(Re)Connecting Communities, Early November ‘25 Update
Early November update of “Reconnecting Communities” news, which focuses on developments relating to overcoming discriminatory urbanism. Like last time, developments are arrayed along two axes: one axis which positions an item based on whether it represents progress towards reconnection, or the opposite; and another axis which (for better or worse) compares whether an item represents transformative change vs. something more ingrained in the status quo.
On the “Reconnecting” side are developments which are progress away from the legacy of “Segregation by Design.” These include projects which advance spatial justice, such as large-scale infrastructure redesigns for more equitable mobility/land-use/housing, legal victories for affected communities, reparative actions, etc. On the other hand, “Disconnection” is defined as items that are further retrenchment of exclusionary urban design and environmental racism.
Items on the “Transformative” half are developments that move away from present systems and procedures, potentially resulting in fundamental shifts to existing institutions and practices (again, for better or worse). This includes news involving novel legal arguments, funding mechanisms, infrastructure and design approaches, etc., or which indicate structural/long-term shifts to present institutions. On the other hand, “Status Quo” developments involve making use of established processes and represent less radical departures from existing systems (or, are potentially transformative projects which are still early in the development phase, and whose potential impact is difficult to determine).
Links
Transformative Disconnection
Trump goes from 'builder president' to transit wrecking ball (Crain’s New York, 10/2025)
An E.P.A. Plan to Kill a Major Climate Rule Is Worrying Business Leaders (NYT, 10/25/25)
Trump Administration Scraps Research Into Health Disparities (NYT, 8/13/25)
Accepting US car standards would risk European lives, warn cities and civil society (Transport and Environment, 10/20/25)
Red states are preparing for an end to the Voting Rights Act (Politico, 10/28/25)
Transformative Reconnection
This Bill Would Help America Build More Housing Near Transit (Streetsblog, 10/27/25)
New Rail Openings
Kansas City (KCTV 5, 10/23/25)
Honolulu (Civil Beat, 10/15/25)
Dallas (Axios, 10/24/25)
City of Mobile to break ground on MLK Ave. 'Complete Streets' project October 29 (NBC 15, 10/28/25)
Miami-Dade’s $2.2 billion North Corridor rail plan moves ahead as residents seek safer, faster transit options (The Miami Times, 10/28/25)
Metro Board Approves Union Station Run-Through Tracks Project (Streetsblog LA, 10/25/25)
Halloween Rescue: Illinois Pulls Chicago Transit Agencies Off the Fiscal Cliff (Eno Center for Transportation, 10/31/25)
Status Quo Disconnection
Charlotte Transit faces Fiscal Crisis (Charlotte Observer, 10/24/25)
Another Rail Headache for New York and New Jersey, Courtesy of Trump (Prospect, 10/27/25)
Pittsburgh Regional Transit hits the brakes on several capital projects in budget tradeoff (WESA, 10/27/25)
LAX Is Spending More Than A Billion Dollars To Make Horseshoe Traffic Worse (Streetsblog, 10/28/25)
Newsom Rejects Bills Providing Benefits to Slavery Descendants (NYT, 10/15/25)
Status Quo Reconnection
California to launch ‘historic’ reparations office as advocates regroup from 5 Newsom vetoes (Cal Matters, 10/17/25)
Syracuse lawmakers finally endorse city’s plan to eliminate traffic fatalities (Syracuse.com, 10/28/25)
Council Committees vote in favor of OneLIC after CM Won secures almost $2 billion in city commitments (QNS, 10/29/25)
Another Triangle community now considering bus rapid transit (News & Observer, 10/27/2025)
Atlanta's moving ahead with The Stitch project. Here's a look. (Axios Atlanta, 10/23/25)
Public Meetings Upcoming On Possible I-794 Removal, Replacement (Urban Milwaukee, 10/17/25)