Electrifying Caltrain is low-hanging fruit for Infrastructure spending. Unfortunately, the fruit may spoil on the vine because the California GOP and Donald Trump have put the project on hold.
The Caltrain system ridership is growing quickly, even as other parts of the country have seen their ridership shrink. To modernize that service, plans had been in place to electrify the system, "The contracts and funding for this were ready to go until California Republicans lobbied the Department of Transportation to hold off on confirming $647 million in funding earlier this month in order to thwart high-speed rail. Caltrain’s contracts were contingent on this funding being approved by today," writes Kim Mai Cutler in Medium.
Mai Cutler argues that this "shovel ready" project should be a priority for a government looking to build the country's infrastructure. Caltrain ridership has roughly tripled since 1980 and it serves one of the most economically vibrant parts of the country. "Electrification may not sound sexy. But it is imperative for a region with transit infrastructure running at full or even above capacity," Kim Mai Cutler writes. For more coverage of the decision to defer funding for Caltrain electrification, see detailed a detailed article by Planetizen correspondent Irvin Dawid.
FULL STORY: Trump Promised to be The Infrastructure President. Just Not For One of America’s Strongest Economic Regions.
Caltrain Introduces Electric Train Fleet
The Bay Area agency will switch to all electric trains by the end of September.
Caltrain Electrification Project Faces Budget Shortfall
The agency is seeking an additional $260 million to complete electrification of train lines between San Francisco and San Jose.
Trump's Infrastructure Plan a Boon for Private Interests
President Trump's proposed infrastructure plans intends to shift ownership of much of America's infrastructure into private hands. Rebecca Burns argues that this approach will benefit the country's richest at the expense of the rest of the country.
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.
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
Ada County Highway District
Institute for Housing and Urban Development Studies (IHS)
City of Grandview
Harvard GSD Executive Education
Toledo-Lucas County Plan Commissions
Salt Lake City
NYU Wagner Graduate School of Public Service