population" said Brooks Patterson, current executive of Oakland County (which borders Detroit to the north).
Although bus lines in the suburbs have been successfully implemented in the suburbs, trunk lines between Detroit and outlying cities have been forced to close for lack of interest. Some leaders remain skeptical that renewed investment in public transit is a priority, or that it would yield the investment that others have seen. But other city officials see mass transit as key to attracting young people to the region, and a bill to fund transit using property tax is making its way through the Michigan house right now. After fifty years and twenty-three serious attempts to reinstate public transportation, Detroit residents are hopeful that rising gas prices and a renewed interest in the environment will provide the impetus for a new mass transit system.
Thanks to Franny Ritchie
FULL STORY: Mass Transit May Return to Detroit

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.
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.
Caltrans
City of Fort Worth
Mpact (founded as Rail~Volution)
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
City of Portland
City of Laramie