Devolution—or the end of federal funding for local or regional transit projects—is back on the table, thanks to the Trump Administration. Articles in two prominent media outlets debate the idea.

Jeff Wood takes to the Overhead Wire blog to push back on recent political clamoring for the end of federal funding for transit investments at the local level—a policy known to many wonks as devolution.
The debate has erupted after news that the Trump Administration's draft budget would completely cut federal contributions to the TIGER competitive grant program and all transit capital investment. Meanwhile, the federal government would continue to fund highway projects.
That news led Jeffrey Dorfman, an economics professor at the University of Georgia, to write an op-ed for Forbes describing Trump's proposed budget as a "great start on de-federalizing local spending." Dorfman's central premise: that local governments and municipalities don't have a good argument to support federal funding for local projects such as transit.
Wood responds to specific points in Dorfman's argument, even finding a few points where they agree, but "for different reasons." Wood works especially to debunk Dorfman's assumption that highway projects all serve the national interest.
Hat tip to Angie Schmitt for sharing the Overhead Wire article, as well as the news about the Trump Administration's budget plans.
FULL STORY: It's Not Devolution, It's Spite

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.

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.

Half of Post-Fire Altadena Home Sales Were to Corporations
Large investors are quietly buying up dozens of properties in Altadena, California, where a devastating wildfire destroyed more than 6,000 homes in January.

Opinion: What San Francisco’s Proposed ‘Family Zoning’ Could Really Mean
Mayor Lurie is using ‘family zoning’ to encourage denser development and upzoning — but could the concept actually foster community and more human-scale public spaces?

Jacksonville Launches First Autonomous Transit Shuttle in US
A fleet of 14 fully autonomous vehicles will serve a 3.5-mile downtown Jacksonville route with 12 stops.
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.
Gallatin County Department of Planning & Community Development
Heyer Gruel & Associates PA
JM Goldson LLC
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