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

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.
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