Looking to capture $3 billion of federal funding from the now-defunct ARC tunnel, New York City is mulling an unexpected extension of the 7 line, reports Eliot Brown.
The Bloomberg administration is pitching the preliminary plan, which would connect the subway system with a New Jersey Transit hub in Seacaucus, as a low-cost alternative to Access to the Region's Core. At an estimated $5.3 billion, the plan is over $3 billion cheaper than ARC, which New Jersey Governor Chris Christie killed in late October.
Construction is already underway on a Manhattan extension of the 7 line from Times Square to 34th Street and 11th Avenue in anticipation of new development on Manhattan's West Side. The Bloomberg administration believes routing the line to New Jersey could help spur growth, Brown writes:
"City officials have been particularly attracted to the possible benefits the subway extension could bring to the far West Side, an area the Bloomberg administration has been seeking to redevelop with new office and apartment towers. A four-page fact sheet on the tunnel plan circulated by the city advertised the concept as 'a major catalyst for development of commercial property in Manhattan.'"
FULL STORY: City Could Extend No. 7 to New Jersey

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

Chicago’s Ghost Rails
Just beneath the surface of the modern city lie the remnants of its expansive early 20th-century streetcar system.

Amtrak Cutting Jobs, Funding to High-Speed Rail
The agency plans to cut 10 percent of its workforce and has confirmed it will not fund new high-speed rail projects.

Ohio Forces Data Centers to Prepay for Power
Utilities are calling on states to hold data center operators responsible for new energy demands to prevent leaving consumers on the hook for their bills.

MARTA CEO Steps Down Amid Citizenship Concerns
MARTA’s board announced Thursday that its chief, who is from Canada, is resigning due to questions about his immigration status.

Silicon Valley ‘Bike Superhighway’ Awarded $14M State Grant
A Caltrans grant brings the 10-mile Central Bikeway project connecting Santa Clara and East San Jose closer to fruition.
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.
Caltrans
City of Fort Worth
Mpact (founded as Rail~Volution)
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
City of Portland
City of Laramie