Fresno

Google street view of American Avenue overpass over Highway 99 in Fresno, California.

Transportation Secretary Orders Review of Fresno Highway Project

The decision follows a lawsuit by local groups who say Caltrans should not have exempted two interchange expansions from environmental review.

January 17, 2024 - Fresnoland

View of wide, deserted-looking street with arched sign reading "Fresno - Best little city in the U.S.A. - Van Ness Avenue - Entrance" in Fresno, California.

Fresno Pins Economic Hopes on High-Speed Rail

The Central Valley town anticipates an economic boost when the long-awaited California High-Speed Rail begins operations.

January 10, 2024 - CALmatters

Aerial view of freeway and Fresno, California.

Residents Question Fresno Freeway Project

Fresno residents say Caltrans failed to account for the public health risks posed by a major freeway expansion project.

December 7, 2023 - Fresnoland

View of downtown Fresno, California

Fresno Development Will Provide Little Parking

The builder is relying on demand for lower-cost, transit-oriented housing units for residents who don’t own private cars, opting to provide only seven parking spaces for a 37-unit building.

October 13, 2022 - Fresnoland

View of downtown Fresno, California

Mayor Releases ‘One Fresno Housing Strategy’

The document outlines 47 policies aimed at maintaining affordability and encouraging more housing production in the increasingly expensive Central Valley city.

May 3, 2022 - The Fresno Bee

Fresno Portal

The Nation's Fastest-Rising Rents Are in California's Central Valley

Fresno's skyrocketing housing costs and inadequate supply are putting strain on the city's low-income households.

April 13, 2021 - Los Angeles Times

COVID Testing

Cars, Covid, and California

Pultizer-winning science journalist and global health expert Laurie Garrett, an Angeleno, points to the Golden State's auto culture during an interview on MSNBC as one reason why the state is now the epicenter of the pandemic in the U.S.

December 31, 2020 - MSNBC

Ca73

Governor's Transportation and Climate Actions Stir Controversy in California

California Governor Gavin Newsom issued an executive order last month directing state agencies to consider climate goals in their spending and operations. Two weeks later, three highway widening projects were deleted, and locals are crying foul.

October 18, 2019 - Streetsblog California

Fresno Portal

Fresno Feeling Stress of California Housing Crisis

While the Central Valley city was long considered relatively affordable, rents are rising and affordable housing is harder to come by.

October 10, 2019 - CityLab

Fresno Sprawl

A New City of 100,000-Plus People Rises in California's Central Valley

Numerous master planned communities are popping at a quick rate in the Central Valley outside the city of Fresno, but just across the line in Madera County. A new city is envisioned.

September 27, 2019 - Fresno Bee

Bakersfield and Fresno Sign

Open Question: How Will High-Speed Rail Change Fresno?

Southwest Fresno has seen a few planned developments come and go, but now there's hope a high-speed rail could bring investment to the area.

November 1, 2018 - The Center for Public Integrity

Aqueduct

Voters to Decide on Repair of Vital Aqueduct for San Joaquin Valley

California voters in November will have the opportunity to help repair the Friant-Kern Canal, damaged by subsidence, as well as invest in watershed conservation programs, by passing a citizen-initiated $8.9 billion general obligation bond measure.

July 19, 2018 - The Sacramento Bee

Los Angeles Harbor Freeway

California Has 8 of the 10 Most Polluted Cities in the U.S.

Despite ever-stricter air-quality regulations and dropping emissions, the American Lung Association once again finds the state to have some of the worst air in the nation.

April 24, 2018 - USA Today

California Central Valley

A Planning and Economic Development Quandary in Fresno

Should cities with some of the worst air pollution in the country be adding massive campuses for logistics and heavy industries?

January 27, 2018 - KVPR

Pedestrian Only

Fresno Returns Cars to a Pedestrian Mall in the Name of Downtown Revitalization

While global cities in other parts of the world are taking steps to ban cars from city centers, Fresno, California has taken the opposite approach. Time will tell if the return of vehicle traffic to Fulton Street project pays dividends.

November 2, 2017 - The Fresno Bee

High Speed Rail Transforming California's Housing, TOD Conversation

The California Legislature took steps to address the state's housing crisis this year, but housing activists might look to the Governor's High Speed Rail project to provide a link to affordable housing in the Central Valley.

September 29, 2017 - The Planning Report

New Bridge in Fresno Makes Way for High Speed Rail

Though the news about the California High Speed Rail projects seems to oscillate between good and bad every month, there's at least one tangible sign of progress for the project: a new bridge in Fresno built to make room for the powerful trains.

August 6, 2017 - Fresno Bee

Fresno State

FresYes: How Fresno Fueled and Funded a Comeback

Recently termed-out Mayor Ashley Swearengin sits down for an exclusive interview about how she planned for high speed rail investments, championed sustainable water management, and took steps to rebuild the local economy.

March 30, 2017 - The Planning Report

High-Speed Rail

California High-Speed Rail: Under Construction for Two Years Despite Obstacles

In spite of a host of problems, over 1,000 parcels have been acquired and construction is occurring in nine areas in the Central Valley, centering on Fresno. Limited service from San Francisco to Bakersfield could begin in 2025.

February 17, 2017 - San Francisco Chronicle

A New Bus Rapid Transit Route for Fresno

Construction is set to begin on a $28 million, 15.7-mile bus rapid transit route in the city of Fresno.

June 5, 2016 - The Fresno Bee

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