Passenger Rail

New York Governor Kathy Hochul climbing onto Amtrak train.

Amtrak to Resume NYC-to-Albany Service After Pressure From Gov. Hochul

Amtrak suspended most service between New York City and the state capital last May as part of work on a project to repair damage from Hurricane Sandy.

January 30, 2026 - New York Post

New wood-frame single-famly houses being built in Arizona with desert mountains in background.

Planning Trends for 2026: States and Cities Take Initiative, Passenger Rail Gains Steam, and the Costs of AI Revealed

With federal funding for everything from transportation projects to housing assistance under threat, city and state governments are poised to take a stronger role in building strong, resilient local economies and public services.

January 25, 2026 - Diana Ionescu

Passengers in Moynihan Train Hall at Penn Station in New York City.

Why the First 3 Months of 2026 Will Decide the Future of US Passenger Rail

Three events likely to occur in the first 90 days of the year will have major impacts on U.S. train travel.

January 19, 2026 - Streetsblog USA

Aerial of construction site in front of historic multi-story Michigan Central train station in Detroit, Michigan.

Detroit To Build New Bus, Train Hub Next to Historic Station

The new station will serve intercity buses and offer connections to Amtrak service.

October 21, 2025 - Smart Cities Dive

Passengers pulling roller bags on outdoor train platform between trains.

Feds Open $5B in Rail Safety Grants

The reissued call for applications omits equity and climate requirements and prioritizes “family-friendly” project proposals.

September 25, 2025 - Smart Cities Dive

White and blue Sound Transit light rail train on floating brige.

Floating Light Rail Bridge Crossing Marks Historic Moment for Seattle Transit

Once testing is complete, Sound Transit will open the world’s first light rail line that uses a floating bridge connecting downtown Seattle to the Eastside.

September 17, 2025 - KOMO News

Dark blue Amtrak train passing green shipping containers on freight train in Greensboro, North Carolina.

Amtrak Trains Get Priority Over Freight in Legal Settlement

Freight operator Norfolk Southern has agreed to prioritize Amtrak trains and work with the agency to identify the cause of delays on the Crescent line.

September 16, 2025 - Trains Pro

Rendering of California high-speed rail train passing over an elevated viaduct.

California Commits $1B Annually for 20 Years to High-Speed Rail

New legislation extends the state’s cap-and-trade program to 2045 and formalized a yearly allocation to the California high-speed rail project.

September 12, 2025 - Newsweek

Woman in blue athletic clothes walks through DC Union Station with two National Guardsmen in uniform walking behind her.

Trump Plans Takeover of DC's Union Station

USDOT says it will take over management duties for the commercial spaces managed by Amtrak since last year and address the building’s infrastructure needs.

August 31, 2025 - NPR

Arched bridge under construction for California High-Speed Rail project.

62% of Californians Still Want High-Speed Rail

The majority of Californians want the state to keep building the California High-Speed Rail Project, which is moving ahead despite the loss of federal funding.

August 26, 2025 - US High Speed Rail Coalition

Blonde woman in sequined purple hat walking away from Amtrak train smiling at camera with other people behind her.

New Orleans-to-Alabama Amtrak Line Returns, 20 Years After Katrina

The Mardi Gras line now offers two daily round-trip trains between New Orleans and Mobile, Alabama.

August 24, 2025 - Transportation for America

Train platform with red tile roof shelter in Manassas, Virginia.

Amtrak Virginia Ridership Increased Exponentially This Year. But is Future Growth in Jeopardy?

The rail system keeps gaining riders and seeks to expand their reach to other areas in the commonwealth amid federal mass layoffs and budget cuts.

August 10, 2025 - The Virginia Mercury

Train tracks with red building on left side and Atlanta high-rises visible in background.

Georgia DOT Studying Atlanta-to-Savannah Train

The agency is studying the potential of intercity rail, with Atlanta as a strategic Amtrak hub.

August 8, 2025 - Urbanize Atlanta

A yellow and black Birghtline high-speed rail train at station in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida.

Brightline Sued Over Expansion Plans

The Florida East Coast Railway is charging the private railway with secretly making expansion plans despite a financial shortfall and insufficient infrastructure.

August 7, 2025 - Miami Herald

Camden Station train platform with white and red tram in Baltimore, Maryland.

Feds Cancel Baltimore-to-DC High-Speed Rail Project

The Federal Railroad Administration cited concerns about disruptions to federally owned properties along the proposed HSR line, which would take passengers from Baltimore and D.C. in 15 minutes.

August 6, 2025 - Patch Maryland

Aerial view of viaduct under construction for California High-Speed Rail.

DOT Officially Cancels California High-Speed Rail Funding

The Trump administration has repeatedly taken aim at the LA-to-Bay Area rail project, blaming Democratic leaders for cost overruns and delays.

July 20, 2025 - Streetsblog California

Blue and silver Amtrak train with vibrant green and yellow foliage in background.

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.

July 14, 2025 - Smart Cities Dive

Blue and silver Amtrak train at small station.

Amtrak Rolls Out New Orleans to Alabama “Mardi Gras” Train

The new service will operate morning and evening departures between Mobile and New Orleans.

July 3, 2025 - New Orleans City Business

Large spinning swing ride at Chicago's Navy Pier.

The Subversive Car-Free Guide to Trump's Great American Road Trip

Car-free ways to access Chicagoland’s best tourist attractions.

July 3, 2025 - Streetsblog Chicago

Texas Eagle Amtrak train pulling into station in Austin, Texas with glass high-rise buildings in background.

Five Key Transportation Funding Proposals in Trump’s Budget

The President’s proposed 2026 budget would keep spending roughly the same for transit and rail and eliminate over $5 billion in funding for EV charging infrastructure.

June 10, 2025 - Smart Cities Dive

FREE Course: Walkable City 1: Why Walkability?

After describing his path towards focusing on walkability as the essence of good planning, Jeff Speck marches through his five principal reasons for making more walkable places.

Reinventing Malls: Planning Alchemy—Turning Gray Fields Into Gold

The course focuses on the opportunities and imperatives that shape reinvention of mall sites.

Senior Planner

City of Thousand Oaks

Community Development Director

City of Wisconsin Rapids

Professor of Urban Planning

Harvard University Graduate School of Design

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