The agency hopes cracking down on fare evasion will improve safety on the system, but riders aren’t so sure.

A new initiative aimed at reducing fare evasion on Los Angeles Metro trains is facing criticism from transit riders who say having to scan proof of payment upon exiting a station won’t help make the city’s transit system safer.
Marina Watanabe describes the program in L.A. Taco, writing that “Metro’s pilot program, which will run for 90 days, comes after a highly publicized string of violent assaults on both Metro riders and employees.”
Metro will now require riders exiting the North Hollywood station to scan their TAP access cards to leave. Riders responded with angry comments to a Metro Instagram reel explaining the decision: “This is a total waste of resources and will only further hurt our system,” said one commenter. “Fare evasion should be last on your list of concerns,” said another.
FULL STORY: Will Metro’s Latest Crack Down On Fare Evasion Help Improve Safety For Riders?

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

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.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

Waymo Gets Permission to Map SF’s Market Street
If allowed to operate on the traffic-restricted street, Waymo’s autonomous taxis would have a leg up over ride-hailing competitors — and counter the city’s efforts to grow bike and pedestrian on the thoroughfare.

Parklet Symposium Highlights the Success of Shared Spaces
Parklets got a boost during the Covid-19 pandemic, when the concept was translated to outdoor dining programs that offered restaurants a lifeline during the shutdown.

Federal Homelessness Agency Places Entire Staff on Leave
The U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness is the only federal agency dedicated to preventing and ending homelessness.
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.
Caltrans
Smith Gee Studio
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