At a news conference this week announcing their ambitious "mode shift" campaign, Massachusetts Secretary of Transportation Richard Davey boldly announced that the state will "build no more superhighways," and work to get people out of their cars.
We suppose such a pronouncement from "the only state transportation chief who doesn't own a car," shouldn't be surprising, but to hear the head of a state transportation agency discuss not building highways is still a bit jarring.
According to Tanya Snyder, the goal of Davey's mode shift campaign "is to triple the share of trips taken by those modes [trains, buses, bikes, and walking], as
opposed to single-occupancy vehicles, by improving transit service and
active transportation amenities like lighting, sidewalks, curb cuts and
rail-trails."
In seeking to reduce congestion, improve the environment, and achieve positive public health outcomes, "[t]he mode shift will be a centerpiece of MassDOT's GreenDOT Implementation
Plan, being finalized this fall, which strives for multi-modalism," says Snyder.
"'Of
all the state's green policies, this is the one that really counts,'
Marc Draisen, who directs the Metropolitan Area Planning Council, told
the Boston Globe."
FULL STORY: MassDOT Secretary: “We Will Build No More Superhighways”

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.

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

In Urban Planning, AI Prompting Could be the New Design Thinking
Creativity has long been key to great urban design. What if we see AI as our new creative partner?

California Creates Housing-Focused Agency
Previously, the state’s housing and homelessness programs fell under a grabbag department that also regulates the alcohol industry, car mechanics, and horse racing.

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

Baker Creek Pavilion: Blending Nature and Architecture in Knoxville
Knoxville’s urban wilderness planning initiative unveils the "Baker Creek Pavilion" to increase the city's access to green spaces.
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