The North San Francisco Bay Area has lacked passenger rail for decades—but the process of hiring the staff necessary to operate the line on a daily basis has been complicated by the cost of housing in the area.
"The high cost of housing in Marin and the Bay Area is making it hard for the fledgling SMART commuter rail service to find people to pilot its trains," reports Mark Prado. The
"Sonoma-Marin Area Rail Transit agency is set to launch service on a 43-mile line stretching from downtown San Rafael to the Santa Rosa Airport later this year," explains Prado, and to recruit engineers, signal technicians, and vehicle maintenance technicians, the agency board recently approved an 11 percent pay increase.
In the region, SMART has to compete with BART, Caltrain, Amtrak, and Altamont Commuter Express—none of which is made easier by the high costs for housing in the region.
FULL STORY: North Bay housing costs have SMART scrambling for engineers
TSA Suggests More Background Checks for Transit Workers
The proposal could make it even harder for short-staffed agencies to attract and hire new employees.
Low-Income Columbus Households Struggle to Find Housing
The Ohio city has a more severe affordable housing crisis than more traditionally expensive cities like New York and San Francisco.
Washington State May Cap Rent Increases at 7 Percent
House Bill 1217 was passed by the House and will move next to the state Senate.
Florida Considers Legalizing ADUs
Current state law allows — but doesn’t require — cities to permit accessory dwelling units in single-family residential neighborhoods.
San Diego to Rescind Multi-Unit ADU Rule
The city wants to close a loophole that allowed developers to build apartment buildings on single-family lots as ADUs.
HUD Announces Plan to Build Housing on Public Lands
The agency will identify federally owned parcels appropriate for housing development and streamline the regulatory process to lease or transfer land to housing authorities and nonprofit developers.
Surf’s Upcycling: Hawai‘i’s Latest Green Building Material is Recycled Surf Boards
“Surf Blocks” are fire-resistant, termite-proof, and close the loop on mountains of waste from the state’s beloved sport.
Building Age-Friendly Homes
Designing for the unique needs of elderly people can help them maintain social connections and mental acuity.
Nightlife and the 15-Minute City
Plans for compact, walkable cities often don’t address nighttime concerns like transportation and lighting, which can make neighborhoods more vibrant and safe around the clock.
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.
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City of Grandview
Harvard GSD Executive Education
UCLA Lewis Center for Regional Policy Studies
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Great Falls Development Authority, Inc.
NYU Wagner Graduate School of Public Service