USC

California neighborhood

Community Benefit Agreements Help University Expansions Benefit Everyone

From USC to Columbia University, "town and gown" collaborations regarding university expansion have proven to benefit all parties, writes planning activist and affordable housing developer Murtaza Baxamusa.

August 28, 2018 - UrbDeZine

Mars Panorama

How Do We Plan For Cities on Mars?

Planning for the first human occupied martian cities is taking its next big step with three 3D-printed test colonies planned to be erected in the Mojave Desert.

August 19, 2016 - Quartz

Raleigh Park

The Connection Between Green Space and Better Behaved Kids

Researchers have made a positive link between increased greenery in a child's neighborhoods and a reduction in aggressive behavior.

July 5, 2016 - Pacific Standard

How Gaming Can Revolutionize Planning

The new game Block’Hood seeks to illustrate and educate about the connection between sustainability and social and economic needs in city and neighborhood building.

March 21, 2016 - Dezeen

Protecting the Lungs of Children by Improving School Location

With the national spotlight rightfully focused on the irreversible effects of lead in the drinking water of Flint, Michigan, another insidious threat remains: motor vehicle emissions affecting children's lungs.

February 1, 2016 - EPA Connect

National Attention for the Bold Plan to Reshape Transportation in the City of Angels

Mobility Plan 2035, a visionary plan to get Angelenos out of their cars, attracted the attention of The New York Times. The plan calls for using road diets and transit-only lanes to replace auto trips with bike and bus trips, but many are skeptical.

September 9, 2015 - The New York Times

Metro's Latest Light Rail Crash Sparks Rail Safety Debate

The March 28 crash on Metro's extensive light rail system shouldn't have happened. All the safety measures acted as they should have. Could more have been done to prevent the motorist's fateful turn across the tracks as a train approached?

April 2, 2015 - Los Angeles Times

Metro Light Rail Crash and Derailment Near USC in Los Angeles

Two cars of a three-car Metro Exposition Line train derailed after hitting a compact car in Los Angeles: 21 hurt; train operator and motorist critically. Service was disrupted for thousands of people headed to an international soccer game at USC.

March 29, 2015 - Los Angeles Times - L.A. NOW

A 'Good News' Air Pollution Study for a Change

Too often we report on new studies showing how air pollution worsens public health, often causing premature death. For a change, here's a study showing how efforts to improve air quality in Southern California have boosted public health in children.

March 9, 2015 - The Wall Street Journal

Plastic Bag Ban to Be Decided by Referendum in California

Thanks to a vigorous signature gathering effort bankrolled by the American Progressive Bag Alliance, a bill signed by Gov. Jerry Brown last September that outlawed single-use plastic bags will be decided by the electorate in November 2016.

March 5, 2015 - San Jose Mercury News

Will Plummeting Gas Prices Threaten Recent Transit Ridership Gains?

As gas prices have fallen, driving has increased. October driving mileage figures show an increase of 3 percent from a year earlier. A shift away from public transit may cause transit providers to rethink expansion plans.

January 30, 2015 - The Wall Street Journal

California's High Housing Costs Drives Out-Migration

Same story, different year, though more data provided on which groups are leaving the Golden State: predominantly workers earning less than $50,000 a year. Conversely, those migrating to California from other states had higher incomes and education.

January 7, 2015 - Los Angeles Times

Racial Inequalities Withholding $2.1 Trillion from U.S. GDP

A new study by PolicyLink and the University of Southern California's Program for Environmental and Regional Equity showed that U.S. GDP would expand by $2.1 trillion if racial minorities had equal access to opportunities within the job market.

October 30, 2014 - National Journal

Tommy Trojan

Should USC Axe Its Unique Planning Doctoral Program?

Dr. Clement Lau, a Los Angeles County Planner, describes what the threatened USC Doctor of Policy, Planning, and Development (DPPD) program meant to him and why he thinks it's worth saving.

June 30, 2013 - UrbDeZine.com

Critics Outline Grey Areas in L.A.'s "Green" Harbor Rail Yard Project

Critics of the proposed $500-million Southern California International Gateway, which is being touted as “one of the 'greenest' freight yards in the nation," contend it will actually reduce air quality and harm low income, minority residents.

November 1, 2012 - Los Angeles Times

USC's $1.1 Billion Makeover Halted Over Fears of Displacement

A massive $1.1 billion plan to develop residential and retail uses on land adjacent to the University of Southern California's South L.A. campus was halted by a committee of the Los Angeles City Council this week over concerns about displacement.

August 23, 2012 - Los Angeles Times

The Bright Side of California's Growth Slowdown

According to a just-released report from USC, CA's population, currently 37.5 million, will reach 50 million in the year 2046, a full 14 years later than the 2007 Dept. of Finance projection, due to the major growth slowdown shown in 2010 Census.

April 27, 2012 - Science Daily

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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.