Work has begun on a long-sought rail line linking downtown Denver to the city's international airport.
"The East Corridor line, which will cost about $1 billion, will stop at five stations from the airport before arriving at Union Station downtown. Passengers headed to the airport will be able to check their bags at Union Station before getting on the train for the 30-minute ride.
Denver-area residents approved a sales tax increase to help pay for the project.
Meanwhile, airport officials are building a station for the new train. It will be part of a new plaza - within walking distance of the main terminal - that will have a hotel, shops and a security checkpoint."
The new airport connection is one of four heavy rail lines to be built in the Denver area, which has seen success in its FasTracks light rail system. The airport connection is expected to complete in 2016.
Read the full story: Denver airport breaks ground on new rail line to downtown
Topics Planners Don't Often Think About, But Should
There are a number of areas of planning that offer planners a role, but are not necessarily at the front of our minds. At the Association of Collegiate Schools of Planning Conference, researchers shared results that can impact practice.
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Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.
California plans to bury El Niño’s downpour
If the state plays its cards right, it may be able to store a billion acre-feet of El Niño’s water in aquifers.
Desperate measures: Advocates weigh draining Lake Powell to fill Colorado River
Draining the reservoir could reduce evaporation losses by a couple hundred thousand acre-feet.
Chicago voters approve permanent festival grounds, penalty for vacant property owners
Currently, major summer and fall festivals take over public parks for weeks at a time, drawing criticism from nearby residents
NYC votes to cut outdoor dining red tape, speed up permitting
New York City also voted to allow the Department of Transportation to begin work on urgent projects before notifying elected officials.
California appears to reject Prop. 45
The proposition would have expanded the projects that qualify for a streamlined environmental review, effectively paring down the California Environmental Quality Act.
FREE Course: Walkable City 1: Why Walkability?
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Reinventing Malls: Planning Alchemy—Turning Gray Fields Into Gold
The course focuses on the opportunities and imperatives that shape reinvention of mall sites.
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