In the waning days of the Obama Administration, the U.S. Department of Transportation saw reason to investigate the civil rights implications of a decision to cancel funding for the Baltimore Red Line light rail project.

Angie Schmitt reports on the latest twist of the Baltimore Red Line saga: The Trump Administration has quietly ended an investigation into the question of whether Governor Larry Hogan's decision to kill the project violated Title VI of the Civil Rights Act.
"Now, six months into the Trump presidency, U.S. DOT has quietly terminated the civil rights investigation, without elaborating why," according to Schmitt. The article also includes a passage from a statement by NAACP Legal Defense Fund President Sherrilyn Ifill in response to the decision.
According to Schmitt, the Red Line investigation could have had groundbreaking scope and impact: "If investigators had ruled against Hogan, U.S. DOT could have frozen all federal transportation funds to Maryland until the problem had been remedied."
FULL STORY: Trump DOT Shuts Down Civil Rights Probe of Larry Hogan’s Decision to Kill the Red Line

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.

North Texas Transit Leaders Tout Benefits of TOD for Growing Region
At a summit focused on transit-oriented development, policymakers discussed how North Texas’ expanded light rail system can serve as a tool for economic growth.

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.

Dear Tesla Driver: “It’s not You, It’s Him.”
Amidst a booming bumper sticker industry, one writer offers solace to those asking, “Does this car make me look fascist?”

A Visual Celebration of Manhattan’s Chinatown Elder Community, Through Food
Lanterns, cafeteria trays, and community connection take center stage in this stunning photo essay.

How to Make US Trains Faster
Changes to boarding platforms and a switch to electric trains could improve U.S. passenger rail service without the added cost of high-speed rail.
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