Los Angeles has taxed itself to raise money for transit projects, and now officials want to borrow against those future earnings to speed up projects. This article wonders if that's a model other cities can and should follow.
Minn Post looks at whether the idea could work in the Twin Cities.
"If approved by Congress, the Los Angeles plan would constitute a new kind of federal-local partnership in transportation investment. 'We think it's a pretty intriguing idea,' said Susan Haigh, chair of the Metropolitan Council. The formula is a focus of current research on how to accelerate the transit build-out in the metro area.
'We're focused on jobs and economic development,' Haigh said, 'but that doesn't happen without investments in transit and transportation. The question is how can you take advantage of transit's return on investment to advance and accelerate transit projects.'
The answer will be data-driven, she said, but it's not yet clear whether the Los Angeles model can work here."
FULL STORY: Los Angeles tries to accelerate transit: Would it work here?
Tardy Transit Funding Arrives in Los Angeles, Twin Cities
They had to wait the better part of a year, but two major transit projects finally have the funding Congress allocated in March.
Feds Award LA Region $900 Million for Transportation Projects
The funding will support efforts to make improvements to transit and pedestrian infrastructure ahead of the 2028 Olympics.
L.A.'s San Fernando Valley $909 Million Closer to Light Rail
The last time rail transit crossed L.A.'s San Fernando Valley was in the early 1950s.
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.
San Antonio and Austin are Fusing Into one Massive Megaregion
The region spanning the two central Texas cities is growing fast, posing challenges for local infrastructure and water supplies.
Since Zion's Shuttles Went Electric “The Smog is Gone”
Visitors to Zion National Park can enjoy the canyon via the nation’s first fully electric park shuttle system.
Trump Distributing DOT Safety Funds at 1/10 Rate of Biden
Funds for Safe Streets and other transportation safety and equity programs are being held up by administrative reviews and conflicts with the Trump administration’s priorities.
German Cities Subsidize Taxis for Women Amid Wave of Violence
Free or low-cost taxi rides can help women navigate cities more safely, but critics say the programs don't address the root causes of violence against women.
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.
planning NEXT
Appalachian Highlands Housing Partners
Mpact (founded as Rail~Volution)
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
City of Portland
City of Laramie