The 72-year-old trolley system is beloved by local riders, but difficult to maintain.

The fate of the historic trolley cars in Boston's Mattapan neighborhood has been at issue for more than a year. It has divided transit advocates, who favor converting the 2.5-mile line to a paved bus route, and preservationists and riders campaigning to protect the unique system.
In the Boston Globe, Adam Vaccaro and Margeaux Sippell explain the pragmatic arguments for both options. The old trolleys are expensive to maintain and at higher risk of crashes than modern systems, but appear to run smoothly and experience fewer delays. Some riders also say the trolley's nostalgic aesthetic makes the trip more enjoyable—not an unimportant consideration as public transportation struggles to attract riders nationwide.
For now, the MBTA has planned $8 million in improvements to the trolleys that will carry the system through the mid-2020s—meaning the system's fate could remain an open question for much longer.
FULL STORY: Future of old-time Mattapan trolleys up for debate

Americans May Be Stuck — But Why?
Americans are moving a lot less than they once did, and that is a problem. While Yoni Applebaum, in his highly-publicized article Stuck, gets the reasons badly wrong, it's still important to ask: why are we moving so much less than before?

Using Old Oil and Gas Wells for Green Energy Storage
Penn State researchers have found that repurposing abandoned oil and gas wells for geothermal-assisted compressed-air energy storage can boost efficiency, reduce environmental risks, and support clean energy and job transitions.

Placekeeping: Setting a New Precedent for City Planners
How a preservation-based approach to redevelopment and urban design can prevent displacement and honor legacy communities.

Study: Maui’s Plan to Convert Vacation Rentals to Long-Term Housing Could Cause Nearly $1 Billion Economic Loss
The plan would reduce visitor accommodation by 25,% resulting in 1,900 jobs lost.

Idaho Data: Unexpected Vehicle Repairs Exacerbate Housing Instability, Eviction Risk
Over 21 percent of clients struggle with transportation barriers.

A Year-Long Investigation On Permanent Supportive Housing
The New York Times reveals what’s working and what’s not in the cornerstone of Housing First.
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.
Heyer Gruel & Associates PA
City of Moreno Valley
Institute for Housing and Urban Development Studies (IHS)
City of Grandview
Harvard GSD Executive Education
Salt Lake City
NYU Wagner Graduate School of Public Service
City of Cambridge, Maryland