The cities of Somerville and Cambridge are digging into their pockets to save the beleaguered Green Line extension project. State transportation officials could decide next week if the additional $75 million matters or not.

"In a last-ditch effort to save the troubled Green Line extension, leaders of two cities on the rail line said Thursday they’d contribute $75 million toward the project," report Tim Logan and Travis Andersen.
Somerville and Cambridge offered the cash infusion just four days prior to a hearing on the project by state transportation officials.
Together, the steps amounted to a bid to help salvage most of the 4.7-mile rail line, which has run up to $1 billion over budget. State transportation officials have threatened to pull the plug if that gap can’t be closed. The offers would still need to be approved by the two city councils.
According to Logan and Andersen, consultants hired by the Massachusetts Department of Transportation "are set to present redesigned, scaled-down stations, contracting changes, and other plans aimed at reducing the cost of the now-$3 billion project" on Monday, May 9. "The boards of MassDOT and the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority’s fiscal control board could then vote to approve the revised plan — or to kill the project altogether…"
FULL STORY: Cities offer $75m Green Line lifeline

Boston Transit Riders Report Safety Concerns
Almost three-quarters of current and former riders report feeling unsafe while using MBTA services.

The Unceremonious Death of a Freeway Expansion Project
The end of an Oregon freeway project didn't get much fanfare, but the victory is worth celebrating.

Houston Lot Size Reforms Yield Positive Results
New research shows that reducing lot size requirements helped create thousands of new homes.

Architecture and the Housing Crisis
A new book brings architects into the housing discussion.

New Los Angeles Rent Relief Program Targets Pandemic Debt
The program prioritizes the lowest-income tenants who accrued debt during the early part of the pandemic.

‘Agrihood:’ An Urban Farm With Affordable Housing
California’s largest urban farm also provides 165 units of affordable housing for seniors and veterans.
Knoxville-Knox County Planning
City of Stonecrest
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
Washington University
Mpact: Mobility, Community, Possibility
National Capital Planning Commission
City of Culver City
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.