Citing the drastically reduced costs of a bus line, the city of Providence is hoping to replace its proposed streetcar line with the Providence Enhanced Bus Circulator. The new proposal requires federal funding to display a similar flexibility.
"The end of the line has come for Providence's downtown streetcar plan," according to an article by Patrick Anderson. "Dogged by cost and ridership concerns since it was first proposed nearly 10 years ago by then-Mayor David Cicilline, the proposed streetcar has been abandoned in favor of an "enhanced bus" line along the same route…"
Anderson reports on the lack of political support at the state and the local level for the streetcar plan before turning to the Providence Enhanced Bus Circulator project that will take its place. The goal is to have the bus plan included in the state of Rhode Island's upcoming ten-year transportation plan. Federal funding intended for streetcar will need to be cleared for the bus plan. Providence Planning Director Bonnie Nickerson is cited in the article saying, "city officials would be meeting with representatives of the Federal Transit Administration over the next month to make sure they can change the scope of the project without losing the streetcar funding."
FULL STORY: Providence abandons streetcar plan for new bus line

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.

Driving Equity and Clean Air: California Invests in Greener School Transportation
California has awarded $500 million to fund 1,000 zero-emission school buses and chargers for educational agencies as part of its effort to reduce pollution, improve student health, and accelerate the transition to clean transportation.

Congress Moves to End Reconnecting Communities and Related Grants
The House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee moved to rescind funding for the Neighborhood Equity and Access program, which funds highway removals, freeway caps, transit projects, pedestrian infrastructure, and more.

From Throughway to Public Space: Taking Back the American Street
How the Covid-19 pandemic taught us new ways to reclaim city streets from cars.
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