A city famous for its intransigent car culture is bringing in an active transportation expert to run its Department of Transportation.

In July, Los Angeles City Council approved Mayor Eric Garcetti’s pick for General Manager of the LADOT: Seleta Reynolds. Moving south from her current position at San Francisco’s Municipal Transportation Authority, Reynolds is preparing to prioritize biking and walking in a metropolis historically resistant to such efforts:
"Social interactions that strengthen neighborhoods and even can strengthen the resiliency of a community to recover after a disaster are improved if you offer people the opportunity to walk or bike to get around. Making those modes a real option for trips that are less than a mile for walking or one-to-three miles for biking is important for a huge variety of reasons."
With the new GM assuming her role this month, The Planning Report introduces Reynolds to readers—from her background working toward livable streets in San Francisco to her stint at Fehr & Peers. Acknowledging the large-scale challenges facing LADOT, she expresses eagerness to take on the job just as Los Angeles embarks on its Great Streets initiative. She notes, "This felt like a place and a time that really aligned with the kinds of projects that interest me the most."
FULL STORY: New LA DOT GM Enthusiastically Accepts Management Challenge

Trump Administration Could Effectively End Housing Voucher Program
Federal officials are eyeing major cuts to the Section 8 program that helps millions of low-income households pay rent.

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

Ken Jennings Launches Transit Web Series
The Jeopardy champ wants you to ride public transit.

Rebuilding Smarter: How LA County Is Guiding Fire-Ravaged Communities Toward Resilience
Los Angeles County is leading a coordinated effort to help fire-impacted communities rebuild with resilience by providing recovery resources, promoting fire-wise design, and aligning reconstruction with broader sustainability and climate goals.

When Borders Blur: Regional Collaboration in Action
As regional challenges outgrow city boundaries, “When Borders Blur” explores how cross-jurisdictional collaboration can drive smarter, more resilient urban planning, sharing real-world lessons from thriving partnerships across North America.

Philadelphia Is Expanding its Network of Roundabouts
Roundabouts are widely shown to decrease traffic speed, reduce congestion, and improve efficiency.
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