Angie Schmitt explains why the debate over removing Washington DC's famous height regulations depends on the city's transportation plans.
Currently, DC buildings are limited to a height of approximately 10 stories (the height of the Washington Monument). However, according to Schmitt, "right now, DC is in the enviable position of having high demand for downtown office space, but there's a limited amount of land available for development."
DC has three options, says Yonah Freemark of the Transport Politic:
"1) Make no new investments in transportation, in which case there would likely be growth in residential development near downtown, a la Chicago high rises. 2) Invest in expanding its highway system and see its downtown overrun by parking lots, in the way of Houston. 3) Invest in improving the transit system, which would boost the accessibility of downtown and enable more jobs to be located there."
FULL STORY: Condos, Parking Lots, and Transit: DC's Transportation Crossroads

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.
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