States ready to go forward with highway projects are seeing equally eager construction companies put in bids as low as 50% below budget, and far ahead of schedule.
"The California Department of Transportation, which is expected to get more than $2.5 billion in stimulus funds for highways, is "darn close to digging holes," said Douglas Failing, Caltrans' director for Los Angeles and Ventura counties. He said the agency plans to spend $189 million to improve the 405 Freeway, mostly by building a long-sought carpool lane on the northbound side through the Sepulveda Pass. Caltrans hopes to award a contract by the end of the month, with work beginning about mid-May."
"Los Angeles County expects to receive $450 million for highways under the stimulus for transportation projects, a chunk of which will go to the cities.
John Horsley, executive director of the American Assn. of State Highway and Transportation Officials, said state highway departments have been gearing up for federal spending ever since summer, when then-presidential candidates Obama and Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) began talking about the need for further stimulus."
FULL STORY: Highway projects 'ahead of schedule and under budget,' Obama says

Rethinking Redlining
For decades we have blamed 100-year-old maps for the patterns of spatial racial inequity that persist in American cities today. An esteemed researcher says: we’ve got it all wrong.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

Walmart Announces Nationwide EV Charging Network
The company plans to install electric car chargers at most of its stores by 2030.

New State Study Suggests Homelessness Far Undercounted in New Mexico
An analysis of hospital visit records provided a more accurate count than the annual point-in-time count used by most agencies.

Michigan Bills Would Stiffen Penalties for Deadly Crashes
Proposed state legislation would close a ‘legal gap’ that lets drivers who kill get away with few repercussions.

Report: Bus Ridership Back to 86 Percent of Pre-Covid Levels
Transit ridership around the country was up by 85 percent in all modes in 2024.
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.
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