Seattle moves $7B light rail project to design phase

Sound Transit, Seattle’s public transit authority, has selected a designer for the West Seattle Link Extension (WSLE) project, officially moving into the design phase for the up to $7.1 billion initiative. Construction is expected to begin in 2027. The WSLE will be a light rail transit system linking several neighborhoods in the city. The project […]

FRA retracts $4B in unspent funds from California’s high-speed rail project

The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) has pulled $4 billion in unspent federal funding from California’s High Speed Rail project, plunging the future of the transformative public transit initiative into uncertainty. The FRA based the decision on several causes targeting the project’s lack of progress and delays in construction. Since being kickstarted 16 years ago, the […]

Washington State launches $212M grant program for affordable housing developments

The Washington State Department of Commerce (Commerce) is accepting applications for $212.4 million in funding for multifamily affordable housing developments. Applications are open until Oct. 16. Funding will be distributed through two Notices of Funding Availability (NOFO). The first NOFO covers capital financing from the state Housing Trust Fund. It supports projects and programs that […]

Oakland advances final design for $28M Broadway Street renovation

The city of Oakland, California, will spend $28 million to completely revamp Broadway Street into a complete street, prioritizing safe mobility improvements, transit accessibility and pedestrian enhancements. Currently in the design phase, construction is expected to begin in 2026. Although Broadway Street is a major high-frequency transit corridor in the city, its design flaws create […]

Hawaii charts course for zero-emissions transportation transformation

Hawaii is strengthening its transportation sector with the Department of Transportation (HDOT) announcing its first statewide Energy Security and Waste Reduction Plan. The comprehensive strategy creates a roadmap to achieve the state’s ambitious climate goals while offering residents more affordable, cleaner transportation options. State officials cite the island chain’s geographic isolation and environmental vulnerabilities—including coastal […]

DOT awards federal grant for Cedar Rapids’ $25M flood mitigation project

The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) is awarding a $25 million federal grant to the city of Cedar Rapids in Iowa to boost its flood mitigation and protection efforts. The funding supports improving disaster resilience measures and upgrading street infrastructure to resist the effects of floods. The funded projects seek to enhance work on the […]

DOE moves to eliminate accessibility rules for federally funded projects

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) is fast-tracking the elimination of an accessibility rule from the 1970s, using a direct process that bypasses normal public comment procedures. The DOE published the rescission on May 16 to eliminate Section 504 regulations–specifically 10 CFR 1040.73 in the Code of Federal Regulations–claiming the provisions are unnecessary and create […]