In addition to the resignation of Roelof van Ark, CEO of the High-Speed Rail Authority, Chairman Tom Umberg has stepped down, though he will remain on the board. Gov. Brown has indicated he will merge the Authority with Caltrans.
"The exodus of the authority's top officials came as the prospects for the $99 billion project's survival appear dim, though Brown has remained steadfast in his support of a project that Big Labor considers critical. The shake-up coincided with Brown's plan to move the rail authority into a newly created transportation agency that includes Caltrans."
"Earlier this week, U.S. Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., in a letter to Brown, said that merging the rail authority with Caltrans would be key to revamping the business plan. It would, she said, "permit a rapid reassessment of the route, decisions regarding the stages of construction, and substantial progress on acquiring right of way" and would signal to Congress that the project remains viable."
"State Senate President Pro Tem Darrell Steinberg, D-Sacramento, said Thursday that he's in favor of tweaking the plan to show that the state is committed to building near urban population centers. "We need to look to see whether there might be other ways to get this done, and not jeopardize the federal money," Steinberg told reporters."
Thanks to Mike Keenly
FULL STORY: Head of High-Speed Rail Authority quits as agency undergoes shake-up

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

Maui's Vacation Rental Debate Turns Ugly
Verbal attacks, misinformation campaigns and fistfights plague a high-stakes debate to convert thousands of vacation rentals into long-term housing.

San Francisco Suspends Traffic Calming Amidst Record Deaths
Citing “a challenging fiscal landscape,” the city will cease the program on the heels of 42 traffic deaths, including 24 pedestrians.

Defunct Pittsburgh Power Plant to Become Residential Tower
A decommissioned steam heat plant will be redeveloped into almost 100 affordable housing units.

Trump Prompts Restructuring of Transportation Research Board in “Unprecedented Overreach”
The TRB has eliminated more than half of its committees including those focused on climate, equity, and cities.

Amtrak Rolls Out New Orleans to Alabama “Mardi Gras” Train
The new service will operate morning and evening departures between Mobile and New Orleans.
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.
Heyer Gruel & Associates PA
JM Goldson LLC
Custer County Colorado
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
Transportation Research & Education Center (TREC) at Portland State University
Jefferson Parish Government
Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Claremont