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What We’re Reading: Moynihan Train Hall, Not Dead Yet, and Trading Maximums

Stephen Fesler - December 30, 2020
A rendering of the Moynihan Train Hall at Penn Station in New York. Transit riders had been counting on improvements funded by congestion pricing. (New York Governor’s Office)

Broader history: The National Register of Historic Places is very White, but it could use some broadening for non-White history ($).

Montréal’s RER: Montréal is planning a major light rail expansion.

TPA streetcar: Florida has awarded Tampa a large grant to expand the city’s streetcar system.

Special permits: New York City may move forward with a requirement to hold special permits in order to develop a hotel in the city.

Moynihan Train Hall: Amtrak’s new Penn Station hall is opening in New York City on Friday. Meanwhile, the next generation of Acela trains are being tested in Colorado and nearing completion.

District leisure: Cincinnati is making it easier to drink outside.

Reforming transportation: Pete Buttigieg, the next federal transportation secretary, commits to undoing the damage of racist highways.

Blocked for now: A lawsuit is challenging Pennsylvania’s process for planning a highway in Erie.

Not dead yet: A new Downtown Seattle office tower has sold for nearly $670 million ($).

Build: Researchers say a key way to housing affordability in Utah is building denser housing.

New beginnings: Meet King County Metro’s new General Manager Terry White and what he’s looking forward to in the agency’s future ($).

Japan’s Covid approach: Japan hasn’t fully kicked Covid, but the targeted approach by the government has led to much better outcomes ($) than the United States.

Rising costs: Seattle is cutting back on earthquake work for bridges as costs soar ($).

Seattle fires: The Seven Gables in the University District has burnt down ($) as well as a shopping center in Lake City ($).

Trading maximums: Portland could stop regulating households by number of people but may trade that for a maximum number of bedrooms per unit.

Protecting cemeteries: Volunteers are racing to save historic Black cemeteries in America.

Small boost: Washington Governor Jay Inslee has proposed a new two-year budget with $20 million more for bike and pedestrian project grants.

Building codes’ promise: Updating building codes could save Americans billions of dollars per year from natural disasters.

Climate priorities: The latest federal Covid relief bill has some climate priorities in it.