Experts attribute the high cost of the project to local opposition and call on state and federal leaders to give transportation agencies more authority over local jurisdictions.

A report from UC Berkeley found that San Diego's Blue Line trolley extension cost double the per-mile average for similar projects, but was completed in half the average time. Joshua Emerson Smith outlines the findings of the study, which also analyzed four other rail projects in the state.
Ethan Elkind, co-author of the report, says the high cost of the San Diego project is indicative of the many challenges faced by rail initiatives in places like California. According to Elkind, the project was "well executed," but remains a "cautionary tale." The San Diego Association of Governments (SANDAG) worked with local stakeholders to reduce opposition and mitigate community concerns, raising the cost of the project by promising new parking spaces in certain areas and elevating the trolley tracks on the UC San Diego campus.
The report recommends that state and federal leaders "crack down" on local opposition to rail projects, with Elkind arguing that "we need to empower transit leaders to make decisions for the good of the region and not always give in to local demands along the route." But agency leaders like SANDAG Executive Director Hasan Ikhrata are reluctant to take an aggressive approach or take away local land use authority.
Other California rail projects have shown varied results: while San Francisco's Central Subway project has encountered major delays and cost increases, L.A.'s Purple Line extension is costing 70 percent of the national average. The report calls the state's beleaguered high-speed rail project "a case study in how not to build rail," citing the project's lack of foresight in securing land acquisition before designing routes.
FULL STORY: San Diego’s Blue Line trolley extension cost twice U.S. average for light rail, study finds

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?

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.

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.

San Diego Swaps Parking Lane for Kid-Friendly Mini Park
The block-long greenway will feature interactive play equipment and landscaping.

Tracking the Invisible: Methane Leaks From LA’s Neighborhood Oil Sites
Environmental advocates are using infrared technology to monitor and document methane leaks from neighborhood oil sites, filling regulatory gaps and pushing for stronger protections to safeguard community health and the climate.

Montana Bill Promotes Parking Reform
A bill before the Montana state senate would bar cities from requiring more than one parking spot per new housing unit.
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