The subject of recent politically charged threats, the rail carrier surpassed its record for annual passengers for the ninth time in ten years. Ridership has grown a total of 49 percent since 2000.
Under attack from Republican foes in Washington, and on the campaign trail, who want to end its federal subsidization, Amtrak jest keeps chugging along on its way to record ridership, reports Alex Goldmark. By ferrying 31.2 million passengers to their destinations in the U.S. during the 2012 fiscal year, Amtrak grew its ridership by 3.5 percent over the previous year to the highest level since it began operations in 1971.
"The newly released numbers show the Northeast Corridor is still the
anchor route for Amtrak with more than a third of all riders (11.4
million) traveling between Boston and Washington, D.C.," says Goldmark. "Amtrak won't
release new state-by-state and line-by-line numbers until next week, but
the 361 miles of track along the Northeast Corridor are likely to
continue to bring in more than half of all ticket revenue for Amtrak, as
it did last year according to the 2011 annual report."
FULL STORY: Amtrak: We Broke Another Ridership Record, 49% Growth Since 2000

San Diego to Rescind Multi-Unit ADU Rule
The city wants to close a loophole that allowed developers to build apartment buildings on single-family lots as ADUs.

The VW Bus is Back — Now as an Electric Minivan
Volkswagen’s ID. Buzz reimagines its iconic Bus as a fully electric minivan, blending retro design with modern technology, a 231-mile range, and practical versatility to offer a stylish yet functional EV for the future.

Has President Trump Met His Match?
Doug Ford, the no-nonsense premier of Canada's most populous province, Ontario, is taking on Trump where it hurts — making American energy more expensive.

Study: Drops in Transit Ridership Linked to Extreme Weather
Unsurprisingly, people are less likely to use transit during extreme weather events, which are becoming more common around the country.

Washington State May Cap Rent Increases at 7 Percent
House Bill 1217 was passed by the House and will move next to the state Senate.

Alaska Considers “Homeless Bill of Rights”
The proposed bill builds on laws enacted by Rhode Island, Connecticut, and Illinois.
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.
Resource Assistance for Rural Environments
City of Edmonds
City of Grandview
Harvard GSD Executive Education
UCLA Lewis Center for Regional Policy Studies
City of Piedmont, CA
Great Falls Development Authority, Inc.
HUDs Office of Policy Development and Research