San Mateo County, hotbed of opposition to high speed rail, including numerous lawsuits, might be better served by following the 1960s Berkeley example in passing a bond to tunnel the train through the impacted cities, suggests local editor.
Jon Mays, editor of the San Mateo Daily Journal that sees the
>daily influx of letters attacking the High Speed Rail project planned to run up the Peninsula from San Jose to San Francisco, suggests an alternative approach to tunnel the train - the aim of many San Mateo cities if they are unable to stop it altogether. His column also provides insight into the history of BART, noting that San Mateo County dropped out in 1962.
"(I)t is becoming increasingly clear that (the High Speed Rail Authority) is aiming to run its train through the Peninsula and those trains will not be in a tunnel.
The history of BART and its construction could be seen as a case study in navigating a challenging political and economic climate...The comparison to the current push for a new high-speed rail system from Los Angeles to San Francisco is not hard to make.
It may be time for Peninsula residents to take a cue from the people of Berkeley in the 1960s and find a way to ensure the system is one that does not destroy the character of the communities through which it will run.
It might be a regional bond... It's a massive political and financial undertaking, but one that is becoming increasingly clear in its necessity."
FULL STORY: With high-speed rail, we must help ourselves

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

Restaurant Patios Were a Pandemic Win — Why Were They so Hard to Keep?
Social distancing requirements and changes in travel patterns prompted cities to pilot new uses for street and sidewalk space. Then it got complicated.

Map: Where Senate Republicans Want to Sell Your Public Lands
For public land advocates, the Senate Republicans’ proposal to sell millions of acres of public land in the West is “the biggest fight of their careers.”

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.

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.

California Homeless Arrests, Citations Spike After Ruling
An investigation reveals that anti-homeless actions increased up to 500% after Grants Pass v. Johnson — even in cities claiming no policy change.
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
Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Claremont
Municipality of Princeton (NJ)