Plans to build a group of villages near science and biotech office parks in Maryland could help the area secure federal light rail funding.
"The project would create a 20-million-square-foot network of urban villages near existing life sciences office parks west of Interstate 270.
Henry Kay, deputy administrator for planning and engineering for the Maryland Transit Administration, said the increased density from the science city would be "strongly beneficial . . . and makes all the alternatives -- light rail and bus rapid transit" feasible for a federal funding application. Without the added density, light rail would not qualify, he said, but bus rapid transit would. A detailed state report on the proposed ridership for the project, known as the Corridor Cities Transitway, is to be released next week."
The site is about four miles from the nearest Metro station, and planners are calling for the creation of public transit as an integral part of the proposed "science city".
FULL STORY: Md. 'science city' plan might help odds for U.S. funding of light rail

National Parks Layoffs Will Cause Communities to Lose Billions
Thousands of essential park workers were laid off this week, just before the busy spring break season.

Retro-silient?: America’s First “Eco-burb,” The Woodlands Turns 50
A master-planned community north of Houston offers lessons on green infrastructure and resilient design, but falls short of its founder’s lofty affordability and walkability goals.

Delivering for America Plan Will Downgrade Mail Service in at Least 49.5 Percent of Zip Codes
Republican and Democrat lawmakers criticize the plan for its disproportionate negative impact on rural communities.

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Balancing Bombs and Butterflies: How the National Guard Protects a Rare Species
The National Guard at Fort Indiantown Gap uses GIS technology and land management strategies to balance military training with conservation efforts, ensuring the survival of the rare eastern regal fritillary butterfly.
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