The Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada has proven its seriousness about an ambitious proposal to build a light rail connection between McCarran International Airport and the Las Vegas Strip.

Alison Noon reports for the Associated Press about a big step forward for a plan to bring light rail to the Las Vegas Strip. According to Noon, state and local officials recently presented a legislative plan for a light rail line connecting McCarran International Airport and the strip. The Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada has been developing the proposal for two years, producing a cost estimation of $12.5 billion for the light rail line. Additional, related projects could add to that total, bringing the cost up to $26 billion.
Audrey Wachs follows up on the story in a separate article. "A bill under consideration in the state senate would give local officials authority to pursue federal grants or impose tax increases to fund transit, as well as emerging technologies like self-driving cars. Right now, state law forbids local transit commissions from creating “high-capacity” mass transit systems like the proposed railway," explains Wachs.
FULL STORY: Las Vegas Light Rail story

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

Chicago’s Ghost Rails
Just beneath the surface of the modern city lie the remnants of its expansive early 20th-century streetcar system.

Amtrak Cutting Jobs, Funding to High-Speed Rail
The agency plans to cut 10 percent of its workforce and has confirmed it will not fund new high-speed rail projects.

Ohio Forces Data Centers to Prepay for Power
Utilities are calling on states to hold data center operators responsible for new energy demands to prevent leaving consumers on the hook for their bills.

MARTA CEO Steps Down Amid Citizenship Concerns
MARTA’s board announced Thursday that its chief, who is from Canada, is resigning due to questions about his immigration status.

Silicon Valley ‘Bike Superhighway’ Awarded $14M State Grant
A Caltrans grant brings the 10-mile Central Bikeway project connecting Santa Clara and East San Jose closer to fruition.
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.
Caltrans
City of Fort Worth
Mpact (founded as Rail~Volution)
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
City of Portland
City of Laramie