An expanded roadway outside the Union City BART station would mean more drivers and likely more congestion. City and county officials still argue those changes are necessary for the area around the station to function.
Erin Baldassari reports from Union City in the Bay Area, where city and county officials are moving forward with a proposal that would take $75 million worth of funding for the Union City BART station to spend on a $320 million road project outside the station.
The Union City BART station is more than just a stop on two BART lines: "With a BART station and plans to connect passengers to Capitol Corridor, ACE trains and a future railroad that would cross the bay along the Dumbarton corridor," explains Baldassari in a post from February, "Union City’s transit station was supposed to be one of the Bay Area’s major railroad hubs."
"City officials say the new road is critical for the station — and the planned residential and office construction around it — to thrive," adds Baldassari. "The city’s railroad district, which surrounds the BART station, has been a hive of development, with about 1,700 apartment units recently constructed or planned within walking distance of the station and plans for 1.2 million square feet of office space."
The article includes more detail about the development plans for the neighborhood surrounding the Union City station, the proposed roadway project, and the political fallout from the proposed changes to the station plan.
Since that original article, Union City approved the transfer of funds (a move described by Melanie Curry as a betrayal of trust and a concern for supporters of Regional Measure 3) and the Alameda County Transportation Commission voted to fund the designs for the roadway project.
Early Reviews for New York's Big Car-Free Experiment
Last week, 14th Street in Manhattan was closed to almost all varieties of automobile traffic, freeing up one of the slowest bus routes in the city. How will residents, workers, and commuters react?
$2 Billion Federal Grant for Red Line Extension Project to Chicago’s South Side
A plan to extend the Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) Red Line 5.6 miles to the south won a $2 billion grant from the federal government.
Downtown Omaha Planning for its Post-One-Way-Streets Era
The Omaha City Council has decided to reverse the transportation model adopted in the city in the 1950s, for the benefit of traffic safety and local retail activity.
Trump Administration Could Effectively End Housing Voucher Program
Federal officials are eyeing major cuts to the Section 8 program that helps millions of low-income households pay rent.
Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.
Canada vs. Kamala: Whose Liberal Housing Platform Comes Out on Top?
As Canada votes for a new Prime Minister, what can America learn from the leading liberal candidate of its neighbor to the north?
Washington State’s Parking Reform Law Could Unlock ‘Countless’ Acres for New Housing
A law that limits how much parking cities can require for residential amd commercial developments could lead to a construction boom.
Wildlife Rebounds After the Eaton Fire
Following the devastation of the Eaton Fire, the return of wildlife and the regrowth of native plants are offering powerful signs of resilience and renewal.
LA to Replace Inglewood Light Rail Project With Bus Shuttles
LA Metro says the change is in response to community engagement and that the new design will be ready before the 2028 Olympic Games.
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.
Central Transportation Planning Staff/Boston Region MPO
Heyer Gruel & Associates PA
Institute for Housing and Urban Development Studies (IHS)
City of Grandview
Harvard GSD Executive Education
Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada
Toledo-Lucas County Plan Commissions