Dallas and Houston's expanding light rail systems are helping boost economic development as new commercial and residential development sprouts up around transit stations.

PBS Newshour looks at the growth of light rail systems in Texas, which is luring some drivers from their cars in the sprawling cities of Dallas and Houston. And while the reduction of drivers is a good thing, the cities are also focusing on the economic benefits of transit oriented development that is popping up around new light rail stations.
Reporter Karla Murthy spoke with developer Walt Mountford who is building a large mixed-use project adjacent to a transit station in the Dallas suburb of Richardson. Mountford notes that this type of development, placing restaurants, offices, and hotels adjacent to the light rail station makes the employers located in the development more attractive to young workers.
Houston urban planner and Metro board member Christof Spieler tells Murthy that the introduction of the light rail system has been a boon to Downtown Houston.
"KARLA MURTHY: He believes light rail has been a catalyst to Downtown development, with $8 billion of projects along a seven and a half-mile stretch of track.
For example, look at the neighborhood of Midtown in the heart of Houston. Across from the light rail station there’s a mixed-use development under construction with 363 apartments and 30,000 square feet of retail space.
CHRISTOF SPIELER: This isn’t some empty field on the outskirts of town that gets a new development. It’s a neighborhood like this. We’re seeing a real shift in the kind of places people want to live in. Neighborhoods that have not just homes but places to eat and places to shop are fun to live in. I mean, there’s a real change in the attitude toward cities."
FULL STORY: In car-centric Texas, cities reap economic boon from light rail

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.

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