Two class action lawsuits take New York’s inaccessible metro system to task.

According to state and federal lawsuits filed April 20, New York's Metropolitan Transportation Authority's lack of elevators and poor maintenance practices constitute discrimination against people with disabilities.
"More than 75 percent of the city’s 472 subway stations have no elevators, lifts or other alternatives to stairs," giving the MTA the lowest accessibility rate of the 10 largest transit systems in the country, according to the New York Times.
The plaintiffs, represented by Disability Rights Advocates, want the court to require the MTA to change the way it deals with elevator maintenance and to develop a long-term plan to improve the system's accessibility.
In March, the Times ran a feature on how the state of the subway system impacts disabled residents, sometimes shutting them out of public life. One plaintiff who uses a wheelchair said, "Because of the lack of elevators, my disability really comes to the forefront in terms of what activities I can engage in, in the city."
He takes a different subway line uptown after work in order to catch another line back to Brooklyn to reach a station with an elevator for southbound commuters. He said he regularly cancels social engagements if he finds there is no viable way to travel to a station with a working elevator. And he has counted more than 200 elevator failures in the last two and a half years — about one for every eight trips he takes, he said.
An MTA spokesperson said the agency is spending $1 billion to bring 25 more stations into compliance with the ADA, and estimated it would take $10 billion to complete the rest.
FULL STORY: New York City’s Subway System Violates Local and Federal Laws, Disability Groups Say

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

Congressman Proposes Bill to Rename DC Metro “Trump Train”
The Make Autorail Great Again Act would withhold federal funding to the system until the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA), rebrands as the Washington Metropolitan Authority for Greater Access (WMAGA).

The Simple Legislative Tool Transforming Vacant Downtowns
In California, Michigan and Georgia, an easy win is bringing dollars — and delight — back to city centers.

Demise of Entertainment Industry Mirrors Demise of Housing in LA
Making movies has a lot in common with developing real estate: producers = developers; screenwriters = architects; directors = general contractors. The similarities are more than trivial. Both industries are now hurting in L.A.

How Public Spaces Exclude Teen Girls
Adolescent girls face unique challenges and concerns when navigating public spaces. We can design cities with their needs in mind.

Proposed Ohio Budget Preserves Housing Trust Fund
The Senate-approved budget also creates two new programs aimed at encouraging housing construction.
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.
Smith Gee Studio
City of Charlotte
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
Transportation Research & Education Center (TREC) at Portland State University
US High Speed Rail Association
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
Municipality of Princeton (NJ)