Governor Chris Christie's moratorium on new contracts may signal trouble even though construction is underway.
With project cost overruns mounting and his state's Transportation Trust Fund near bankruptcy, Christie mandated a 30-day shutdown of the ARC tunnel project earlier this week. He expressed doubts over New Jersey's ability to fund its $2.7 billion commitment to the project, which would expand NJ Transit's capacity to shuttle suburban commuters into New York. Christie argued that drivers are being asked to shoulder an unfair cost burden compared to transit users.
Though the current shutdown is temporary, the state's next steps remain unclear. Cancelling the project would mean forfeiting $3 billion in federal money, the most ever committed to a single transit project. The fate of an additional $3 billion promised by the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey has not been publicly discussed.
Yonah Freemark suggests the delay means weakening political support for the project. He writes: "For the state's commuters, this lack of will to find the means to fund the proposal will result in years more of long travel times and little relief for the overbooked North River Tunnel, whose two tracks simply aren't enough to carry all the NJ Transit commuter and Amtrak intercity trains the New York area needs to remain economically competitive."
Thanks to Lynn Vande Stouwe
FULL STORY: Political Will Disappearing, New Jersey’s ARC Project Could be On the Way Out

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

Congressman Proposes Bill to Rename DC Metro “Trump Train”
The Make Autorail Great Again Act would withhold federal funding to the system until the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA), rebrands as the Washington Metropolitan Authority for Greater Access (WMAGA).

The Simple Legislative Tool Transforming Vacant Downtowns
In California, Michigan and Georgia, an easy win is bringing dollars — and delight — back to city centers.

The States Losing Rural Delivery Rooms at an Alarming Pace
In some states, as few as 9% of rural hospitals still deliver babies. As a result, rising pre-term births, no adequate pre-term care and "harrowing" close calls are a growing reality.

The Small South Asian Republic Going all in on EVs
Thanks to one simple policy change less than five years ago, 65% of new cars in this Himalayan country are now electric.

DC Backpedals on Bike Lane Protection, Swaps Barriers for Paint
Citing aesthetic concerns, the city is removing the concrete barriers and flexposts that once separated Arizona Avenue cyclists from motor vehicles.
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.
Smith Gee Studio
City of Charlotte
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
Transportation Research & Education Center (TREC) at Portland State University
US High Speed Rail Association
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
Municipality of Princeton (NJ)