BART and Bombardier Transportation have completed a two-part, $1.5 billion deal to modernize the BART fleet. The new cars are expected to test in 2015 and commence operation between 2017 and 2021.
Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) has ordered 365 new rail cars from Bombardier Transportation in New York at a price of $639 million. The new order extends a previous deal: “The order is an option on a 2012 contract for 410 rail cars, valued at $896 million. The total contract for the rail cars, to be built in the City of Plattsburgh, is valued at $1.5 billion,” reports Dan Heath.
“The contract calls for 10 pilot cars to be delivered in spring 2015 for testing on the Bay Area Rapid Transit system...Successful completion of the tests would be followed by delivery of the remaining 765 rail cars between early 2017 and 2021."
BART has a website that explains the features of the new cars, which include an entirely new door technology, train interior, and a color coded route system.
FULL STORY: Bombardier receives approval for 365 rail cars

Rethinking Redlining
For decades we have blamed 100-year-old maps for the patterns of spatial racial inequity that persist in American cities today. An esteemed researcher says: we’ve got it all wrong.

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

California High-Speed Rail's Plan to Right Itself
The railroad's new CEO thinks he can get the project back on track. The stars will need to align this summer.

Trump Cuts Decimate Mapping Agency
The National Geodetic Survey maintains and updates critical spatial reference systems used extensively in both the public and private sectors.

Washington Passes First US ‘Shared Streets’ Law
Cities will be allowed to lower speed limits to 10 miles per hour and prioritize pedestrians on certain streets.

Montreal Mall to Become 6,000 Housing Units
Place Versailles will be transformed into a mixed-use complex over the next 25 years.
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.
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
Transportation Research & Education Center (TREC) at Portland State University
Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada
Toledo-Lucas County Plan Commissions