A Richmond Times-Dispatch article details a pair of projects to add third tracks to Virginia Railway Express stations—one set to complete this month and one just getting ready for construction.
"Work on the 2.5-mile third track from the new Spotsylvania Virginia Railway Express station is in its final stages," reports Scott Shenk. "The $8.8-million third track is a companion project to the new station in the Crossroads Station development off the U.S. 17 Bypass," adds Shenk. The station opened in November.
Nearby in Fredericksburg, an even larger project, with a price tag of $74.8 million, "will add 11.4-miles of third track alongside existing tracks, starting from the area near the Widewater State Park in North Stafford and running into Prince William County."
The article includes details about delays in construction on the Spotsylvania project, and some project expectations for the Fredericksburg project.
FULL STORY: Third track at new Spotsvylvania VRE station expected to open this month
Rail Stations Shortchanged as Homeland Security Focuses on Airports
Rail travelers are not subject to the same degree of security measures as air travelers according to security experts, reports Ron Nixon for The New York Times. Yet far more travel by rail than plane, and rail has been a terrorist target abroad.
Master Plan Envisions New Neighborhood Around Philly’s 30th Street Station
A partnership led by Amtrak plans to redevelop the area around a historic train station with mixed-use buildings, cultural amenities, and open space.
A Citizen-Led Plan Would Revamp Salt Lake’s Transit and Freeway Mix
The Rio Grande Plan would restore rail service to the Rio Grande Depot and reconnect a community divided by a freeway in Salt Lake City.
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.
How Atlanta Built 7,000 Housing Units in 3 Years
The city’s comprehensive, neighborhood-focused housing strategy focuses on identifying properties and land that can be repurposed for housing and encouraging development in underserved neighborhoods.
In Both Crashes and Crime, Public Transportation is Far Safer than Driving
Contrary to popular assumptions, public transportation has far lower crash and crime rates than automobile travel. For safer communities, improve and encourage transit travel.
Report: Zoning Reforms Should Complement Nashville’s Ambitious Transit Plan
Without reform, restrictive zoning codes will limit the impact of the city’s planned transit expansion and could exclude some of the residents who depend on transit the most.
Judge Orders Release of Frozen IRA, IIJA Funding
The decision is a victory for environmental groups who charged that freezing funds for critical infrastructure and disaster response programs caused “real and irreparable harm” to communities.
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.
Jessamine County Fiscal Court
Caltrans
Institute for Housing and Urban Development Studies (IHS)
City of Grandview
Harvard GSD Executive Education
Toledo-Lucas County Plan Commissions
Salt Lake City
NYU Wagner Graduate School of Public Service