Plans for a new bridge over the Columbia River in Oregon have local officials in a debate over lanes, tolls and sprawl.
"Both the Metro and Portland councils are concerned that a bridge with too many lanes would boost driving and related pollution, promote suburban sprawl in northern Clark County and eventually refill the highway with the congestion that now thwarts the freight corridor."
"Planners with the Oregon and Washington transportation departments say the Columbia River Crossing project would avoid those downsides. The bridge those planners are proposing would double the six lanes currently spanning the river to 12, but the project would include toll charges and light rail that would combine to promote mass transit use and discourage driving."
"Bridge planners assumed three toll rates, charged at the bridge on both sides of the river: $2 each way during rush hour, $1.50 off-peak and $1 at midday and nighttime. The prices were based on the assumption that about one-third of the project's total cost would be paid by toll revenue."
FULL STORY: The toll may tip the debate on the size of a new Interstate 5 bridge

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.

In Urban Planning, AI Prompting Could be the New Design Thinking
Creativity has long been key to great urban design. What if we see AI as our new creative partner?

Cal Fire Chatbot Fails to Answer Basic Questions
An AI chatbot designed to provide information about wildfires can’t answer questions about evacuation orders, among other problems.

What Happens if Trump Kills Section 8?
The Trump admin aims to slash federal rental aid by nearly half and shift distribution to states. Experts warn this could spike homelessness and destabilize communities nationwide.

Sean Duffy Targets Rainbow Crosswalks in Road Safety Efforts
Despite evidence that colorful crosswalks actually improve intersection safety — and the lack of almost any crosswalks at all on the nation’s most dangerous arterial roads — U.S. Transportation Secretary Duffy is calling on states to remove them.
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Appalachian Highlands Housing Partners
Gallatin County Department of Planning & Community Development
Heyer Gruel & Associates PA
Mpact (founded as Rail~Volution)
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
City of Portland
City of Laramie