On Wednesday, Mayor Rahm Emanuel kicked-off Chicago's “Make Way for People” program, an effort to "promote economic development and make Chicago streets safer for pedestrians," by transforming the city's paved surfaces into people places.
Fran Spielman reports on the recently launched effort that is "actually four separate initiatives under the same umbrella:"
- People Spots - "temporary decks" that replace parking spots with public seating during the spring, summer and early fall.
- People Streets - temporarily closing streets with "excess asphalt" and turning them into public spaces.
- People Plazas - "plazas and malls in various states of upkeep that could be 'activated' to create space for farmers markets and other retail opportunities."
- People Alleys - transforming alleys in off-hours by filling them with tables and chairs, and live music or art exhibitions.
FULL STORY: City wants to turn streets, alleys, plazas into outdoor fun spots

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

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

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.

Understanding Road Diets
An explainer from Momentum highlights the advantages of reducing vehicle lanes in favor of more bike, transit, and pedestrian infrastructure.

New California Law Regulates Warehouse Pollution
A new law tightens building and emissions regulations for large distribution warehouses to mitigate air pollution and traffic in surrounding communities.

Phoenix Announces Opening Date for Light Rail Extension
The South Central extension will connect South Phoenix to downtown and other major hubs starting on June 7.
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