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

September 16 - Zachary Whalen

One side of the image shows a Chicago bus stop without a bench, the second image shows the bus stop with a yellow and blue bench.
Guerilla urbanists are building DIY bus stop benches in Chicago

The new benches are not officially sanctioned or permitted, but the residents who placed them hope they will be the start of a network of DIY benches across the city.

September 16 - Block Club Chicago

A cluster of wind turbines beneath a stormy sky, above a forest where the leaves are beginning to change colors.
5 New England states march closer to 800 megawatt wind energy project

Securing federal approval for the project may be complicated under the Trump administration, which has historically been hostile towards domestic wind power.

September 16 - Inside Climate News

Book cover
Reigniting the city-building revolution

September 14 - Stephanie Rouse

A pile of tan rocks form a wall at the ruins of Tell Brak. They are surrounded by yellow grass.
Urbanism before the plan

September 11 - Stefan Al

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Overlapping highways

The state-sanctioned urbicide of Austin

People don’t kill cities. Freeways do.

September 8 - Benjamin Schneider

The Hoover Dam blocking the Colorado River. The river's water level is noticeably low. The cliffs surrounding the blue water are brown and jagged.

US to reduce Colorado River water deliveries to Mexico

A new Colorado Treaty amendment reduces Mexico’s Colorado River water allocation by 250,000 acre feet.

September 11 - The Arizona Republic

A blue and white train emerges from the Baltimore and Potomac Tunnel.

Amtrak’s $6 billion tunnel project moves closer to a faster Northeast Corridor

The Baltimore & Potomac Tunnel Replacement Program is Amtrak's largest-ever single infrastructure investment, and will pave the way for more reliable passenger rail service between Baltimore, Washington and Virginia.

September 13 - Daily Commercial News and Construction Record

View of the mountain landscape near Boulder, Nevada. A town filled with houses with orange roofs is surrounded by mountains.

Judge strikes down Trump-backed data center on public land

The Biden administration originally approved the same patch of federal land for a solar farm in 2023.

September 13 - SFGate

Crowds in front of a theater

Why city hall doesn't know your music venue is a music venue (and why that matters)

Data shows that cultural venues have long lacked proper classification — which is why so many fall through the cracks.

September 10 - Chewi Lockhart

A rendering of one of the proposed stations. there are two roads separated by a grassy median in front of the tan station, and an elevated silver walkway leading people to the second floor.

NYC releases new renderings for $5.5 billion Interborough Express

The slated stations will have a modern look, enhanced lighting and improved audio announcements.

September 10 - Gothamist

A SpaceX sign in Brownsville, Texas.

Home values, property tax rises in Texas county after the arrival of SpaceX

The median property tax bill in Cameron County increased by more than 57% over six years.

September 7 - The Texas Tribune

The Eaton fire burns in Sierra Madre. A home can be seen through the flames.

Wildfires are coming for America’s suburbs

Buying land in between paved cities and forests has become increasingly popular, but those same areas are naturally fire prone.

September 7 - Grist

Against a cloudy sky, a group of planes cloud seed by spraying salt into the clouds.

Data center provider partners with “cloud seeding” company to artificially trigger rainfall

With cloud seeding, planes or drones release salt compounds into clouds to make them produce rain.

September 9 - The San Francisco Standard

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

A blue and white train emerges from the Baltimore and Potomac Tunnel.

Amtrak’s $6 billion tunnel project moves closer to a faster Northeast Corridor

The Baltimore & Potomac Tunnel Replacement Program is Amtrak's largest-ever single infrastructure investment, and will pave the way for more reliable passenger rail service between Baltimore, Washington and Virginia.

September 13 - Daily Commercial News and Construction Record

A SEPTA Silverline IV train drives towards the camera.

SEPTA receives $13.3 million to replace fire-prone train cars

The transit agency said it could be seven years before the replacement train cars come to Philadelphia.

September 3 - Philadelphia Inquirer

An Amtrak conductor walks parallel to an Amtrak train.

Amtrak announces new ‘System Expansion Committee’

The five initial members will oversee the expansion of rail service and the development of sustainable funding strategies.

September 3 - Mass Transit

A dark green Airo train on the train tracks.

Washington and Oregon receive first new Amtrak trains in decades

The Airo trains promise shorter commutes, more frequent trips and fewer emissions than their predecessors.

August 26 - Grist

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

A blue and white train emerges from the Baltimore and Potomac Tunnel.

Amtrak’s $6 billion tunnel project moves closer to a faster Northeast Corridor

The Baltimore & Potomac Tunnel Replacement Program is Amtrak's largest-ever single infrastructure investment, and will pave the way for more reliable passenger rail service between Baltimore, Washington and Virginia.

September 13 - Daily Commercial News and Construction Record

A SEPTA Silverline IV train drives towards the camera.

SEPTA receives $13.3 million to replace fire-prone train cars

The transit agency said it could be seven years before the replacement train cars come to Philadelphia.

September 3 - Philadelphia Inquirer

An Amtrak conductor walks parallel to an Amtrak train.

Amtrak announces new ‘System Expansion Committee’

The five initial members will oversee the expansion of rail service and the development of sustainable funding strategies.

September 3 - Mass Transit

A dark green Airo train on the train tracks.

Washington and Oregon receive first new Amtrak trains in decades

The Airo trains promise shorter commutes, more frequent trips and fewer emissions than their predecessors.

August 26 - Grist

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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