Illinois, Cook County, and city of Chicago officials were disappointed in their first effort to attract FASTLANE funding authorized by the U.S Department Transportation
"Local transportation and rail officials will have to look for a new pot of money to untangle car and rail traffic on Chicago's South Side after the federal government rejected a $110 million grant request," reports Mary Wisniewski.
The Illinois Department of Transportation, Cook County, the city of Chicago, and the Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning applied for a FASTLANE grant "to create grade separations at Archer and Kenton avenues, 95th Street and Eggleston Avenue, and Columbus and Maplewood avenues," with the goal of building "underpasses or overpasses to separate cars from freight traffic."
In another outstanding act of federal acronym creation, FASTLANE stands for Fostering Advancements in Shipping and Transportation for the Long-term Achievement of National Efficiencies. The FASTLANE grants were created as part of the Fixing America’s Surface Transportation (FAST) Act, approved in December 2015. As for projects that will receive some of the grant money, Wisniewski reports that "DOT picked 18 projects from other states out of 212 applications for a total of about $760 million. Awards will be announced after a 60-day congressional review period."
FULL STORY: Local, rail officials won't get $110 million grant for South Side projects
President Trump's Other Infrastructure Plan—Defunding Grant Programs
The showman captured America's attention with a promise to "make America great again" with a $1 trillion infrastructure plan. Receiving scant attention are the infrastructure grant programs he'll cut in order to fund massive defense spending.
$1.5 Billion in BUILD Grants Funding for Transportation Projects Awarded
The U.S. Department of Transportation has favored grant funding for rural communities under the Trump administration.
Major Bridge Rebuilding Project Cost Soars in Providence
When the Trump Administration scrapped the U.S. Department of Transportation's FASTLANE grant program, the state of Rhode Island decided to seek a public-private partnership for its I-95 bridge replacement project.
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.
In Urban Planning, AI Prompting Could be the New Design Thinking
Creativity has long been key to great urban design. What if we see AI as our new creative partner?
Cal Fire Chatbot Fails to Answer Basic Questions
An AI chatbot designed to provide information about wildfires can’t answer questions about evacuation orders, among other problems.
What Happens if Trump Kills Section 8?
The Trump admin aims to slash federal rental aid by nearly half and shift distribution to states. Experts warn this could spike homelessness and destabilize communities nationwide.
Sean Duffy Targets Rainbow Crosswalks in Road Safety Efforts
Despite evidence that colorful crosswalks actually improve intersection safety — and the lack of almost any crosswalks at all on the nation’s most dangerous arterial roads — U.S. Transportation Secretary Duffy is calling on states to remove them.
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.
Appalachian Highlands Housing Partners
Gallatin County Department of Planning & Community Development
Heyer Gruel & Associates PA
Mpact (founded as Rail~Volution)
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
City of Portland
City of Laramie