Four cities settled lawsuits citing a lack of ADA compliance at their intercity rail stations.

Four Michigan cities will bring their rail stations into compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) after settling lawsuits, reports Marie Weidmayer in M Live.
Kalamazoo, Holland, Bangor, and Dowagiac are tasked with resolving their ADA violations within the next three years. The necessary changes apply to station platforms, waiting areas, restrooms, and other parts of the stations. According to the article, “Issues at the Kalamazoo station, 459 N. Burdick St., included the fact that there was no accessible route to the building’s accessible entrance from the public right of way, public transit, accessible parking and passenger loading, MLive previously reported.”
Accessibility improvements are coming to rail stations around the country. “The U.S. Department of Justice reached a settlement in December 2020 with Amtrak about accessibility and all of those changes are designed to ensure people with disabilities have equal access to transportation,” Weidmayer explains.
FULL STORY: Kalamazoo, Holland, other cities to make rail stations ADA compliant after settlement

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.

Alabama: Trump Terminates Settlements for Black Communities Harmed By Raw Sewage
Trump deemed the landmark civil rights agreement “illegal DEI and environmental justice policy.”

Why Should We Subsidize Public Transportation?
Many public transit agencies face financial stress due to rising costs, declining fare revenue, and declining subsidies. Transit advocates must provide a strong business case for increasing public transit funding.

Paris Bike Boom Leads to Steep Drop in Air Pollution
The French city’s air quality has improved dramatically in the past 20 years, coinciding with a growth in cycling.

Why Housing Costs More to Build in California Than in Texas
Hard costs like labor and materials combined with ‘soft’ costs such as permitting make building in the San Francisco Bay Area almost three times as costly as in Texas cities.

San Diego County Sees a Rise in Urban Coyotes
San Diego County experiences a rise in urban coyotes, as sightings become prevalent throughout its urban neighbourhoods and surrounding areas.
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.
Smith Gee Studio
Alamo Area Metropolitan Planning Organization
City of Santa Clarita
Institute for Housing and Urban Development Studies (IHS)
City of Grandview
Harvard GSD Executive Education
Toledo-Lucas County Plan Commissions
Salt Lake City
NYU Wagner Graduate School of Public Service