Metro Atlanta's boom probably won't last unless state and local leaders tackle the worsening traffic and begin investing in public transit.
"Atlanta's renaissance as a vibrant urban core is nothing short of remarkable. Nearly every neighborhood close to downtown shows signs of commercial and residential vitality, including the once-neglected district near the old Atlanta-Fulton County stadium. With sidewalk cafes (heck, with sidewalks), loft conversions and an influx of middle-class residents, intown Atlanta exudes, at last, a certain cosmopolitan flair."
"Of course, this splendid revival hasn't come without a price. The influx of new residents has brought the area's familiar curse - more traffic. Given that the city's leaders have done so much right, it seems they ought to be able to do more to get the city on the road to better transit. They should be able to persuade the General Assembly to pass a bill allowing the Atlanta region to vote to increase its taxes to pay for transportation improvements."
"Unless the metro area can do something about traffic, the region will start to lose its appeal...Even those cute intown neighborhoods will be less charming if their streets are clogged with cars."
FULL STORY: We're headed for urban greatness — if we can tame traffic

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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