Not only would a new $150.6 billion proposal build a high-speed rail project to connect Sydney and Melbourne, it would also build eight new cities along the way.

A high-speed rail proposal in Australia has the lofty ambition of solving some of the country's largest housing and transportation challenges, "by building eight new cities inland from the coast and connecting them with Sydney, Melbourne and the national capital of Canberra with a new high-speed rail line."
The proposal is novel in its scale and ambition. The company behind the proposal, Consolidated Land and Rail Australia Pty. Ltd. (CLARA), "says that the new cities will be compact, walkable 'smart cities,' with power from renewable sources, open data networks, mixed-use activity districts and local transport systems that would enable residents to live within 10 minutes of all their daily needs. And the housing, of course, will be affordable." CLARA announced the proposal earlier this month.
The proposal drops some big, glossy numbers: namely trains traveling at a speed of 430 km/h (267 mph) and a pricetag of A$200 billion ($150.6 billion U.S.). So far, CLARA has already dropped A$10 million ($7.5 million U.S.) on advance planning work.
FULL STORY: A Radical, $150 Billion Plan for High-Speed Rail in Australia

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

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.

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