National links: Put a lid on it

A Seattle architect wants to build a park over the interstate that cuts through the city, Silicon Valley is developing a new kind of bus service, and the mayor of Los Angeles is serious about phasing out cars. Check out what’s happening around the country in transportation, land use, and other related areas!

“The Big Lid”: A Seattle architect envisions building a park as a “lid” over the I-5 freeway trench that cuts right through the heart of the city. He thinks it should happen now because the city is booming, but it could cost billions. (The Stranger)

A new kind of bus: Silicon Valley’s public transit agency, VTA, is piloting a new bus service it hopes will bring more transit to places that don’t have much. The buses will be smaller, and people will be able to book them for specific routes. Is this how we’ll address low service levels in the future? (Shared Use Mobility Center)

The no-car mayor?: Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti envisions a city with way fewer cars, so he’s making plans for more transit— he wants to expand the city’s Metro network— and better facilities for walking and biking. But lots of people see LA as the epicenter of an American dream to which car use is essential. (Newsweek)

Moving inward: Lots of large companies are moving to central cities in an attempt to lure younger workers who would rather live in an urban environment. On the heels of many other big name fortune 500 companies, General Electric is the latest to take the plunge, moving from Connecticut to Boston. (CT Post)

No more mall: Miami developers working on a $1.7B indoor mall project downtown have done an about face, moving towards a pedestrian friendly open air design in an attempt to follow changing trends. (Miami Herald)

A Day in the Life: This graphic shows how 1,000 people used every minute of their days in 2015, and it’s mesmerizing. At the center of just about everyone’s comings and goings? Travel. (Flowing Data)

Quote of the Week:

“Everything that we’ve done is an unexplored territory [for us]. Back in 2000, when we started social housing I had no idea what a ‘subsidy’ was, so in a way we’ve been very consistent and rigorous in using our own ignorance as a powerful tool.” - Pritzker Prize winning architect Alejandro Aravena (CNN)