Environment
Oregon Issues Wildfire Risk Map
After homeowners received letters assessing their property’s fire risk, questions remain about the next steps in building fire resilience.
Clean Air Programs Increase Property Values, Study Says
What’s good for the planet is good for the economy, according to a recent study published by the Lincoln Institute of Land Policy.
Report Sounds the Alarm for Western Reservoirs
Without more immediate, long-term reductions in water demand, Lake Mead and Lake Powell, the West’s most important reservoirs, face imminent collapse.
How To Protect an Entire Town From Wildfire
In the wake of the destructive Camp Fire, a proposal to encircle the town of Paradise with a green belt could help keep future fires at bay and better protect vulnerable residents.
Boulder Launches ‘Zero Fare for Better Air’
The Colorado city will make public transit free during the month of August to boost ridership and reduce emissions.
‘Climate-Adaptive’ Park Planned for Ohio River Shoreline
The project aims to slow erosion along the riverbank and restore the formerly industrial area to a more natural state.
Protecting Urban Residents From Extreme Heat
With temperatures reaching record highs in cities around the country, local officials are implementing measures to ensure vulnerable residents have adequate cooling.
Vermont Program Encourages Walking for Grocery Trips
A Burlington program is using grocery trolleys to remind residents that, for many of them, a grocery store is less than a mile away.
North Branch of the Chicago River Transforming Into a ‘Wild Mile’
A remarkable transformation is underway along the North Branch of the Chicago River, after being channelized and brutalized for well over a century.
The Rise of Artificial Turf
Once scratchy and unrealistic, artificial grass has come a long way. Now, it’s quickly becoming a popular lawn replacement as droughts and climate change make traditional lawns harder to maintain.
Presidio Tunnel Tops Links San Francisco Parks Above Seven Lanes of Traffic
Encompassing 14 acres, the project spans a major parkway and includes a two-acre children’s play area, trails, several overlooks, and gathering spaces from picnic areas to a campfire circle.
Planning for a New Nature Center at a Geological Wonder
Los Angeles County is seeking public input for the Devil’s Punchbowl Natural Area Nature Center replacement planning project.
Los Angeles County Allocates $9 Million for Parks in High Need Areas
The funding is from Measure A, the Safe, Clean Neighborhood Parks and Beaches Measure, a parcel tax approved by nearly 75 percent of voters in 2016.
Can Los Angeles Join the Anti-Gas Station Movement?
A growing number of cities in California have prohibited the construction of new gas stations. Los Angeles could soon consider an ordinance to do the same—in a landmark move for the city some believe to be a symbol of car-dependent sprawl.
Mapping Heat Inequality
A new mapping tool underscores inequities in infrastructure that lead to higher rates of heat-related illnesses in low-income neighborhoods.
Californians Struggle To Cut Water Use
The state is slowly starting to curb water consumption, but progress has been ‘disappointingly slow’ as water supplies across the West diminish to historic lows.
Watch: Mexico’s $10 Billion Rail Line Through the Jungle
YouTube channel B1M takes a trip to the Yucatan Peninsula to examine the risks and the opportunities of Tren Maya—a $10 billion railway under construction to connect the south and southeast corners of the country to tourist destinations.
Funding Allocated to Extend Life of Diablo Canyon Nuclear Power Plant
In order to to ensure that the lights stay on, the California legislature approved allocating up to $75 million to extend the life of the state's sole remaining nuclear plant and four natural gas powered plants, to the chagrin of environmentalists.
6,000 Acres of Prime Open Space in Los Angeles County Now Protected
The largest undeveloped private property in L.A. County is now part of a protected ecological area that will preserve habitat and expand wildlife corridors between the San Gabriel, Sierra Madre, and Santa Susanna mountains.
High Gas Costs Making a Small Dent in Carbon Emissions
Americans are driving slightly less due to high prices at the pump, but this reduction in driving is only making a small impact on overall U.S. carbon emissions.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
Caltrans
City of Fort Worth
Mpact (founded as Rail~Volution)
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
City of Portland
City of Laramie
