Transform California

Can AI help make homeless Californians healthier? A California company is using AI to help diagnose homeless Californians. The tool promises better health care, but raises questions.

Akido Labs is rolling out its Scope AI model in the Bay Area to support street medicine for people experiencing homelessness. The tool suggests diagnoses for clinician review, raising both hopes for expanded access and concerns about bias and safety.

calmatters.org/housing/home...

Talking Headways Podcast: Women Changing Cities — Streetsblog USA Chris and Melissa Bruntlett on their new book and the mobility of care work and the unpaid labor that undergirds the economy.

On the Talking Headways, Chris and Melissa Bruntlett discuss Women Changing Cities: Global Stories of Urban Transformation. The conversation explores care work mobility, unpaid labor, and the role of women in shaping cities through leadership.

usa.streetsblog.org/2026/02/19/t...

Bay Area Rapid Transit adopts plan to address $376M deficit - Transportation Today The Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) board of directors have adopted an Alternative Service Plan intended to solve the $376 million deficit for the next fiscal year if no new funds become available.

The Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) board has adopted an Alternative Service Plan to address a projected $376M deficit next fiscal year if new funding isn’t secured. Workforce and service cuts, fare adjustments, and other cost measures could begin in 2027.

transportationtodaynews.com/news/37312-b...

Bicyclist and Pedestrian Advisory Commission Oakland's Bicyclist & Pedestrian Advisory Commission (BPAC) advises the City Council on programs and projects related to walking and bicycling. BPAC meetings are on the third Thursday of the month from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM and open to the public.

Oakland’s Bicyclist & Pedestrian Advisory Commission supports walking and biking safety by advising the City Council on programs that shape our streets. Stay informed and participate in upcoming BPAC meetings, open to the public on a regular schedule.

www.oaklandca.gov/Government/B...

The Missing Defendant in Crash Cases | Strong Towns In a system built to find fault and not cause, the street is always innocent.

Streets are often designed in ways that predictably lead to pedestrian deaths, yet legal systems still focus on individual behavior rather than infrastructure. Conversations about safety must extend beyond engineering to law and design.

www.strongtowns.org/journal/2026...

New York’s congestion toll into Manhattan upheld by a federal judge over Trump’s objections A federal judge has blocked the Trump administration’s efforts to halt New York’s first-in-the-nation congestion fee on drivers entering Manhattan. U.S.

A federal judge has blocked efforts to halt NY’s congestion pricing program, ruling the U.S. DOT lacked authority to rescind approval of the $9 toll. Since launching in 2025, the policy has reduced traffic & pollution while raising over $550M for transit.

apnews.com/article/manh...

BART Announces Major Service Cuts, Fare Increases in Face of $376M Deficit If a November ballot measure fails to bring new funding, BART’s ‘alternative service plan’ would reduce frequencies to 30 minutes, raise fares by 30%, and close up to 15 stations.

Facing a $376M deficit and no new funding, BART adopted an alternative plan that could cut service by 63%, close up to 15 stations, lay off 1,200 workers, and raise fares 30% starting Jan 2027. Without new revenue, officials say cuts are unavoidable.

www.planetizen.com/news/2026/03...

Urbanist Podcast: Social Housing and Wilson’s Four Pillars of Affordability » The Urbanist # In this podcast episode, The Urbanist's newsroom dives into recent headlines including Katie Wilson's State of the City speech, which bills are moving and which are dying at the Washington State Legislation, and the Seattle Social Housing Developer's latest moves.

The Urbanist newsroom, Doug Trumm, Ryan Packer, and Amy Sundberg, break down the latest headlines: Katie Wilson’s State of the City, key Washington State bills on the move (and stalling), and major updates from the Seattle Social Housing Developer.

www.theurbanist.org/2026/02/26/u...

Transform, Partners Launch Sustainable Transportation Project in Alameda - Transform Transform’s 18 years of community engagement in Alameda have established us as a partner to the City of Alameda and its residents through projects like the Safe Routes to Schools program and the coordination of the annual Alameda Bike Fest. Now we are deepening and growing our relationships in the East Bay island as we […]

Transform’s 18 years of community engagement in Alameda include Safe Routes to Schools and Alameda Bike Fest. With CARB funding, we’re assessing West Alameda transportation needs to help expand access to active, public, and shared mobility.

transformca.org/transform-pa...

HUD Plans to Bar Mixed-status Immigrant Households From Subsidized Housing The proposed rule change would prevent people without legal status from living in households receiving federal housing assistance.

U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development proposes requiring proof of citizenship or legal status for housing assistance. Critics warn it could trigger evictions, including children, and shift focus away from affordable housing during the crisis.

www.planetizen.com/news/2026/02...

It’s San Francisco’s Most Delayed Bus. For Riders, a Frustrating Problem May Get Worse | KQED Looming transit cuts threaten to make long wait times for Muni lines like the 67-Bernal Heights bus even longer.

Transit riders depend on buses like the 67-Bernal Heights for work and daily life. With a looming deficit at SFMTA, low-ridership yet essential routes may face cuts. The challenge is keeping transit accessible in San Francisco.

www.kqed.org/news/1207388...

Talking Headways Podcast: The Future of Transit — Streetsblog USA Yonah Freemark and Jeff Wood discuss the state of transit in the United States and around the world.

This week on Talking Headways, transportation planner Yonah Freemark returns to discuss transit trends in the U.S. and globally, covering infrastructure policy, transit-oriented development, and the future of mobility.

usa.streetsblog.org/2026/02/26/t...

The real story behind Muni's budget deficit - 48 hills Instead of investing in public transit, City Hall has been looking for ways to privatize it

Muni funding debates often focus on trimming service to close gaps. But a scarcity mindset can weaken transit long-term. Cities need a vision that treats public transit as essential infrastructure, not a private substitute.

48hills.org/2026/02/the-...

Oakland Celebrates First Protected Intersection in Chinatown - Streetsblog San Francisco Advocates pushing for more protected infrastructure through the area

Oakland’s new protected intersection at Jackson and 10th aims to improve safety near Lincoln Elementary, funded through the Safe Routes to School program. Advocates see it as a step toward expanding safer, more accessible infrastructure across Chinatown.

sf.streetsblog.org/2026/02/25/o...

3 state-level parking reform efforts to watch To encourage housing development, more states are ending parking spot minimums.

Parking reform is picking up as states tackle the housing crisis. Costly parking mandates drive up prices and limit the number of new units. Colorado, Washington, and Connecticut are advancing reforms to prioritize housing over excess parking.

www.smartcitiesdive.com/news/state-l...

BART sees strong start to 2026 with 4.6M January trips, but budget crisis persists BART ridership continued its slow rebound in January with more riders returning to the rail system, even as the transit agency faces deep financial uncertainty.

Ridership is slowly rebounding at Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART), but financial uncertainty remains. Growth in trips alone won’t close the funding gap, and long-term regional funding is still needed for system stability.

www.nbcbayarea.com/news/local/b...

Oakland completes Safe Routes to Schools project in Chinatown The City of Oakland celebrated today the completion of traffic safety and paving improvements on 10th St. in Chinatown, enhancing safety for students and families traveling to and from Lincoln Elementary.

Safe streets are public safety. The Safe Routes to School project in Oakland, California, US’s Chinatown, adds traffic calming upgrades, protected crossings, and bike-friendly design near Lincoln Elementary to help students and families travel more safely.

www.oaklandca.gov/News-Release...

Transform Urges MTC to Link Funding to Housing and Transit - Transform On February 25, the Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC) will take its final vote on its Transit-Oriented Communities (TOC) Policy. This vote will determine whether the region follows through on linking billions in transportation funding to real progress on affordable housing, tenant protections, and transit-oriented development. Last month, at its January 28 meeting, MTC advanced major […]

On February 25, the Metropolitan Transportation Commission held its final vote on the Transit-Oriented Communities policy, a decision that will shape how regional transportation funding is tied to housing, tenant protections, and transit outcomes.

transformca.org/transform-ur...

Op-Ed: Nobody Wants to Live Next to a Highway » The Urbanist # Cities must commit to downsizing their highway networks if they intend to meet climate and livability goals and expand housing in a healthy and equitable manner. Seattle must lead the way.

Urban highways shape traffic, health, safety, and mobility. If cities want climate, transit, and public health progress, street design must move beyond car throughput and focus on reducing vehicle miles traveled.

www.theurbanist.org/2026/02/25/o...

Why We Ride our Bicycles to Work We asked, you answered. Momentum Mag readers share why they ride and more.

For these six riders, biking is more than a commute. It’s adventure, creativity, and daily life all rolled into one. From Los Angeles traffic to Minneapolis greenways, they show how two wheels can change how we move and see our cities.

momentummag.com/why-we-ride-...

MTC Links Funding to Sustainable Communities Policy for the First Time with $45M Incentive Program - Transform FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE February 25, 2026 Contact: Zack Deutsch-Gross, zackdg@transformca.org, (415) 637-0101 San Francisco – Today, the Metropolitan Transportation Commission formally adopted the Transit-Oriented Communities (TOC) Incentive Program, setting aside $45 million in One Bay Area Grant (OBAG 4) funds to reward cities that adopt housing, parking, and transportation policies that support the building of […]

The MTC has formally adopted the Transit-Oriented Communities (TOC) Incentive Program, setting aside $45 million in OBAG 4 funds to reward cities that align housing, parking, and transportation policies with transit-oriented development.

transformca.org/mtc-links-fu...

BART board approves plan to close stations if voters reject sales tax measure The BART Board of Directors approved Thursday a plan to close stations and make other service cuts if voters reject a sales tax measure that is expected to be on the ballot later this year.

The Bay Area Rapid Transit Board approved a contingency plan that could close up to 15 stations, reduce service hours, and raise fares if a proposed sales tax measure fails to pass later this year.

www.cbsnews.com/sanfrancisco...

OpenThePaths 2025: Advancing Complete Streets Through Data, Collaboration, and Advocacy – Transportation Data Exchange Initiative Improving travel experiences through open transportation data exchange

Join the 8th OpenThePaths conference on March 27–28, 2025, at the University of Washington or online. Explore how open data supports accessibility and multimodal travel.

tdei.cs.washington.edu/open-the-pat...

Federal TOD Bill Builds on Long History of Civil Rights and Transportation Justice  - Transform Congresswoman Lateefah Simon's federal TOD bill builds on work Transform has done in the Bay Area for decades.

Transportation justice is a civil rights issue — from the Montgomery Bus Boycott to today’s push for equitable transit access. We support Rep. Lateefah Simon’s bill to make transit-oriented development grants permanent.

transformca.org/federal-tod-...

OakDOT goes after tens of millions of dollars in road safety grants The city transportation department will seek at least $75 million in state, federal, and county funds to make 73rd Ave., West Grand Ave., and Hegenberger Rd. safer.

The city transportation department is working to secure at least $75 million in state, federal, and county grants to help improve safety along 73rd Ave., West Grand Ave., and Hegenberger Rd. for the community.

oaklandside.org/2026/02/24/2...

Environmental groups are suing the EPA for gutting a key climate rule. Cities and states vow to do the same. California will challenge EPA’s “endangerment finding” repeal in court. The U.S. Conference of Mayors pledges to "fight for policy that addresses climate change with the seriousness that it requires."

Health and environmental groups are suing the EPA over its rescission of the 2009 “endangerment finding,” arguing it undermines science-based emissions regulation and public health protections.

www.smartcitiesdive.com/news/environ...

This week in Oakland: Events to wrap up Black History Month Events to wrap up Black History Month, John Mayer tribute at The Sound Room, lit talk with the authors of the children’s book “Kitty Caterpillar,” and more.

Oakland is wrapping up Black History Month with community and culture, from a family celebration in East Oakland to a quilting workshop in West Oakland and a free gospel performance. The Town continues to show up and show out.

oaklandside.org/2026/02/24/o...

Lime carried record 57,000 trips the day of the Seahawks parade, on par with daily traffic over the Aurora Bridge Marshawn Lynch rode a Lime to the NFC Championship game at Lumen Field. From Jordan Schultz. Lime riders took more than 57,000 trips February 11, the day of the Seahawks parade downtown. After addi…

59,300 shared bike and scooter trips on the day of Seattle’s Seahawks parade, nearly matching daily traffic on the Aurora Bridge. Micromobility isn’t a niche. It scales, supports transit, and shows up when cities need it most.

www.seattlebikeblog.com/2026/02/20/l...

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Indigo Commons in Houston is a car-free community with garageless cottages, green spaces, and a community-driven commercial district. “A place built for people, not cars or capital.”

www.chron.com/news/article...

Tell MTC to Link Funding to Real Housing Outcomes - Transform Join Transform in taking action to urge MTC to support housing near transit through its transportation grants.

Key votes on January 28 and February 25 will shape regional transportation funding through OBAG and Transit Oriented Communities policies. Regional funding must prioritize housing near transit, not more sprawl.

transformca.org/tell-mtc-to-...