Reports from inside the Trump transition are that the incoming administration will follow a budget blueprint laid out by the Heritage Foundation—public transit not included.
"Donald Trump is ready to take an ax to government spending," reports Alexander Bolton.
"The proposed cuts hew closely to a blueprint published last year by the conservative Heritage Foundation, a think tank that has helped staff the Trump transition," according to Bolton. "Overall, the blueprint being used by Trump’s team would reduce federal spending by $10.5 trillion over 10 years."
Writing for Streetsblog USA, Angie Schmitt digs into the potential for deep cuts in federal spending for transit. To do so, Schmitt takes a magnifying glass to the Heritage Foundation's budget blueprint, providing detail and context for each proposal on federal transit spending:
- "'Phase out' the Federal Transit Administration" for a savings of $4 billion a year.
- Eliminate $2.2 billion of annual spending on major capital investment in transit.
- "Eliminate funding for Amtrak – $519 million annually"
- "Eliminate funding for TIGER – $510 million annually"
- "Eliminate subsidy for WMATA — $153 million annually"
So much for the positive reviews and congressional support for the TIGER program, as described by Donald Trump's pick to lead the U.S. Department of Transportation, Elaine Chao, during her Senate confirmation hearing earlier this month.
FULL STORY: Trump team prepares dramatic cuts
Funding Approved for Key Rail Connection Between New Jersey and New York
The Portal Bridge is a key component of the larger Gateway Program that includes tunnels under the Hudson River. Fixing the Portal Bridge across the Hackensack River will provide tremendous relief to NJ Transit and Amtrak commuters.
Omnibus Spending Bill Will Save Transit Grant Programs—for Five Months*
Congress passed a $1.1 trillion omnibus spending bill to keep the government operating through September that also restores funding to transportation programs that the president had eliminated or greatly reduced. Trump signed the bill Friday.
$544 Million in Transit Capital Investment Funding Announced
The latest round of funding for the Federal Transit Administration's Capital Investment Grant funding program was announced this week.
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.
The 120 Year Old Tiny Home Villages That Sheltered San Francisco’s Earthquake Refugees
More than a century ago, San Francisco mobilized to house thousands of residents displaced by the 1906 earthquake. Could their strategy offer a model for the present?
Ken Jennings Launches Transit Web Series
The Jeopardy champ wants you to ride public transit.
BLM To Rescind Public Lands Rule
The change will downgrade conservation, once again putting federal land at risk for mining and other extractive uses.
Indy Neighborhood Group Builds Temporary Multi-Use Path
Community members, aided in part by funding from the city, repurposed a vehicle lane to create a protected bike and pedestrian path for the summer season.
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.
Clanton & Associates, Inc.
Jessamine County Fiscal Court
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