Local officials have ended any hope of completing a bus rapid transit project in the Lansing, Michigan area, for fear of of the budget cuts for transportation investment projects promised by the Trump Administration.
"The Capital Area Transportation Authority is slamming the brakes on its plan to spend $133 million on a proposed Bus Rapid Transit line that the organization had said would transform the region's most important corridor," report Christopher Haxel and Beth LeBlanc from Lansing, Michigan.
Bradley Funkhouser, the agency's deputy CEO, gave the Lansing State Journal two reasons for the project's demise: "up to $100 million of expected funding for CATA's BRT was cut from President Donald Trump's proposed budget," and "CATA officials recently learned they would need to spend more than $700,000 on more traffic studies before the FTA would advance the project from the environmental assessment phase into one that begins finalizing project design." Although Congress has yet to debate or vote on the Trump Administration's proposed budget, "White House support is critical for such projects, which are funded through the Federal Transit Administration," according to the article.
The project has remaining grant money in pocket, which Funkhouser says can still be used for other projects "such as updating shelters along bus routes or developing an app to give real-time updates on bus locations."
FULL STORY: CATA wants to kill Bus Rapid Transit plans
New Details for Portland's Transit Plan as Voters Head to the Polls
Voters in Portland-area voters will decide on a transportation funding measure for the "Get Moving 2020" plan, with details of four bus rapid transit project targeted for funding announced within weeks of the election.
Potential Presidential Election Outcomes for U.S. Transportation Policy
Experts opine on the consequences of the presidential election for U.S. transportation policy.
Colorado Lawmakers Move to Protect BRT Funding
In the face of potential federal funding cuts, CDOT leaders reasserted their commitment to planned bus rapid transit projects.
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.
In Urban Planning, AI Prompting Could be the New Design Thinking
Creativity has long been key to great urban design. What if we see AI as our new creative partner?
Cal Fire Chatbot Fails to Answer Basic Questions
An AI chatbot designed to provide information about wildfires can’t answer questions about evacuation orders, among other problems.
What Happens if Trump Kills Section 8?
The Trump admin aims to slash federal rental aid by nearly half and shift distribution to states. Experts warn this could spike homelessness and destabilize communities nationwide.
Sean Duffy Targets Rainbow Crosswalks in Road Safety Efforts
Despite evidence that colorful crosswalks actually improve intersection safety — and the lack of almost any crosswalks at all on the nation’s most dangerous arterial roads — U.S. Transportation Secretary Duffy is calling on states to remove them.
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.
Appalachian Highlands Housing Partners
Gallatin County Department of Planning & Community Development
Heyer Gruel & Associates PA
Mpact (founded as Rail~Volution)
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
City of Portland
City of Laramie