"Planetizen federal action tracker" logo superimposed over black and white image of US Capitol dome.
Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

October 20 - Zachary Whalen

A photo of the Colorado River that shows it is many feet lower than it used to be.
‘No state has sacrificed more:’ Arizona joins Nevada, sues feds over Colorado River plan

The Arizona Department of Water Resources' motion claims that the state's cities, tribes and farmers can't survive without sufficient water from the Colorado River.

6 hours ago - High County News

A crowd of people, including LA mayor Karen Bass, hold shovels to symbolize breaking ground on the light rail project.
LA begins work on $4 billion light rail through San Fernando Valley

The project will be the areas first light rail service since the termination of the Pacific Electric Railway in the 1950s.

October 21 - LA Urbanize

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Cars driving under automatic congestion pricing toll machines on Broadway next to the Trump International Hotel in Manhattan, New York City.

Data reveals that NYC’s bet on congestion pricing has paid off

After almost two years of the program, reports show positive impacts on traffic and air quality and no disruptions to parking.

October 13 - Marcelo Remond

A row of tiny homes in Denver

Denver is solving homelessness. Why aren't the rest of us?

Since 2023, Denver's street homeless population has decreased by 64%, proving that effective tools exist to support those in need of housing.

October 14 - New York Times

An unfinished piece of California’s high-speed rail project in Fresno.

After $600,000 wasted, CA high-speed rail board limits CEO’s power

Ian Choudri will no longer be able to sign, change or manage contracts.

October 13 - Cal Matters

An Amtrak train pulls into a station in Portland.

Transit leaders progress high-speed rail from Portland to Vancouver, B.C.

Washington state officials may reveal feasible routes for the high-speed rail in late 2027.

October 13 - The Columbian

a construction site. Cranes are seen building apartments.

In the heart of suburbia, a Utah developer is building a high-density downtown from scratch

The project faces criticism from some city council members, who say the private developer is using taxpayer dollars to turn a profit.

October 19 - The Salt Lake Tribune

A group of people walk past Boston's purple commuter rail.

Boston spent $765 million to lease battery-powered trains

The trains will serve Boston’s Fairmount Line for fifteen years.

October 12 - Grist

A rendering of WMATA's new building, which has many windows and two levels that don't appear to have walls.

Op-ed: if transit agencies want sustainability, they should focus on their buildings

In the Washington region, buildings can account for nearly 70% of greenhouse gas emissions. If WMATA wants to be a sustainable agency, it must upgrade its developments as well as its transit.

October 15 - Linda Cui

Sheep in a field stand next to solar panels.

Trump guts ‘win-win’ solar energy program for rural farmers

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s changes have made virtually all solar power ineligible for funding through the Rural Energy for America Program.

October 18 - Grist

A large brown house in Massachusetts.

Small single-family homes are illegal in most of MA. Voters can change that

Most land zoned for single-family housing in Massachusetts requires at least 40,000 square feet of land per house.

October 16 - NPR

An Airo train passes over a mostly-dried river in between two large forests.

Airo trainsets begin service on Amtrak Cascades route

The trains feature panoramic windows, complementary wifi and over 300 seats per train set.

September 30 - Mass Transit

An Airo train driving towards the camera on a track. There is a forest behind it.

Northwest rail fans eager for Sept. 30 debut of Amtrak’s Airo fleet

Get ready for that new train smell and more seats. But they won’t go faster or run more frequently on the Cascades route in Washington and Oregon.

September 22 - Washington State Standard

A gray building partially obscured by trees, behind a four way intersection.

A ‘shady’ deal: Chicagoans rally against planned Amtrak maintenance facility

The $900 million facility would allow Amtrak to maintain entire trains in one building, which the company says will reduce delays.

September 21 - Block Club Chicago

Passengers board an Amtrak train under a cloudy sky.

Amtrak, CN end decades-long dispute with eight-year agreement

The new operating agreement establishes an updated framework for the companies to work together, including processes to resolve disputes.

September 18 - Mass Transit

A New Jersey train approaches people waiting at the station.

Amtrak not solely to blame for New Jersey commuter rail's unreliability, report finds

A new study from the Garden State Initiative found that NJ Transit’s budget grew 20% across a 4 year period, but reliability declined significantly over the same period.

September 15 - Mass Transit

An Airo train passes over a mostly-dried river in between two large forests.

Airo trainsets begin service on Amtrak Cascades route

The trains feature panoramic windows, complementary wifi and over 300 seats per train set.

September 30 - Mass Transit

An Airo train driving towards the camera on a track. There is a forest behind it.

Northwest rail fans eager for Sept. 30 debut of Amtrak’s Airo fleet

Get ready for that new train smell and more seats. But they won’t go faster or run more frequently on the Cascades route in Washington and Oregon.

September 22 - Washington State Standard

A gray building partially obscured by trees, behind a four way intersection.

A ‘shady’ deal: Chicagoans rally against planned Amtrak maintenance facility

The $900 million facility would allow Amtrak to maintain entire trains in one building, which the company says will reduce delays.

September 21 - Block Club Chicago

Passengers board an Amtrak train under a cloudy sky.

Amtrak, CN end decades-long dispute with eight-year agreement

The new operating agreement establishes an updated framework for the companies to work together, including processes to resolve disputes.

September 18 - Mass Transit

A New Jersey train approaches people waiting at the station.

Amtrak not solely to blame for New Jersey commuter rail's unreliability, report finds

A new study from the Garden State Initiative found that NJ Transit’s budget grew 20% across a 4 year period, but reliability declined significantly over the same period.

September 15 - Mass Transit

Walkable City 1: Why Walkability?

1.25 AICP CM

Instructor Jeff Speck marches through his five principal reasons for making more walkable places—Economics, the Environment, Public Health, Equity, and Social Cohesiveness—in order to arm practitioners with the full range of arguments in favor of pro-walkability planning.

 

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