Innovation means different things to different people. For Bridges to Prosperity (B2P), a nonprofit that builds footbridges in the developing world, it’s a way to help people thrive despite limited resources.

By encouraging volunteers to think creatively and incorporating successful ideas into its standard plans, B2P continually improves its ability to help people in remote areas access healthcare, education, and jobs. Learning from failure According to Alex McNeill, B2P’s program manager for Nicaragua, this approach goes back to the organization’s earliest days. “Our founder was reading in the National Geographic about a community in Ethiopia that undertook a dangerous river crossing every day,” he said. “He was an engineer and got some of his friends together, and they went down there and came up with a solution.” Three months later, a new steel bridge was in place.
FULL STORY: With resources scarce, bridge-builders cultivate creativity

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.
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