China opened 32(!) new high speed rail routes this week, including a connection between Shanghai and Guanzhou equivalent to a trip between Los Angeles and Seattle.
"A high-speed railway connecting Guangzhou and Shanghai in just seven hours will go into operation tomorrow," according to Katie Nelson for Shanghaiist (the news originally came via Shanghai Daily).
Nelson also notes that "[a] total of 32 new high-speed routes will be launched December 10, Shanghai's railway authority announced. The trip between Shanghai and Guangzhou, Guangdong province has been shaved down from 16 hours to six hours and 51 minutes, and travelers looking to go from Shanghai to scenic Guilin, Guangxi province will now be able to make the trip in about nine hours, versus the previous 19 hours."
In reaction to the big project in China, Robert Cruickshank notes on the California High Speed Rail Blog that "[the] distance from Shanghai to Guangzhou by rail is 1780 km, or a little more than 1100 miles. For comparison’s sake, that’s about the distance from Seattle to Los Angeles."
Read the full story: New bullet train routes
Rail Cuts Chinese Trip From 11 Hours to 90 Minutes
A new high speed rail link has opened in China, connecting the cities of Fuzhou and Xiamen. The new rail line will cut travel time between the two cities from nearly 11 hours to just 90 minutes.
California High-Speed Rail Authority could be broke by the end of 2027
A report from the Office of Inspector General says the authority must borrow against state infusions to stay afloat.
California High Speed Rail to lay first tracks
High Speed Rail Authority officials describe the milestone as "the moment this project truly begins to become a railroad."
Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.
California plans to bury El Niño’s downpour
If the state plays its cards right, it may be able to store a billion acre-feet of El Niño’s water in aquifers.
Chicago breaks ground on $3 billion megadevelopment
The new neighborhood, titled Foundry Park, will one day host 3,700 residences.
California High-Speed Rail Authority CEO resigns after $600,000 scandal
Under Ian Choudri, the authority used taxpayer dollars to fund first class flights and trips to nightclubs.
Want to study the Missouri River? Soon, you may need unanimous approval from 10 states
Legislation would require 10 governors’ permission to study or build projects moving water outside the basin.
Desperate measures: Advocates weigh draining Lake Powell to fill Colorado River
Draining the reservoir could reduce evaporation losses by a couple hundred thousand acre-feet.
FREE Course: Walkable City 1: Why Walkability?
After describing his path towards focusing on walkability as the essence of good planning, Jeff Speck marches through his five principal reasons for making more walkable places.
Reinventing Malls: Planning Alchemy—Turning Gray Fields Into Gold
The course focuses on the opportunities and imperatives that shape reinvention of mall sites.
City of Rosemead
Rutgers University, Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy
One Hundred Miles
Hunter College, City University of New York (CUNY)
The Architects Foundation
University of Cincinnati Online
City of Cambridge
Montrose County
The Pocatello Development Authority